EU funds for HR close to EUR 2 bln this year - see what companies got EU funding in Romania

Faced with the current international financial crisis, most companies have given up on their human resources development programs. But the alternative of using European Union funding could allow companies to train their staff or develop HR programs, as Romania has access to a large amount of European funding dedicated to human resources. Romania-Insider.com looks at funds for HR and at the companies that got them. By Alexandra Fodor, Corina Saceanu The Human Resources Development Program has been one of the operational programs that have been the most successful in attracting European funds so far. Such funds allow companies to maintain the staff they need for the development of their activity and properly train them in new areas to help reduce the company’s economic problems. This year alone, EUR 1.9 billion in European financing has been approved for as many as 1,300 projects on human resources. The total value of the projects approved by the end of September this year is of EUR 2.3 billion and the difference will be covered by the project beneficiaries, according to data from the European Social Fund (FSE Romania). Mid-May this year, there were only 720 approved projects. For the period 2007-2013, the European Union has put aside EUR 3.6 billion for Romania's Social European Fund, which is 19.2 percent of the Structural and Cohesion Fund. So far, in 2010, the Education Ministry, Universities, chambers of commerce, NGOs, hospitals, employers' associations, city halls, the National Penitentiary System, as well as private companies have applied for this source of financing. KPMG audit company, telecom companies RCS&RDS and Orange Romania, Bostina & Asociatii law firm, Teraplast, Samusocial, the Motivation Romania foundation, the Association 'Alaturi de voi', Codecs Foundation, Salvati Copiii Romania, Junior Chamber Iasi, Siveco Romania,Asesoft, GDF Suez, Actavis, Silcotub, UniCredit, Hidroelectrica, Lafarge, the Romanian Banking Institute, Netbridge Investments, Danone, Petrom, Continental Automotive, Titan SA, Banca Transilvania, Agrostar, the Brokers' Association, the Association of Business People in Romania (AOAR), the Soros Foundation, and HR Management have all received EU funding for HR.(See more details about a couple of EU-funded HR programs in the second part of the article) The European funding is allotted through the European Social Fund (FSE Romania) and the institutions responsible for implementing this fund in Romania are the Ministry of Labor, Family and Social Protection and the Ministry of Administration and Internal Affairs. On the HR side, companies have the opportunity to apply for projects such as training programs for qualifying employees, mentorship programs to encourage youth employment, financial aid for employing persons from vulnerable groups, occupational, health and safety programs, including purchasing of specific equipments. A qualified labor force, with a high level of training, having the capacity to respond to the new technologies and to the changing needs of the market is essential for a competitive and dynamic Romanian economy. And the use of funds through the Human Resources Development operational program could lead to this outcome. FSE in Romania will finance two programs: