Structure of European Funding by Sectors of Economic Activity Case Study - Suceava County

Abstract

Romania's economic vision must be in line with that of the European Union, aiming at integration into a global market that offers major benefits for all citizens. These benefits can only be offered in a market with common rules and economically and socially aligned regions. The present research analyzes the projects financed between 2021 and 2027, related to Suceava County, according to the updated situation of the Ministry of Investments and European Projects, the objective of the analysis being to test the research hypothesis according to which the allocation of European funds by economic sectors, at the county level, reflects their structure and share in the local economy. The results of the research refute this hypothesis, highlighting the existence of a discrepancy between the economic structure of Suceava County – where the service sector holds a majority share in terms of employment and the number of enterprises – and the structure of the allocation of European funds, characterized by a predominant orientation towards the industrial sector. This mismatch indicates that the distribution of European funds does not proportionally reproduce the sectoral configuration of the county economy. The intertwining of the expertise of the academic environment with the process of implementation and monitoring of European funds can strengthen the qualitative component of the investments made. Universities can support the targeting of European resources towards projects that foster job creation, high value-added investments, competitive goods, and services on the European market. UDC: 339.727.2:338.1(498); JEL: R11, R58, H54