Factors hindering the regional development of European Union. An introspection concerning Romania's absorption of EU Structural Funds
Author
Abaluta, Valentin
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2017
Pages
82
Abstract
This thesis investigates why Romania’s absorption of EU Structural and Cohesion Funds has been low, using an administrative capacity perspective. Drawing on the literature, it advances three hypotheses about key constraints—human resources (qualifications, staffing and retention), political factors (strategic vision, stability and interference, including corruption), and institutional and legal design (mandates and procedures). The core method is an in-depth case study of the Sectoral Operational Programme Transport, the largest recipient in 2007–2013, combining quantitative and qualitative evidence to trace how these factors affected project selection and implementation. The analysis finds that these constraints place substantial pressure on the public administration’s ability to manage and deliver EU-funded projects efficiently and help explain the low absorption rate, while acknowledging that they represent only part of a broader set of causes.
Specialet undersøger, hvorfor Rumæniens absorption af EU’s Struktur- og Samhørighedsmidler har været lav, med udgangspunkt i et administrativt kapacitetsperspektiv. Med afsæt i litteraturen opstilles tre hypoteser om centrale begrænsninger—menneskelige ressourcer (kvalifikationer, bemanding og fastholdelse), politiske forhold (strategisk sigte, stabilitet og indblanding, herunder korruption) samt institutionelt og retligt design (kompetencer og procedurer). Metodisk anvendes et dybdegående casestudie af Sektorielt Operationelt Program Transport, den største modtager i 2007–2013, der kombinerer kvantitative og kvalitative data for at belyse, hvordan disse faktorer påvirkede projektudvælgelse og gennemførelse. Analysen peger på, at de identificerede begrænsninger lægger betydeligt pres på forvaltningens evne til at administrere og gennemføre EU-finansierede projekter effektivt og bidrager til at forklare den lave absorptionsrate, samtidig med at de kun udgør en del af forklaringen.
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