Interview with Mario Nava, Director general of DG Reform

AUDIO:

The public administration in Romania has at hand a relatively new
European instrument to ensure the success of the reforms it wants to apply
especially those included in RRP. This is the Technical Support Instrument within
DG Reform (European Commission, Brussels), through which the European Union
makes specialists available to a member state to implement such projects. The
chances of obtaining specialized support increase if the projects target areas
included in the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism or are included in the country
recommendations made by the European Commission. DG Reform Director
General, Mario Nava, will be in Romania next month to explain these
opportunities. His advice for the authorities in Romania is to communicate the
needs and the ideas they have so that they have a better chance of turning into
projects. An interview by Bogdan Isopescu:
- What would be the main characteristic or benefit that DG Reform brings through
its instruments to The Member States?
- The Technical Support Instrument does not bring money to the member states
but the knowledge of our specialists as support to implement projects that can
help in the implementation of national reforms. The aim is for the beneficiaries
to have all the expertise they need so that they can carry out a specific reform
projects in those states.
- How does Romania benefit or use this tool?
- Romania can request projects annually as the other Member States. Over time,
Romania has taken advantage very well in various fields. We had many projects,
from those regarding public funding, digitalization, sustainability, but also projects
that involved several countries together with Romania. We also have a
permanent representative in Bucharest to support better Romanian authorities.
- If we were to make a comparison with other countries, how well is Romania
using this opportunity? Do they access many projects?
- Romania is among the countries that require many projects but that does not
mean that it is approved as many. What makes a project accepted is the quality of
that project and the beneficiary's ability to implement it, to do that reform. But
overall we are satisfied with the collaboration with the Romanian authorities.
-What are the conditions for a public authority to be able to submit a project?

-The conditions are the same for all Member States. These are related, among
other criteria, to the urgency of the actions proposed by the project, their impact
and the importance of the field. Then there's the ability to turn the project into a
reform. Here we see the capacity of the Member States' administration to make
real reform. It's also important to see that the same administration subsequently
has the ability to pass on the knowledge gained, that the same administration can
move forward on its own without additional help. We call it construction capacity.
-Can you give me some examples of such projects carried out by Romania?
I have several. For example, that project in which Romania participated together
with several countries, the European Academy in the field of Digital Finance,
where the goal was to increase the level of expertise of the supervisory
authorities of the participating countries on digital finance. It is a sector that is
gaining importance as more and more customers, for example, manage their
financesswithout going to a bank but only using phone. Other projects are
specific to Romania, such as projects related to sustainable development or the
management of public funding. An interesting project is being carried out in 2023
for the introduction of the electronic identity card in Romania.
-How does DG Reform assess the success of the implementation of a project?
-There are two ways of evaluation. The first is tripartite: the beneficiaries make an
assessment themselves, our staff and the third partner involved in the
implementation of the project. The second way of evaluation comes a little later,
in a year or two, when we see very clearly the practical effects of that project. For
example, in the case of the introduction of the electronic identity card, we will see
very clearly whether or not it was introduced by Romania in a year or two.
-What are the targets of the new DG Reform programme for 2024? It was
released soon. Are there any differences from the one for 2023?
-It's an evolution, not necessarily a difference. In 2024 we put a lot of emphasis
on public administration and that's because the recovery from the pandemic and
the consequences of the was in Ukraine needs an efficient European public
administration. We have a key program about the future of public administration.
Another programme facilitates the exchange of experience between the
administrations of European countries in order to benefit from best practices at
Community level. People from Romania go to France, for example, the French in
the administration go to Germany and the Germans to Romania and so on.
Another area is that of competences and lifelong learning, beyond training in
youth.
-Are there a limited number of projects that a country can access in a year?

-The Commission has a budget and a limited number of projects that it can carry
out with all Member States. But there is no pre-allocated budget for a particular
country or a number of projects. But I am extremely pleased to see that over the
years all the countries have won projects and these projects have been in all
areas. And I say I'm pleased because it's important that there's a balance between
countries and areas.
- What advice do you give to those who want to win a project?
- The government of a country should have projects in the current sphere, such
as, for example, in those identified in the Recovery and Resilience Plans Or in
accordance with the country specific recommendations made by the European
Commission. I will also give this advice to Romania because I will be there in
thehawk. Once a public authority has a project idea they should get in touch with
us and see together how we can help it mature. So my advice would be that a
potential beneficiary should not stay isolated thinking about a project but to
discuss with us or with another country, to communicate so that the idea
becomes more and more outlined and has the chance to turn into a good project.
-You said that you will go to Romania in iulie. Are you going for something specific
to Romania?
-Annually we go to each country to present the opportunities of the next year and
we try to find the best solutions or give the best advice for the specific problems
of each country, for specific projects with chances of success. Inthe last weeks I
have been in Portugal, Latvia, Sweden and in the middle of July I will be in
Romania
-Is there a possibility for more than one country to participate in a project?
-Certainly! These seem to be some of the best projects, with high chances of
success. The project I mentioned, in which Romania is also involved, the one with
financial digitization, started with 18 countries and now 25 are involved. But in
the same project, each country benefits from solutions tailored to its specific
needs.