




































AGORA INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECONOMICAL SCIENCES, 
AIJES, ISSN 2067-3310, E - ISSN 2067 – 7669, VOL 10 (2016) 

9 

 

A parallel between the general conditions of applicability of POSDRU – 

POCU 

 

Bulzan Ramona Rebeca
1
 Roxana Herdelău

2
 

 

Abstract 

When we hear "POCU / POSDRU" we know that there are two funding programs carried out with the support of the 

European Union and the State Budget; POCU - proposed for implementation in 2014-2020, and POSDRU - 

implemented in 2007-2013. 

 

 

Keywords: POCU, competitiveness, grant, structural funds 

       

Introduction 

      Thus the two funding programs, strictly observe HRD - Human Resources Development Programme 2007-2013 

and POCU - Human Capital Development Programme 2014-2020 presents the following fundamental successively 

Sustainable Development Strategy of the EU economy as a whole taken. 

POCU continues in 2014-2020 in human resources development funding being allocated 5 billion Euros
3
 in the 

period mentioned above. 

 

1. POSDRU 
Objectives and scope of POS activities were established based on the analysis of human resource development. 

They have been defined in accordance with the following documents:
4
 

-  the Joint Assessment of Employment Policy Employment (JAP); 

-  National Plan for Employment 2004 - 2005; 

- Joint Inclusion Memorandum (JIM); 

- National Strategy for Employment 2005-2010; 

- Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs; 

- Accession Economic Programme 2005; 

- short and medium-term strategy on continuous vocational training 2005-2010; 

-  The National Strategy on social inclusion of young people over 18 who leave the child protection 2006-

2008; 

- Government Strategy for rromi people 2001; 

- The National Strategy for protection, integration and social inclusion of disabled persons in 2006-2013 - 

"Equal opportunities for people with disabilities - towards a society without discrimination"; 

- The National Strategy of equality between women and men. 

- Strategy for decentralization of education (draft under discussion); 

- Strategic Guidelines on Education 2005-2008. 

 

                                                           
1
 Agora University of Oradea, Romania, e-mail: rebeca.bulzan2002@univagora.ro 

2
  Agora University of Oradea, Romania, e-mail: herdelauroxana@yahoo.com 

3
 According to statistics data on fonduri structurale.ro  

4
 http://graduo.ro/economie/programul-operational-dezvoltarea-resurselor-umane-143961 accessed in 1st of 

November 2016 



10 

 

The main objective of POS DRU was represented by human capital and increasing competitiveness on the labour 

market, by providing equal opportunities for lifelong learning and the development of a modern labour market. 

The specific objectives can be summarized as follows:
5
 

 Enhancing education and training of human capital; 

 Human resources development in education; 

 Promoting entrepreneurial culture; 

 Facilitating the young people on the labour market. 

 

2. POCU 

Human Capital Operational Programme sets out investment priorities, specific objectives and actions taken in the 

field of human resources, thus continuing investment through the European Social Fund in 2007-2013 and also 

contributing to the overall objective of the Partnership (2014-2020 AP) - European Structural Funds default and 

Investment in Romania, namely, to reduce economic and social development disparities between Romania and EU 

Member States.
6
 

 

Parallel POSDRU – POCU 

POSDRU 
7
 POCU 

8
 

Priority Axis 1. Education and training in support of 

growth and development of knowledge based society 

Priority Axis 1. The initiative jobs for young people  

Priority Axis 2. Connecting lifelong learning and 

labour market 

Priority Axis 2. Improving the situation of young 

people NEETs 

Priority Axis 3. Increasing adaptability of workers and 

enterprises 

Priority Axis 3. Jobs  for all 

Priority Axis 4. Modernising Public Employment 

Service 

Priority Axis 4. Social inclusion and combating 

poverty 

Priority Axis 5. Promoting active employment 

measures 

Priority Axis 5. Community-led Local Development 

(DLRC) 

Priority Axis 6. Promoting social inclusion Priority Axis 6. Education and Competencies 

Priority Axis 7. Technical Support Priority Axis 7. Technical Support 

 

Priority Axis 1. "Education and training in support of growth and development of knowledge based society" has the 

general objective: developing routes flexible lifelong learning and increasing access to education and training by 

providing education initial and modern and quality, including higher education and research. 

 

AP 1 " The initiative jobs for young people " - overall objective: sustainable integration on the labour market of 

young people, especially those who are unemployed, who are not in education or training, including young 

                                                           
5
 Idem, accessed in 2nd of  November 2016 

6
 http://www.fonduri-ue.ro/pocu-2014 accessed in 1st of November 2016 

7
 www.fonfuri-ue.ro Applicant's Guide 2015 

8
 www.fonduri-ue.ro/pocu-2014  POCU synthesis 

http://www.fonfuri-ue.ro/
http://www.fonduri-ue.ro/pocu-2014


11 

 

people facing risk of social exclusion and youth from marginalized communities, including the implementation of 

the guarantee for young people. 

