Problems of structural funds projects’ implementation in Romania and analysis of several good practices indicators

Abstract

The aim of this article is to investigate the implementation mechanisms of E.U. Structural Funds in Romania and to identify the problems faced by applicants in projects’ implementation cycle as well as to discover what practices could represent good examples for other applicants and beneficiaries in terms of tools to absorb efficiently the E.U. money. We will present and analyse several indicators that impact on projects’ implementation of Structural Funds and the relationship with the absorption rate and the achievement of objectives of the European regional policy. One of the main objectives of this study is to identify the practices that can be characterised as successful, called generically good practices and are likely to be transferable to other systems of implementation. The analysis of good practices is constructed on the conclusions emerging from the evaluation studies and reports of the institutional framework for structural funds management, and after testing the opinions of applicants and beneficiaries with questionnaires and interviews. Most of the examples of good practices are provided unilaterally by the Managing Authorities and it is not enough information available to conclude on what basis has been taken the decision to provide some projects as examples of good practices. Some opinions suggest that any type of project has the chance to become an example of good practice as long as it is managed in an efficient manner that includes the high involvement of the project manager and/or of the project team in solving the problems that appear. We believe that there are also some preconditions that influence the success of a future project and are related either to the financial power of the applicant or to the external environment for the development of the project.