Cohesion, Competitiveness, and Partnerships

Over the past days, I have been actively engaged in significant events and discussions, both in Brussels and Bucharest, focusing on Romania’s development priorities. These moments, filled with impactful exchanges and collaborative efforts, emphasize how strategic partnerships can lead to transformative progress.

JASPERS Stakeholders’ Meeting 2024 and Tripartite dialogue?

Last week in Brussels, I had the honor of delivering the opening remarks at the JASPERS Stakeholders’ Meeting 2024. This gathering brought together leaders and experts committed to enhancing cohesion and competitiveness across Europe.

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Romania’s long-standing partnership with JASPERS partnership has delivered impressive results:

• Development of essential infrastructure: water and sewerage systems, upgraded railways, and motorways connecting key regions.
• Major urban mobility advancements, such as the Bucharest metro projects, benefiting over 700,000 daily passengers.
• Implementation of robust disaster management systems, including a command and control center, ambulances, and multi-risk helicopters.

Building on the discussions in Brussels, we brought the dialogue to Bucharest this week, where we engaged in a?tripartite dialogue?with the European Commission and JASPERS representatives. The discussions focused on:

• Identifying strategic priorities to maximize the impact of investments in areas such as urban mobility, energy transition, digitalization, and healthcare.
• Addressing the complexity of projects to align with EU sustainability and climate adaptation goals, ensuring compliance with the "Do No Significant Harm" principle.
• Delivering impactful solutions by optimizing resources and strengthening administrative capacity to implement high-quality projects that directly benefit communities.

This ongoing dialogue highlights how cohesion and competitiveness must work together, driving regional equity and sustainable growth for all.

#EUFunding #CohesionPolicy #SustainableDevelopment #ProgressTogether

Maximizing Impact: Annual Coordination Meeting with IFIs

This week, I coordinated the Annual Coordination Meeting on Technical Assistance with International Financial Institutions (IFIs), held at the Ministry of Investments and European Projects. Bringing together representatives from the 世界银行 , European Investment Bank (EIB) , EBRD , and the European Commission , the meeting aimed to strengthen partnerships and align priorities for the years ahead.

Key discussions focused on:

• 22 active technical assistance assignments addressing areas like digital transformation, green cities, and e-mobility.
• Expanding partnerships with EBRD and EIB in climate adaptation and sustainable infrastructure projects.

Strategic goals for 2024-2025, including:

• Enhancing regional and local implementation capacity.
• Strengthening inter-institutional coordination and monitoring mechanisms.
• Establishing a Technical Assistance Coordination Committee to oversee progress.

These collaborative efforts are not just about managing resources—they are about ensuring every initiative delivers real benefits for citizens and communities. I am grateful to all our partners for their dedication and to my colleagues for their unwavering commitment to these shared objectives.

#EUFunding #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #GreenTransition

Building Bridges: Supporting Ukraine's Development Journey

This week, I had the opportunity to coordinate a meeting with Ukrainian representatives as part of the Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development (UCORD) project. This delegation included officials from ministries, agencies, and local authorities, and our discussions focused on advancing regional collaboration.

During the meeting, we:

• Exchanged best practices in programming and managing European funds.
• Highlighted Romania’s achievements in implementing Cohesion Policy projects.
• Identified practical measures to support Ukraine’s economic and social recovery while strengthening the capacities of local and regional public authorities.

The dialogue emphasized the importance of solidarity in promoting regional stability and sustainable growth. Romania remains a reliable partner, ready to share expertise and support Ukraine on its development journey.

#EUFunds #CohesionPolicy #ProgressTogether #RegionalDevelopment

The past days have been marked by significant milestones that underline the importance of collaboration and leadership in driving progress. From advancing key infrastructure projects to fostering regional partnerships and ensuring impactful use of European funds, each initiative demonstrates Romania’s commitment to sustainable development.

I look forward to continuing this work alongside dedicated teams and partners, ensuring that each step we take delivers lasting impact for citizens and communities.

Warm regards,

Teodora Preoteasa

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