Towards EGTC: Overcoming the Challenges

of Setting Up the First Grouping Headquartered in Romania

COTER Seminar, Iasi, September 18th, 2014

1. Who we are?2. Romanian participation in EGTCs3. WHY setting up an EGTC NOW? Territorial and cross-border cooperation’ opportunities within EGTC4. Status of the EURONEST EGTC setting up5. Mission, objectives and priorities of EURONEST EGTC6. Conclusions

Structure: The EURONEST Intercommunity Development Association (EURONEST IDA) was founded in 2008 by the 6 county councils from the North-Eastern Region of Romania (Iasi, Bacau, Botosani, Neamt, Suceava and Vaslui) under the coordination and leadership of Iasi County Council President.

Mission: To develop and implement projects at regional level for the benefit of the 3,8 mill. inhabitants in the fields of transportation, social and economic  infrastructure, agriculture, tourism and education and culture.

Romania

South-Eastern Europe

Results: Since 2009, EURONEST attracted and invested 25 mil. EUR from European funds in the development of the social infrastructure (emergency and first medical care system), which situates it on the 1st place at national level. EURONEST also implements projects in partnership with universities from Romania and EU dedicated to the improvement of the university studies in IT&C and the insertion of the educated human resources on the labor market, to the development of postdoctoral studies in communication of sciences, in the field of language research (for children with language impairments), human resources development etc. In 2012, EURONEST sets up the first Regional Innovative Cluster of IT&C in the region, gathering 15 companies and SMEs, 4 universities (Al.I.Cuza University, Iasi, Technical University, Iasi, University of Suceava and University of Bacau), research institutes, and other entities involved in the value chain of the IT&C industry (public administration, chambers of commerce, agencies of development, other associations). The cluster was awarded the largest grant in Romania (0,8 mil. EUR) for the improvement of its management and for 2 innovative industrial research projects jointly developed by companies and universities: TACT – development of a new assistive technology for communication and supervision of people with severe neuro-locomotive handicap and SysConGes – development of a reconfigurable system for controlling of the intelligent building for the management of renewable energy.

LEGAL FRAMEWORK: A)National legislation - ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT ORDINANCE NO. 127/2007.B)Community legislation - EC REGULATION NO. 1082/2006 (Romania has been among the first countries that adopted the national legislation addressing EGTC).C)The Regulation (EU) No 1302/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 amending Regulation (EC) No 1082/2006 on a European grouping of territorial cooperation (EGTC) as regards the clarification, simplification and improvement of the establishment and functioning of such groupings (applying from 22 June 2014).

EGTCS STATUS39 EGTCs registered in the European EGTC Register (October 2013).9 approval consents issued by the Romanian Approval Authority (Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration) for Romanian participations in EGTCs established in Hungary (7), Spain (1) and Netherlands (1).

NO EGTC registered in Romania yet.

EURONEST EGTC – UNDER CONSTITUTION.

LACK OF REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION LEVEL IN ROMANIA•EGTC is open to cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation, in the field of economic and social cohesion in the European Union;•Multi-level governance;SECURING THE BORDERS WITH UKRAINE AND REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA •Third countries participation is allowed by the EGTC Regulation (the new regulation eases third countries participation).RUNNING JOINT INFRASTRUCTURE & LARGE INVESTMENTS PROJECTS•Transportation and intermodal centers•Water & waste management•Climate change and emergency situation management PROVIDING CROSS-BORDER JOINT SERVICES •medical, educational, recreational and cultural services

Starting point:Project initiated by Mr Cristian ADOMNITEI, President of Iasi County Council and President of EURONEST in September 2012.

New MS (Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria etc.) → similar problems and needs →

combining, focusing and promoting the JOINT interests of its members towards national, European and international institutions.

Improving the visibility and promotion of members major projects (railways, multi-modal transport/connections)

Added-value of the EURONEST EGTC:

→ human, technical and financial resources pooled together → costs sharing → diminishing of management costs

→ time saving for joint proposal submission → possibility to run large and expensive investments with

inter-regional impact → increased attractiveness for investments

→ better lobbying capabilities and credibility in relation with third parties.

Foreseen partnership composition

Romania → EURONEST Intercommunity Development Association, North-East Region (Counties of Iasi, Suceava, Botosani, Bacau, Neamt and Vaslui);

→ County councilsof Maramures agreements signed in 2013.

Poland – Podkarpackie Region letter of intention signed in 2013.

Ongoing discussions: regions from Poland, Slovakia and third countries (Ukraine and Republic of Moldova).

Following consultation with Romanian partners, Podkarpackie Region and Slovakian prospective partners, 3 major cooperation priorities/sectors were identified:

• Infrastructure (transportation, social, health and environment);• Agriculture, tourism and culture;• research, development and innovation – mainly IT, medicine,

nanotechnologies and pharmaceutical field.

Duration: unlimited period, unless members decide otherwise.

Operational budget: an annual contribution to be set up (advanced method: ration depending on the size of the member’s population).

Management structure:General Assembly – each founding member may have 2 delegates and

max. 2 votes.The Assembly ellects each year 1 President and a number of Vice-

Presidents.Director.General Secretariat.National/regional offices.

STATUTES AND CONVENTION TO BE JOINTLY AGREED BY ALL MEMBERS Romanian Authority has already checked the documents.

Infrastructure priorities – resulted upon discussions with Podkarpackie Region and Romanian partners

Interconnection of transportation corridors • Major projects: development of road infrastructure to

interconnect the member regions and the EGTC area with third countries (Ukraine)

• Development of freight and railway routes within the area of the grouping

Traffic management on regional roads *Development of specialized regional hospitals accessible to all group membersImproving the safety and quality of life within the EGTC area by installing AED's (automatic defibrillators) in crowded public places *Development of alternative /renewable energies Mobile warning system for major emergencies (floods, landslides, industrial accidents) *Increasing the quality of medical services in rural areas *

* components of the application were already partially elaborated

Actions for agriculture, tourism and culture

Projects to capitalize the results of the programming period 2007-2014:

•enhancing the potential of hostels and hotels in the area of the EGTC to create and promote touristic packages in an integrated manner across the grouping: Wine Road - route to the vineyards and wineries within the area *, cycling routes etc.•promoting ecumenical and agro-cultural tourism in the EGTC area (rehabilitation of the reception spaces, the parking sites and public areas of the monasteries etc.) *•development and modernization of the irrigation systems to increase the competitiveness of the agriculture of the EGTC area*•developing educational programs (as LLL), to increase the employment rate and the quality of life

Thank you!

Alina Popa,Executive director,

EURONEST Intercommunity Development Association

Phone/Fax: +40-232-273814 E-mail: euronest@yahoo.com