Communications

Domestic service is improving: 90% of telephone network is automatic; trunk network is mostly microwave radio relay, with some fiber-optic cable; about one-third of exchange capacity is digital; roughly 3,300 villages have no service international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat; new digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest; note - Romania is an active participant in several international telecommunication network projects (1999).
Three UE pre-accession instruments have been financed by the European Community to assist the candidate country of Romania with its pre-accession preparations: the Phare programme; SAPARD, which provides aid for agricultural and rural development; and ISPA, which finances infrastructure projects in the fields of environment and transport. The support provided by these programmes is focused on the Accession Partnership priorities, which are intended to help the candidate countries meet the criteria for membership.
Phare provides support for institution building, investment to strengthen the regulatory infrastructure needed to ensure compliance with the acquis, and investment in economic and social cohesion. Phare also helps the candidate countries develop the mechanisms and institutions that will be needed to implement Structural Funds after accession and is supported by a limited number of measures (investment and grant schemes) with a regional or thematic focus.
ISPA programming is governed by the national strategy papers for transport and the environment, which the Romanian authorities finalised in 2000. The strategic objectives in the field of transport are intended to address serious weaknesses in the network of roads and railways and are focussed on the modernisation of the trans-European corridors crossing the country. Other priorities are dealing with increased traffic levels around urban areas and developing the use of waterways.
In 2002, a total commitment of € 256.5 million was made for Romania under ISPA. The allocation for Romania until the end of 2002 represented 23% of the overall ISPA budget. In 2003 a provisional commitment of € 255.1 million was made for Romania.
In preparation for UE accession, the 2003 Phare Programme for Romania consisted of an allocation of € 265.5 million for the National Programme. In addition, € 13 million has been allocated to cross border co-operation (CBC) programmes with Bulgaria (€ 8 million) and Hungary (€ 5 million). A further allocation of € 7.3 million has been made for CBC-type investments on the external borders of Romania.
Phare focused on the political criteria, economic criteria, strengthening administrative capacity, meeting the obligations of the acquis, economic and social cohesion, participation in Community Programmes (€ 23.4 million).

Romania has continued to make good progress with the transposition of the transport acquis and with the establishment of the required administrative structures but maritime safety remains a concern. Priority is given to developing institutions to enforce the new legislation and securing the funding needed to make the heavy investments.