Friday, 10 July 2009 marked the official closure of the PHARE Twinning Project on sound and efficient management of EU structural funds. The project started in September 2007 and is aimed to build the institutional capacity of the Managing Authority of the Regional Operational Programme. Finland is a junior partner of Romania and the UK in this project.

On the occasion, British Embassy First Secretary Alan Attryde congratulated Romanian, British and Finnish partners for their achievements.

Alan Attryde:
"Congratulations to both the staff in the Romanian Ministry of Regional Development and Housing and the Twinning Advisers for their hard work. We have a long-standing strategic partnership with Romania, constantly supporting it before the accession and now as partners in the European Union. EU membership has clearly had a positive effect and we see signs of progress almost everywhere we go in this city".

Romania was allocated €20 bn of Structural and Cohesion Funding until 2013. Structural funds can play an important part in closing the difference in economic development between Romania and other Member States. Reducing the wide disparities between rural and urban areas is also essential. Structural funds have an added importance at this time of international financial crisis and can be regarded as a very useful source of financial stimulus to the domestic economy.

Whilst the focus may be currently on the implementation of programs for the period 2007-2013, Member States are already turning their attention to the planning of the EU budget for the period after 2013. A critical part of those budget negotiations will be the future of cohesion policy.

The UK considers that reform should deliver a more effective and efficient EU Budget and that Structural and Cohesion Funds should be focused primarily on removing differences in levels of economic development between Member States. The EU needs a budget designed to help Europe face the challenges of globalisation, to promote research and innovation and to address climate change. The United Kingdom will play a full part in the debate on the EU Budget and hopes that Romania will too.

"The staff of the Ministry of Regional Development and Housing have passed from a theoretical to a practical involvement and have showed great interest in working with British and Finnish experts. Amazing progress has been made", said Project Leader Sheila Maxwell.

Background

• Historically there has been a longstanding twinning relationship between the United Kingdom and the Romanian Ministry of Regional Development and Housing. The current project will be completed by August 2009.
• The PHARE Twinning Project is worth €1,3 million with an additional €33,900 co-funding being provided by the Ministry.