Romania May Be Split Into New Development Regions After 2013 – Minister

Udrea added her ministry finds it necessary to set off procedures for a new regional division now but, she stressed, nothing can be done for the 2007-2013 interval. She said a new regional division is likely, however, after 2013.

The minister also said Romania’s new division into development regions could pave the way for more achievements in terms of regional development.

According to Udrea, countries that have carried out such reorganization have also rejoiced enhanced regional development and tax collection.

Romania is currently divided into eight development regions which, with the exception of capital Bucharest and its surrounding Ilfov county, are named by their geographical position in the country, namely, the north-west, the north-east, the south-west, the south-east, the south, the west and the center regions.

The development regions correspond to the second level NUTS (Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics) divisions in European Union member states. Despite becoming increasingly significant in regional development projects, Romania’s development regions do not actually have an administrative status and do not have a legislative or executive council or government. They serve a function for allocating European Union PHARE funds for regional development, as well as for collection of regional statistics. They also coordinate a range of regional development projects and became members of the Committee of the Regions when Romania joined the EU on January 1, 2007.