Preliminary assessment of the first payment request of Romania

Member State compartment, remuneration of the EU Guarantee under the Member State Compartment, amounts recovered and any other payments received) shall be reinvested to pursue the same policy goals, with the effect of such provisions extending after 2026. Commission Preliminary Assessment: Satisfactorily fulfilled

Number: 270        Related Measure: Streamline governance of research, development, and innovation
Name of the Milestone: Policy Support Facility (PSF) Reform Implementation Unit established and
operational
Qualitative Indicator: Adoption of a normative act for the operationalisation
                                                                               Time: Q4 2021
Policy Support Facility Reform Implementation Unit
Context:

This milestone requires the establishment and operationalisation of the Unit for the implementation of the Policy Support Facility Reform (UIRPSF) within the Ministry of Research and Innovation and Digitalisation (MRDI). The UIRPSF shall coordinate all reforms and investments that aim at modernising the architecture and functions of the R&D&I system in Romania. Part of these reforms and investments are already envisaged by the RRP, while the bulk will be recommended by the Policy Support Facility (PSF) in an upcoming report.

The UIRPSF is instrumental for supporting several other milestones and targets in the plan that aim at: a) streamlining the governance of research, development and innovation system (such as Milestone 273); b) set out framework conditions for public research, human resources for research and innovation (Milestones 274 and 276); integrate research, development and innovation organizations in the European R&D&I ecosystem (e.g., Milestones 278 and Target 284); d) promote public–private partnerships in R&D&I (e.g., Milestones 276 and Milestones 280); e) enhancing the impact of structural funds on the research, development and innovation system (e.g., Milestones 278 and Milestones 286). Overall, the UIRPSF shall steer the adoption of at least 80% of PSF recommendations by the end of 2026 (Target 271); by 2026, it shall evolve into a stable structure ensuring the harmonious design and implementation, monitor and evaluation of R&D&I innovation policy beyond 2026 (Milestone 272). Evidence provided:

In line with the verification mechanism set out in the Operational Arrangements, the following evidence was provided: 1. A summary document justifying how the milestone (including all the constitutive elements) was satisfactorily fulfilled. 2. A copy of the publication in the Official Journal No. 425 of 2 May 2022 of Government Decision 371/2021, establishing the UIRPSF. 3. Copies of ministerial orders appointing 10 staff members for the period 2022-2026. 4. Financing order on the implementation of reforms and/or investments financed by Romania’s national recovery and resilience plan (No. 20525/17.05.2022). 5. An official communication confirming from the Ministry of Investment and European Projects that the commitment appropriations and budget appropriations for item 61.01 in the abovementioned financing order are exclusively allocated to the functioning of the PSF

unit. 6. A note from the Romanian authority proving that, following the public competition that ended in June 2022, the number of staff members of the unit increased from 10 to 13, and 2 members more will join in July 2022. All staff members have full-time contracts.

The authorities also provided:

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