Abstract:

The article deals with the significant contribution of the European structural and investment funds to the economic and social progress of the development regions and their component counties in Romania. The very large differences between the counties regarding the absorption of European funds are highlighted, the main cause of the low degree of absorption being the reduced administrative capacity of the local authorities to create the conditions necessary to access these funds to a greater extent. The achievements registered in the implementation of the national programs financed from European funds, although presented only partially, are convincing through their contribution to the economic and social development of the NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions. Finally, the main lessons learned from the implementation of the programs during the two EU budgets 2007-2013 and 2014-2020