Romania will receive a total of €31.5 billion from cohesion policy in the period 2021-2027, under its partnership agreement with the Commission to promote the economic, social and territorial cohesion of its regions, as well as its green and digital transition.
EU funds they will also support the development of a competitive, innovative and export-oriented Romanian economy.
Increasing economic competitiveness and the level of digitalization
EUR 4.33 billion will be provided from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to support Romania's innovative and smart economic transformation. The funds will help increase the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and support research and innovation, in particular through collaboration between businesses and universities. Innovative businesses and innovative activities within traditional SMEs will also be supported.
In addition, the EU will invest in the digitalisation of businesses and the development of innovative digital public services, as well as in improving the digital skills of the population, especially students and teachers.
A boost for the green economy
EUR 6.75 billion of investments will be made from the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund in the green transition, in particular in sectors such as green energy, low-carbon emissions, environmental infrastructure, biodiversity conservation, green space creation, risk management and sustainable urban mobility measures.
Of this, EUR 2.3 billion will be allocated to improving the energy performance of residential and public buildings and to developing renewable energy sources and smart energy systems. This will reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions and support the decarbonisation of the energy sector.
Another €2.34 billion will support the water and wastewater sector, as well as improving the circular economy, with a focus on waste, reuse and recycling.
Finally, EUR 2.14 billion from the Just Transition Fund (JTF) will be earmarked to mitigate the social and economic impact of the green transition towards a climate-neutral economy. This fund will be targeted at the Romanian regions most affected by the coal and lignite phase-out and will focus on the transformation of energy-intensive industries.
Modernization of the healthcare system
EUR 2.3 billion will be invested to ensure citizens' access to healthcare and to improve the quality, effectiveness and resilience of the health sector. The funds will also target vulnerable groups, helping to reduce inequalities.
Sustainable transport
€7.2 billion from the Cohesion Fund and the ERDF will be allocated to developing more sustainable and multimodal transport. Particular attention will be paid to trains and railways, but also to expanding sustainable public transport in cities. Investments in the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) will improve connections with peripheral regions beyond the Carpathians and facilitate access to industrial centres, thus contributing to economic growth and labour mobility.
Employment, skills and combating poverty
€7.3 billion from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) will be allocated to improve access to the labour market, with a particular focus on reducing youth unemployment, quality and inclusive education, developing new skills and training. The ESF+ will contribute to the modernisation of the Romanian Public Employment Service and promote social inclusion, accessibility and effectiveness of public services.
EUR 3.5 billion will also be allocated to develop social entrepreneurship and support capacity building among social partners and civil society organisations. The fund will improve access to early childhood education and care, reducing early school leaving. It will also improve the labour market relevance of vocational education and training (VET) and tertiary education.
EUR 3.3 billion will be allocated to combat child poverty and material deprivation. The funds will improve access to and quality of social services and develop integrated social, educational and health services in 2,000 rural communities.
Sustainable fishing
The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFF) will invest EUR 162.5 million in sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, the conservation of aquatic biological resources in the Black Sea and the enforcement of fisheries control activities. The Fund will also support a sustainable aquaculture and processing sector, diversifying local fishing and aquaculture communities and contributing to the long-awaited modernisation of the Black Sea fishing infrastructure.
