The importance of cross-border cooperation has been enhanced by the new transformations at EU level and led to the definition of a new concept to support the development of the border areas.
In this context, during the negotiations with the European Commission on Chapter 21, “Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments”, it was highlighted the need for new structures in the territory to be involved in ensuring the management of cross-border cooperation programmes.
These new structures, called the Regional Offices for Cross-border Cooperation (ROCBC) located near the Common Border Areas, aim to ensure the neighborhood programmes management.
Five regional offices for cross-border cooperation were set up in Iasi, Suceava, Timisoara, Oradea and Calarasi through the association of the Regional Development Agencies in the common border areas.
These offices (ROCBCs) are legal bodies, have non-governmental, non-profit and apolitical status, working in the field of regional development and cross-border cooperation.
The main objectives of the regional offices for cross-border cooperation are:
Promoting cooperation between regions, communities and authorities located on both sides of the Romanian border to solve common problems;
Design and implement cross-border strategies to contribute to the development of these communities in terms of increasing living standards and economic development;
Promoting good neighborhood, social stability and economic progress in border regions by funding projects with clear benefits for regions and communities in these regions;
Supporting decentralization of responsibility through the promotion of local initiatives carried out within local strategies.
To achieve these objectives, the Regional Office for Cross-border Cooperation is also hosting the Joint Technical Secretariats of different neighborhood programmes.
The Regional Office for Cross-Border Cooperation Suceava for Romania-Ukraine Border is a body created by the association of the three Regional Development Agencies in Romania’s border with Ukraine.
ROCBC SUCEAVA mission
The Regional Office for Cross-border Cooperation Suceava (ROCBC SUCEAVA) is a legal entity, have non-governmental, non-profit status and operates in the field of regional development and cross-border cooperation.
The declared mission of ROCBC SUCEAVA is the sustainable development of the Romanian-Ukrainian border regions by promoting interregional, domestic and international cooperation, and supporting local initiatives.
ROCBC SUCEAVA main objectives
The main objectives of the regional offices for cross-border cooperation are:
- Ensuring the administrative, technical and logistic support for the implementation of the Neighborhood Programmes between Romania and Ukraine (PHARE, ENPI CBC, ENI CBC, etc);
- Promoting cooperation between the regions, communities and authorities located on both sides of the Romanian border to solve common problems;
- Design and implement cross-border strategies and projects to contribute to the development of these communities in terms of increasing living standards and economic development;
- Promoting good neighborhood, social stability and economic progress in border regions by funding projects with clear benefits for regions and communities in these regions;
- Stimulating interregional, internal and international cross-border cooperation, including within Euroregions, as well as the participation of cross-border regions in European structures and organizations that promote economic, social and institutional development, in order to develop an implement projects of common interest, in accordance with international agreements in which Romania is part of;
- Supporting decentralization of responsibility;
- Promotion of local initiatives, carried out within local strategies;
- Promoting innovation, technology transfer and know-how by strengthening the link between business and science / technology / research;
- Increase the attractiveness of Romania-Ukraine border regions in order to attract investments and carry out specific activities aimed at increasing the volume of private investments.