The lack of administrative capabilities to implement projects prevents many people from taking advantage of European Union cohesion funding and financing from the European Investment Bank. 2024 marked the tenth anniversary of a key mandate that provides tailor-made assistance for projects supported by cohesion funds. The support comes from the Project Advisory Support Service Agreements (PASSA) set up with promoters in Member States.
Since 2014, when the first PASSA deal was launched in Romania, this advisory programme has accelerated the implementation of European Union and European Investment Bank projects in Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. The work has also substantially improved clients’ administrative capabilities. The three countries have received over €120 million of advisory services under 20 PASSA deals. In 2024, six PASSA projects worth €68 million were under implementation and four new ones were signed: two in Romania, one in Greece and one in Bulgaria.
Romania: Modern passenger trains
Sustainable transport ensures economic and social cohesion, while also helping us meet the objectives of the EIB Climate Bank Roadmap. EIB Advisory support from PASSA and JASPERS over many years has led to major improvements in Romania’s transport sector. A milestone was reached on 20 November 2024, when the first train bought by the Romanian government in 20 years started operating between Bucharest and Brasov.
EIB Advisory support started with the planning of the investments and wider sector reforms within the country’s General Transport Master Plan and continued with support to create the Railway Reform Authority. This new entity manages public service contracts and helps improve the quality and efficiency of rail transport. EIB Advisory helped this authority launch tenders to buy new passenger trains.
The PASSA team’s support led to the signature of contracts for 99 new passenger trains. JASPERS supported the application for EU grant funding, which was approved by the European Commission. The trains will operate on 12 long-distance and ten regional routes across the country.
EIB Advisory support strengthened institutional knowledge and administrative capabilities within the Romanian rail entity. The officials were able to launch – without European Investment Bank support – two separate procurement procedures to buy 20 electric trains for long distances and 16 electric locomotives for passenger traffic.
Greece: Boosting administrative capabilities to build better projects
Recognising that it needs to strengthen its administrative capabilities to implement projects supported by European Union cohesion funds, Greece earmarked €100 million for capacity building in the 2021 to 2027 period.
The Greek Ministry of Economy and Finance asked the European Investment Bank to develop a roadmap to strengthen the administrative and technical skills of clients that implement projects financed by European Union cohesion funds in the water and solid waste sectors.
The Bank’s PASSA team prepared a roadmap covering three parts. First, there is human resources, with a plan to offer a decentralised support mechanism. Second is training and skills, with the aim to share practical knowledge. Third, an operational support centre will guide beneficiaries’ queries to assistance centres.
These skills-building actions will help beneficiaries and also develop quality project pipelines for possible financing by the European Investment Bank. During the assignment, the EIB Advisory staff worked extensively with the solid waste and wastewater regulatory officials. Support will continue in 2025 with a focus on detailed mapping of projects and support for recipients, as well as a governance plan for the programme.