Regional Decentralisation in Romania and Its Impact on Cross-Border Cooperation
Regional Decentralisation in Romania and Its Impact on Cross-Border Cooperation

Summary/Abstract: At a European level, the role of cross-border cooperation, considered to be an essential component of regional development policy, was emphasised by the legislation promoted in order to achieve the objectives set for the 2007-2013 period. The following paper analyses the way in which Romania has made possible the decentralisation reforms needed in order to take part in the cross-border cooperation programmes and, respectively, interregional cooperation. The first part of the paper is aimed at dealing with general aspects of the issue at hand, materialised in analysing the main measures adopted at the European level (especially the Framework-convention, the partnership and neighbourhood instrument, as well as the instrument for pre-accession assistance) for their implementation by the national, regional and local authorities. The objectives of cross-border cooperation are afterwards presented, followed by the cross-border cooperation programmes approved to be performed at the Eastern and Southern borders of the EU. The second part of the paper not only critically addresses the Romanian process of regional decentralisation and the provisions of legislation aimed at promoting cross-border cooperation, but it also presents the cross-border cooperation programmes of the Euroregions from which Romania is also part of. The conclusions drawn from the critical analysis of the current situation reveal the need to promote a set of genuine reforms regarding regional decentralisation, including their political representation within the Romanian Senate.

• Details
• Contents