Lately, more and more Romanian consultants on European projects have been coming to the neighboring country on the left bank of the Prut River. Some visit us to study the current situation, others proposed their services to LPA I, while the third already carry out projects in Moldova. At the same time, large consultancy companies in Romania are preparing for entering the Moldovan market. 

Mihai Bobe is employed at Eforie LPA I in Constanta County, and for ten years has been involved in European projects only. He has visited Moldova several times lately. In addition to managing a project under the Joint Operational Program the Black Sea Basin, the young man crossed Moldova and inquired about other problems that may become projects.

EXCESSIVE BUREAUCRACY

“It is very hard to find people in Moldova who are open to European projects. I think you are on the right track, but you still have a lot of work to do. You have too much bureaucracy,” he says. Mihai Bobe recognizes that he started implementation of a tourism project with the LPA I in Negrea village, Hancesti rayon, a village that does not have any tourist attraction, just thanks to good relations. “2013 is the end of a budget cycle. We are now preparing other cross-border projects”, the specialist says about the plans,  adding that if Moldova signs the Association Agreement with the EU, becoming an associated country, larger sums of money will be allocated to development projects.

Another problem, according to the young man from Constanta, is that very few LPA I in Moldova “could not” afford such projects, in terms of money available in their budgets. “In Moldova, everything is centralized, the money is distributed to LPA I. Or, for the European projects, one must provide some guarantees, have some cash. About 11% of the project budget must be spent before receiving transfers. I do not think any mayor in Moldova can do this today, maybe only the Ialoveni LPA I”, explains the Romanian consultant.

SUCCESS IS MEASURED IN PROJECTS

Mihai gives the example of officials in Nisporeni, which would like to arrange a decent park with benches, lighting, but do not have the necessary amount of 150,000-200,000 Euros. He thinks a possible solution might be a state bank, which would have the role of a guarantor instead of local public administration authorities. “We have specific forms of funding created in Romania”, the specialist says, adding that he managed to attract projects of 14 million euro in Constanta county, together with his wife.

The authorities employed professionals seeking external funding. The mayor of Nisporeni, Ion Gangan, enjoyed the idea with the park, but the discussions did not progress. “The consultant from Constanta came to me with a local business representative and we talked about a potential cross-border project, the official says. „We have not discussed since then. I’ve been busy with all sorts of controls, from the Court of Accounts, the State Chancellery, I must listen to all of them”, Gangan says. For five years there has been an employee in Nisporeni LPA I responsible for attracting investment, seeking EU funding opportunities and writing projects. The mayor claims that this employee, even if not included in the organizational chart and employed at the request of the local elected officials, brought to life several projects based on grants and external funding. “The whole team of 40 people is involved in the realization of ideas,” the mayor stressed.

“2013 is the end of a budget cycle. Now we prepare cross-border projects. Mihai Bobe, Romanian consultant on European projects

Every step closer to the EU opens new funding opportunities. When they are open for Moldova, we need to be able to speak the same language. Sergiu Matveev, archaeologist and professor at the Faculty of History of Moldova State University

COMPANIES FROM IASI BROKE THE ICE

Constantin Bandiu, Head of project management Unit at North Development Agency, says a consulting firm in Iasi offered its services to LPA I in the northern region of Bessarabia. At the same time, other Romanian experts come to us, being contracted by other Europeans. “Now there’s an EU twinning project, i.e. training project, won by the French, on the development of RDA and ministry capacities. The French counterparts contracted the Romanian experts, taking into account that we speak the same language and no translation is needed,” the specialist said.

According to Bândiu, in the event that Brussels gives way to accession funds, Moldova is likely to repeat the failure of Romania, where the absorption rate is very small. “No one in our country is training professionals. The management of European projects is very complicated, holding some trainings is not enough. We don’t take it serious, but the conditions there are very stringent”, argues Constantin Bândiu, who says he has been involved in over 30 soft projects in Pelenia LPA I, Drochia rayon. The team of Moldovan specialists traveled to St. George. 

MAYOR WANT VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES ONLY

Vitalie Cimpoieş, Chairman of „Cutezătorul” Association in Făleşti, part-time employed at Falesti rayon Council as well, where he is managing a cross-border and European integration center, is more optimistic. He argues that, judging by the number of applications proposed for cross-border programs during the last call – 1,070, he does not think that Moldova will be short of people who can write projects. The problem is that the LPA I do not have money to pay those who design and manage the projects. “We have not acknowledged the role of these people yet, they mainly do volunteer work”, Vitalie Cimpoieş regrets.

MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAVING HERITAGE

Not only mayors and elected officials from rayons turn to projects in order to solve community problems. Scientists do exactly the same whether it’s practical applications or theoretical ideas. It is particularly true as for several decades central authorities have not had money for this area.

A few days ago, a group of ten archaeologists and heritage specialists from Chisinau visited the St. George Eastern Carpathians Museum (Romania), with the support of the National Cultural Fund Administration in Bucharest, in order to learn about project management. They graduated the course and received diplomas valid in all EU member states.

