1. Regional Development Agency experiences in England and Romania Richard Harding UK Twinning advisor in EU Structural Instruments - Romania

2. The English regions

3. Romania’s Development Regions

4. English RDAs Cross sectoral management Boards Cross sectoral management Boards Nationally funded – “Single Pot” Nationally funded – “Single Pot” Supported by regional-level Government Offices Supported by regional-level Government Offices Strategy development Strategy development Own project implementation - with partners Own project implementation - with partners Tasking frameworks and targets, but flexibility Tasking frameworks and targets, but flexibility Assessments – NAO and stakeholders – improvement plans Assessments – NAO and stakeholders – improvement plans National network – growing influence National network – growing influence

5. Romanian RDAs Green Paper recommendations not fully enacted Green Paper recommendations not fully enacted Report to local authorities (RDBs), but deliver national programmes Report to local authorities (RDBs), but deliver national programmes No own projects No own projects Tensions with national Ministry – RDP/NDP and implementation Tensions with national Ministry – RDP/NDP and implementation Fragile financial position – remedied in part Fragile financial position – remedied in part Mixed evaluation findings Mixed evaluation findings No functioning national network No functioning national network

6. Future perspectives English RDAs to manage EU programmes English RDAs to manage EU programmes Romanian RDAs to be IBs for ROP 2007- 2013 and cross border programmes Romanian RDAs to be IBs for ROP 2007- 2013 and cross border programmes Crucial issue of regional coordination in Romania – RDA role? Crucial issue of regional coordination in Romania – RDA role?

7. Romania Operational Programmes 2007-2013

8. Future perspectives English RDAs to manage EU programmes English RDAs to manage EU programmes Romanian RDAs to be IBs for ROP 2007- 2013 and cross border programmes Romanian RDAs to be IBs for ROP 2007- 2013 and cross border programmes Crucial issue of regional coordination in Romania – RDA role? Crucial issue of regional coordination in Romania – RDA role?

9. Regionalisation? Not in Romanian Constitution Not in Romanian Constitution England’s referendum outcome England’s referendum outcome

10. Ingredients for success Partnership-based management Boards Partnership-based management Boards Clear reporting lines to polıcy funder, not beneficiary Clear reporting lines to polıcy funder, not beneficiary Partnership planning process with ‘honest broker’ role Partnership planning process with ‘honest broker’ role Merging of different funding streams for regional objectives Merging of different funding streams for regional objectives Adequate and predictable finance – staff development Adequate and predictable finance – staff development Evaluation culture – public face Evaluation culture – public face Easy to say, difficult to do…