Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner responsible for regional policy, met with Ms Anca Boagiu, Minister of European Integration for Romania on 12 April 2006 to discuss the present state of preparations of the country for European Union’s regional policy support after the planned accession in 2007.

During the meeting, Commissioner Hübner highlighted the significant progress that Romania has achieved in preparation for implementation of the European Union’s regional policy, notably with regard to the legislative framework, the institutional structures, administrative capacity, programming of the structural instruments, and financial management and control.

Nonetheless, further efforts are needed to complete the preparation in Romania for the management of regional policy and the meeting addressed a number of the key issues.

Ms Hübner also congratulated the Romanian government with the significant progress in preparation of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) and the Operational Programmes for the period 2007-2013. The Commission is currently expecting to receive comprehensive versions of these documents later in April.

The European Regional Policy will provide a substantial support to the socio-economic development, job creation and growth in Romania, which, according to the latest budgetary agreements, stand to receive more than € 17 billion in the period 2007-2013. Ms Hübner emphasised that it is the political responsibility of the Romanian government to make efficient and responsible use of this support in order to boost the development of Romania and give its people a concrete and visible outcome of accession.

Romania has a population of 21.8 million and aims at becoming a member state of the European Union in 2007. It receives already substantial support from the EU’s pre-accession instruments PHARE, SAPARD and ISPA to strengthen its institutional capacity, and to develop its rural areas and its transport and environment infrastructure. More than 60 ISPA projects in Romania are for example successfully paving the way for the future support from the Cohesion Fund. Romania stands to receive substantial support for its socio-economic development, job creation and growth from the Structural and Cohesion Funds upon accession. More information: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/atlas/romania/factsheets/pdf/fact_ro_en.pdf

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