Programme under Convergence objective co-funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Programme description
On July 11, the European Commission approved the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Operational programme for Romania for the period 2007-2013, entitled "Operational Programme Technical Assistance". The total budget of the programme is around EUR 213 million and the Community assistance amounts to EUR 170 million (approximately 0,86 % of the total EU money invested in Romania under Cohesion policy 2007-2013).
1. The purpose and aim of the EU investment
The objective of the Technical Assistance Operational Programme (OPTA) at national level is to ensure support for the coordination and the implementation of the regional funds in Romania, to guarantee a reliable managing and monitoring system and to ensure a coordinated delivery of general messages related to Structural Instruments. All these objectives reflect in the overall absorption and effective use of the Structural Instruments interventions.
The OPTA is aiming at ensuring that the implementation of the Structural Instruments in Romania meets the principles and rules on partnership, programming, evaluation, management, including financial management, monitoring and control on the basis of responsibilities shared between the Member States and the Commission, in compliance with the provisions laid down in the General Regulation. The programme will also support the implementation of the priorities laid down in the Community Strategic Guidelines for Cohesion Policy.
2. The expected impact of the investment
Together with the other operational programmes (OPs), the OPTA will substantially contribute to the achievement of the thematic priority established in the National Strategic Reference Framework, namely “Building Effective Administrative Capacity”.
As a common tool for all actors involved throughout the entire implementation and monitoring process of Structural Instruments, the Single Management Information System (SMIS) will be supported by the OPTA. The system will certainly need further development and maintenance, to cover the management and monitoring needs derived from the implementation of Structural Instruments.
The programme will also allow a multiplication at national level of particular issues and practices. While the project pipeline development support is mainly the focus of the other OPs, OPTA will complement their efforts by ensuring networking and exchanges of information and best practices focused on this issue.
3. Priority axes
According to the objective of creating the best conditions for EU funds adequate absorption and to be as much operational and clear as possible, the programme will be organized into three Priority Axes:
Priority axis 1: Support to the implementation of Structural Instruments and coordination of programmes
The objective of this Priority Axis is to strengthen the overall coordination of Structural Instruments implementation and building appropriate capacities by actions aimed at setting a common level of knowledge and experience among different actors.
In order to ensure an efficient and effective implementation of the Structural Instruments, it is necessary to co-ordinate all actions undertaken in relation to the management, monitoring and control of the Operational Programmes. Whereas the technical assistance priority axes in the other Romanian programmes will provide support for the management of specific OPs, the OPTA will provide common standards and guidelines and will enable exchange of experience and streamlining of good practices.
Priority axis 2: Further development and support for the functioning of the Single Management Information System (SMIS)
The objective of this Priority Axis is to ensure SMIS smooth operation, organisational and functional development and the ongoing expansion of the system so as to allow prompt access to data in all institutions involved in the process of Structural Instruments and to contribute to a sound and effective management of the operational programmes.
The objective of setting up the SMIS is to guarantee a sound effective management of European programmes, in compliance with national and European regulations. This instrument must be operational during the whole period of programmes implementation, meaning 10 years including closing time. The experience gained during this period will be capitalized for the development of the IT system in the next programming period.
Priority axis 3: Dissemination of information and promotion of Structural Instruments
The objective of this Priority Axis is to ensure a coordinated delivery of general messages related to regional funds at national level and to implement the communication action plan of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, in line with the National Communication Strategy for the Structural Instruments.
This third Priority Axis is mainly dedicated to the general public but it also targets potential beneficiaries. Its interventions are complementary to the actions described within the first Priority Axis in terms of national coordination of the communication and of support to the trainings organized in this field.
4. Managing authority
Financial information
Breakdown of finances by priority axis
| Priority Axis | EU Investment | National Public Contribution | Total Public Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support to the implementation of Structural Instruments and coordination of programmes | 82.792.695,00 | 20.698.174,00 | 103.490.869,00 |
| Further development and support for the functioning of the Single Management Information System | 53.390.279,00 | 13.347.570,00 | 66.737.849,00 |
| Dissemination of information and promotion of Structural Instruments | 34.054.816,00 | 8.513.704,00 | 42.568.520,00 |
| Total | 170.237.790,00 | 42.559.448,00 | 212.797.238,00 |