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WB reviews public services quality improvement

The World Bank, along with several ministries, is undertaking a Functional Review of their activity in order to identify new actions that would improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of public services delivered, given that Romania is lagging behind other European countries in this respect, informs a World Bank press release sent Agerpres.

'The World Bank thus supports the Government in addressing the major challenges Romania's public administration faces today: to meet short-term fiscal needs, while creating a foundation for future sustainable and equitable growth,' reads the WB release.The Functional Review is undertaken by the World Bank under the advisory services agreement concluded with the Government of Romania and in cooperation with the European Commission.

The WB activity is structured in two phases. From March to October 2010, the World Bank is reviewing the Centre of Government, Competition, Pre-university Education, Transport, Agriculture and Rural Development and Public Finance.

In the second phase, from October 2010 to March 2011, a new set of sectors, to be decided with the European Commission and the Government of Romania, will be included in the analysis. Overall recommendations will be included in an Action Plan that the Government will prepare, and that will be endorsed by the European Commission.

According to the WB, Romania lags behind other countries in Europe with respect to the quality and cost-effectiveness of services delivered. Not only must Romania converge to older EU members, but also it will have to work as equal partner with the others to achieve the common EU objectives.

'The Government of Romania must become an audible voice among the 27 and contribute to the EU's goals in the global economy, in the EU 2020 strategy,' said Nicolae Idu, representative of the European Commission in Romania.

He also pointed out that Romania needed to implement locally the European policies.

'The Functional Reviews will boost Romania's administration capacity to rise up to the challenge, as Romania is now a full member of the EU,' said Idu.

Moreover, the fiscal crunch has highlighted underlying structural problems: Romania's public sector is simply too costly within the Government's capacity to raise revenues, which requires administration retrenchments to affordable levels.

'The WB supports the reform of the administration because it is important and urgent. It is important not just to save money now, but to foster medium-term economic growth. It is urgent because, with the crisis, the country cannot afford to keep wasting resources through inefficient and inequitable processes. Too often people do not realize how difficult some decisions are and this increases resistance to change. Therefore, we will also work with the Government to find ways to explain the key reforms and build broad coalitions,' said Francois Rantrua, World Bank Country Manager for Romania.

Sursa: http://www.agerpres.ro

Tags: romania european government world services quality public

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