The overall objective of the project was to improve the environmental infrastructure of the concerned localities in Romania, according to EU standards. This was achieved by the following specific objectives:

Ensure compliance with the national and EU legislation within the transition period agreed between Romania and the EU for the environmental sector;
Ensure the optimal utilisation of the EU funds;
Assist the project promoters in development of local capacity for future project development;
Definition of a long-term investment programme.

The intervention was divided into six main phases:

Preparation of 5 projects up to the point where they can be proposed for EU co-financing;
Ensure elaboration of efficient public procurement and implementation plans and preparation of tender documents;
Provision of on-the-job training of staff from the future FB's which will be responsible for project implementation on all stages of the project preparation;
Assistance in establishment and setting up of the PIU's.

Results:

Environmentally sound water projects developed;
High quality preparatory measures for elaboration of the preliminary design of the planned works for the individual projects undertaken;
Local capacity for project preparation and implementation increased;
Long-term investment program for the water (and wastewater) sector for each project location defined.