The Associate Professor Sergiu Matveev, from the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History at the State University says that this collaboration has been lasting for four years. He explains why it is important to know the essence of these projects. Every step closer to the EU opens new funding opportunities and when these opportunities open for Moldova as well, we must be able to speak the same language. Each line of financing can be adapted for different areas,” the history doctor says. The researcher says that he learned from his Romanian colleagues, whose visits to our country are more and more frequent, that a heritage project can get support based on the idea of ​​heritage itself, but also in combination with other areas, such as environment, social issues etc.

Competition between Romanian and Baltic Consultants

Consulting companies come and propose their services not to Moldova only, this happens throughout Europe. “The good news is that it happens by itself, without anyone controlling or coordinating this area”, says Cristian Ghinea, director of the Romanian Center for European Policies (RCEP), an organization that crossed the Prut river in 2012. The interest of Romanians for Moldova will increase as Chisinau progresses in the dialogue with the EU, and our country will become eligible for all European funds, the expert believes. “There is a large competition on the consultancy market in Moldova between Romanian and Baltic professionals. Both categories have linguistic affinities with the Moldovans (Balts speak Russian),” Ghinea says. RCEP experts have advised members of Moldovan CNI how to overcome the shortcomings of operation.

WE CAN LEARN FROM THE FAILURE OF ROMANIA

“I would recommend the Romanian authorities to provide funding from the cross-border program and for project design and writing, which I have not done before, and the Moldovan authorities – to learn from Romania’s mistakes. Bucharest was not blocked because of applicants, but because of the state administration, which was not ready. The Chisinau authorities may go on a study visit to Bucharest, to avoid repeating the mistakes of their Romanian counterparts”, Cristian Ghinea says.

Why do LPA I resort to consulting companies? Because the likelihood of accepting their proposals is higher and because they do not have enough specialists that would manage these projects. “Typically, there is a mayor and a secretary in the LPA I. They often do not have time for this,” adds Cristian Ghinea. The expert warns, however, that it happens that some cunning people propose/sell the same project to several clients.

NATURAL SERVICES IN THE EU

Local public administrations have outlined project ideas, while the role of consultants is to reshape them in order for them to become eligible for funding, says Violeta Bulat, consultant for regional capacity and cross-border cooperation development in Moldova of the German Development Cooperation through GIZ (GIZ).

“GIZ assistance on providing consultation at the stage of writing the projects began in 2007, after an analysis of our country’s participation in the cross-border programs. Compared to 2007, when we had a weaker presence, today Moldovan beneficiaries record very good results. For example, in the call for proposals launched in 2011 by the Joint Operational Program Romania-Ukraine-Republic of Moldova, Moldova has managed to attract around 50% of the budget available for this program (for the three countries). Moreover, for the Joint Operational Program Black Sea Basin, our beneficiaries rank third by the participation degree after Romania and Bulgaria, of the eight countries participating in the program. Obviously, these programs do not meet the local needs fully, as it was demonstrated in 2009, when the financial demands exceeded about ten times the budget available for the launched call for proposals”, added Violet Bulat.

“Provision of consultancy services is a normal thing in the EU, the LPA I employees should know the stages of project preparation and, if they are developed in partnership with consulting firms, they should ask for documents. As for the payment, it must be paid by the beneficiaries. However, we hope that the preparation documents for future cooperation programs will be covered by projects”, the GIZ consultant says. For the next period the responsibilities of partner countries will increase, and the state should seriously consider motivating the existing personnel and allocating resources for training new specialists”, stresses Violeta Bulat. Liviu Raischi, Mayor of Tătărăuca Veche commune, explains to students how the project was implemented.

Public Lighting in Tătărăuca Veche, a Successful Project

Liviu Raischi, Mayor of Tătărăuca Veche commune, Soroca rayon, submitted a project proposal to RDA North several years ago to receive funding to restore the street lighting network. Initially, his application was rejected. He was lucky that experts from GIZ Moldova got involved, as they liked the idea. They refined it and finally won funding, and today they have perhaps the most enlightened place in the country at night. “Others spend huge money for consultants, I did it almost for free,” the mayor admits. Since January, six localities in Soroca are illuminated by 357 LEDs (eight times more economical than the simple light fixtures). The cost of electricity, about 4,000 lei per month, is supported by the people, every household contributing with 10 lei monthly. “Now that the night became longer, people have requested the extension of the time of night lighting from 18.00 to 7.00. Elders are happy that the thieves no longer wander through their courtyards,” says Liviu Raischi. The investment cost was over MDL 2.7 million.

It is not the only project implemented by the mayor of Tătărăuca Veche. He has over 40 implemented projects, from modernization of the stadium to investments in education of children in the village. Now, together with organizations in Iasi and Ismail, he trains teachers and students how to keep pace with technology and science. “It’s science time” is a cross-border project, which also promises to be a success, despite the fact that the mayor says he has some problems with the English language.

They Plan to Start a Master’s Program

The project management course is taught at the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova only under a specialization within the undergraduate cycle and within two-three master programs, including Business Administration. “Maybe next year we will have a master specialization of writing projects,” says Grigore Belostecinic, rector. Unlike Chisinau, the economics departments in Cluj and Timisoara have a European-funded master program where the students specialize in the management of European funds.