The RETRACE Action Plan of the North-East Region of Romania is carried out by the North-East Regional Development Agency and it includes three actions aiming at promoting the improvement of Priority Axis 2 of the ROP 2014-2020, improving of the knowledge of the Environment Protection Agencies in the 6 counties of the North-East Region and last but not least, supporting an association of 8 municipalities (MONTPESA) to plan the local economic development of their territory on the principles of sustainable development and circular economy.
ACTION 1 – Improving specific funding schemes for fostering circular economy and the systemic design approach
The aim of this action is to promote the inclusion of the 2nd NACE code among the eligible criteria for investment projects, under the calls for proposals launched for the Priority Action 2 of the Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020, a condition that is now not supported under this Priority Action.
The Management Authority agreed to include this provision under Priority Axis 1 (North-East RDA proposal), but for Priority Axis 2 this became a real option in Spring 2018. The guidelines issued “under consultation” were improved according to our recommendation.
Timing:
2018: official letter sent to the Management Authority (in April); new guidelines were issued (September)
2019: launch of a new call for proposals under Priority Axis 2 of ROP 2014-2020 (Intervention Priority 2.2 referred to SMEs).
ACTION 2 – Improving the Environment Public Authorities knowledge on secondary raw materials
The problem related to the quality standards of secondary raw materials is a general issue at European level, and also manifests in Romania as well. There are producers whose output are refused as input by potential partners because of their taxonomy as waste and with no certificate for guaranteeing quality.
This action will envisage improving of the knowledge of the Environment Protection Agencies in the 6 counties of the North-East Region in order for them to potentially elaborate quality standards and provisions for secondary raw materials.
Timing:
2019 – depending on the availability of the funding source envisaged.
ACTION 3 – Pilot actions to implement systemic design for circular economy at local level
This action aims at supporting an association of 8 municipalities (MONTPESA) to plan the local economic development of their territory on the principles of sustainable development and circular economy. This action aims at valorising the resources of the territory and to further identify the existing synergies in the local economic tissue, expressed through the elaboration of a strategic document (territorial development strategy).
Timing:
2018: Two Application Forms were submitted to facilitate research (tourism and sustainable development considering systemic design) (short supply chains) – RETRACE cited as inspiration – and are under evaluation.
1 local producers’ fair organized on May 14, 2018 by the Municipality of Darmanesti - open to the MONTPESA members - similar to the PRODUKTON GP.
