1. Sectoral Operational Programme “INCREASE OF ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS” October 2005 MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND TRADE

2. CONTENTS SOP “INCREASE OF ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS” 1. SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS 2. STRATEGY 2.1. Objectives, Priorities and Measures; 2.1. Objectives, Priorities and Measures; 2.2. Compliance with European and national development policies; 2.2. Compliance with European and national development policies; 2.3. Contribution to horizontal objectives (sustainable development, equal opportunities, information society, public procurement, competition policy); 2.3. Contribution to horizontal objectives (sustainable development, equal opportunities, information society, public procurement, competition policy); 2.4. Indicators 2.4. Indicators 3. IMPLEMENTATION SYSTEM 4. PARTNERSHIP 5. FINANCIAL TABLES 6. METHODOLOGICAL ANNEXES

3. The general objective of SOP “INCREASE OF ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS” is the increase of Romanian companies’ productivity in order to reduce the disparities compared to the average productivity of EU. The measures taken to fulfill the objective will lead until 2015 to a productivity average yearly growth of about 5.5% and will allow Romania to reach approx. 55% of the EU average.

4. Specific objectives  Increase of SMEs (turnover) share in GDP by 20% by 2015  Increase of Gross Expenditure for R&D (GERD) up to 3% of GDP by 2015  Increase of Internet penetration (enterprises / population) from 52% / 19% in 2004 to 70% / 55% by 2015.  Reducing of primary energy intensity by 40 % until 2015, compared with 2001.

5. Priority 1: Increase in economic competitiveness by enhancing market access of enterprises, especially SMEs Priority 2: Development of a knowledge-based economy by promoting research and innovation and accelerating the development of the Information Society Priority 3: Improvement of energy efficiency and increased use of renewable energy resources Priority 4: Technical assistance

6. Priority 1: Increase in economic competitiveness by enhancing market access of enterprises, especially SMEs M1.1. Support to productive investments and preparation of Romanian enterprises for Single Market competition; M1.1. Support to productive investments and preparation of Romanian enterprises for Single Market competition; M1.2. Improvement of enterprises’, especially SMEs’, access to financing; M1.2. Improvement of enterprises’, especially SMEs’, access to financing; M1.3. Development of business infrastructure and consultancy services for business; M1.3. Development of business infrastructure and consultancy services for business; M1.4. Improvement of access on external markets and support for internationalization efforts of enterprises, especially SMEs; M1.4. Improvement of access on external markets and support for internationalization efforts of enterprises, especially SMEs; M1.5. Promotion of Romanian tourism potential – factor of improving M1.5. Promotion of Romanian tourism potential – factor of improving Romania’s image as a tourism destination and leverage factor for economic competitiveness. Romania’s image as a tourism destination and leverage factor for economic competitiveness.

7. Priority 2: Development of a knowledge-based economy by promoting research and innovation and accelerating the development of the Information Society M2.1. Supporting the application of RDI in the productive sector and increasing innovation dissemination and marketing; M2.2. Stimulation of investment in RDI infrastructure; M2.3. Enhancement of the research cooperation between universities, research institutions and industry; M2.4. Support of information technology use; M2.5. Development and increased efficiency of modern public electronic services ( e-Government, e-Education, e-Health); M2.6. Promoting e-business

8. Priority 3: Improvement of energy efficiency and increased use of renewable energy resources M3.1. Reducing energy intensity and improving energy efficiency; M3.2. Increasing the share of energy produced from renewable resources.

9. Priority 4: Technical assistance M4.1. Support to the SOP management; M4.2. Support for communication, evaluation and IT

10. PARTNERSHIP National Agency for Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperation quarterly reunions of the Consultation Committee for SMEs development March 2005 – SME section in the NDP Strategy; March 2005 – SME section in the NDP Strategy; August 2005 – SOP Competitiveness - Priority 1; August 2005 – SOP Competitiveness - Priority 1; October 2005 – updated measures targeting SMEs support in SOP Competitiveness; October 2005 – updated measures targeting SMEs support in SOP Competitiveness;

11. Ministry of Communication and Information Technology June, August, September 2005 June, August, September 2005 –consultations with professional associations, employers’ associations, economic operators on the information society section of the NDP, the relevant measures of SOP strategy, preliminary identification of potential projects PARTNERSHIP

12. PARTNERSHIP National Authority for Scientific Research July 2004 – consultation with NDAs and County Councils over NDP 2007-2013, identification of possible implementing agencies; July 2004 – consultation with NDAs and County Councils over NDP 2007-2013, identification of possible implementing agencies; November 2004 – consultation with the scientific community over the strategy of NDP 2007-2013; November 2004 – consultation with the scientific community over the strategy of NDP 2007-2013; August 2005 - consultation with the strategic partners over SOP Competitiveness strategy, call for preliminary project proposals, launch of specific electronic communication portal; August 2005 - consultation with the strategic partners over SOP Competitiveness strategy, call for preliminary project proposals, launch of specific electronic communication portal; June – December 2005 – presentation of structural funds, strategy SOP Competitiveness, call for preliminary project proposals to regional and institutional contact points for FP6/7; June – December 2005 – presentation of structural funds, strategy SOP Competitiveness, call for preliminary project proposals to regional and institutional contact points for FP6/7; November 2005 (planned) – consultation with the scientific community over the strategy of SOP Competitiveness, presentation of existing project pipeline, and call for preliminary project proposals. November 2005 (planned) – consultation with the scientific community over the strategy of SOP Competitiveness, presentation of existing project pipeline, and call for preliminary project proposals.

13. PARTNERSHIP Energy Policy Directorate (Ministry of Economy and Trade) February 2005 – consultation on energy efficiency; February 2005 – consultation on energy efficiency; August 2005 – relevant section of NDP 2007-2013 and SOP Competitiveness consultation with partner associations, organisations and operators in the energy field August 2005 – relevant section of NDP 2007-2013 and SOP Competitiveness consultation with partner associations, organisations and operators in the energy field

14. PARTNERSHIP National Authority for Tourism December 2004 – consultations on NDP 2007-2013 tourism section with partner associations and travel and tourism tour-operators; December 2004 – consultations on NDP 2007-2013 tourism section with partner associations and travel and tourism tour-operators; January – May 2005 – relevant section of NDP 2007-2013 and SOP Competitiveness (tourism measure) consultation with partner associations, organizations and operators in the tourism field. January – May 2005 – relevant section of NDP 2007-2013 and SOP Competitiveness (tourism measure) consultation with partner associations, organizations and operators in the tourism field.

15. Managing Authority Communication programme approved in October (national funds) for information / communication sessions in all development regions on SOP Competitiveness Strategy; Communication programme approved in October (national funds) for information / communication sessions in all development regions on SOP Competitiveness Strategy; Link on the MEC homepage to the draft socio-economic analysis and strategy of NDP Priority 1 / SOP Competitiveness; dedicated e- mail address for comments; Link on the MEC homepage to the draft socio-economic analysis and strategy of NDP Priority 1 / SOP Competitiveness; dedicated e- mail address for comments; November – December 2005 – on-line questionnaire (with subsequent statistical processing of inputs) to check the level of information and degree of interest in structural funds-related issues/SOP Strategy of potential applicants/partners and the feed- back on preliminary priorities and measures of SOP Competitiveness strategy November – December 2005 – on-line questionnaire (with subsequent statistical processing of inputs) to check the level of information and degree of interest in structural funds-related issues/SOP Strategy of potential applicants/partners and the feed- back on preliminary priorities and measures of SOP Competitiveness strategy PARTNERSHIP