 

Priority Axis 2. "Connecting lifelong learning and labour market" - overall objective: access to education, increasing 

employability and level of education and training of human resources through an approach of "lifelong" in context 

of the knowledge society. 

AP 2 " Improving the situation of young people NEETs " - sustainable integration on the labour market of young 

people, especially those who are unemployed, who are not in education or training, including young people who are 

at risk of exclusion social and youth from marginalized communities, including the implementation of the guarantee 

for young people. 

 

Priority Axis 3. "Increasing adaptability of workers and enterprises' general objective is to promote entrepreneurial 

culture, flexibility and adaptability by supporting employment and enterprises competent, trained and adaptable. 

PA3 "Jobs for all" - access to employment for people looking for a job and inactive people, including long-term 

unemployed and people with little prospect of employment, including to the local initiatives of employment and 

support for labour mobility; self-employment, entrepreneurship and business creation, including some of 

microenterprises and small and medium innovative enterprises; adaptation to change of workers, enterprises and 

entrepreneurs; institutional modernization market forces work such as public services and private employment of the 

workforce and improving satisfaction market forces work by encouraging the mobility of workers and mobility 

program and through better cooperation between institutions and parties relevant stakeholders; increasing equal 

access to lifelong learning for all age groups in formal settings, formal and informal, updating knowledge, skills and 

competences of the workforce and promoting learning pathways flexible, inclusive by targeting and validation of 

competences acquired. 

 

Priority Axis 4 "Modernisation of Public Employment Service" - overall objective: improve the quality, efficiency 

and transparency of employment services provided by the Public Employment Service (ANOFM). 

  PA 4 "Social inclusion and combating poverty" - socio-economic integration of marginalized communities such as 

the rromi people; promotion of social entrepreneurship and vocational integration in social enterprises and 

promoting social economy and solidarity to facilitate access to employment; increasing access to affordable, 

sustainable and high quality, including health care and social services of general interest. 

 

Axis 5 "Promoting active employment measures" has the overall objective to facilitate labour market integration of 

young unemployed and the long-term unemployed, attracting and retaining more people in employment, including 

in rural areas and supporting formal employment. 

AP 5 „Community-led Local Development (DLRC)" - local development. 

 

Priority Axis 6. "Promoting social inclusion" - overall objective: facilitating access to employment of vulnerable 

groups and promoting a cohesive and inclusive society to ensure the welfare of all citizens. 

AP 6 "Education and skills" - reducing and preventing early school leaving and promoting equal access to 

preschool, primary and secondary quality learning pathways including formal, non-formal and informal education 

and vocational reintegration; sustainable integration in the labour market of young people especially those who are 

unemployed, who are not in education or training, including young people who are at risk of social exclusion and 

youth from marginalized communities, including the implementation of security for the young; improving the 

quality and efficiency of tertiary and equivalent and access to them in order to increase participation and attainment 

levels, especially for disadvantaged groups; increasing equal access to lifelong learning for all age groups in formal 

settings, formal and informal, updating knowledge, skills and competences of the workforce and promoting flexible 

learning pathways including through career guidance and validation of competences acquired; increasing relevance 

labour market education and training systems, facilitating the transition from education to market forces work and 



12 

 

enhancing training and training systems, and their quality, including through mechanisms for anticipation skills, 

adaptation educational programs and the establishment and development of systems for learning at work, including 

dual learning systems and apprenticeship programs. 

 

Priority Axis 7 "Technical assistance" aims general support for the implementation of POS DRU and efficient use of 

the Community financial support and national co-financing. 

PA 7 "Technical Assistance" - improving the capacity of AM and OI and POCU to manage and implement efficient 

and effective operational program; POCU improving beneficiaries' capacity to effectively and efficiently implement 

FSE projects; raising awareness of beneficiaries and potential beneficiaries POCU regarding activities that may be 

subject FSE, promotion and implementation of best practices and initiatives in the FSE.  

 

POSDRU implemented while creating a human resource interdependencies between education and labour market 

development POCU implements this interdependence focuses on workforce quality through the development of 

human resources and skills of the labour market. 

The parallel between the two funding programs show changes regarding the applicability of their implementation so 

we emphasize: 

POCU - Financial and operational capacity
9
 

As a general rule, a legal entity cannot participate in more than 5 projects for each call for proposals, regardless of 

the applicant or as a partner. Where is identified as participating in more than 5 projects on a request for proposals, 

all projects identified by the participating legal entity will be rejected. Depending on the type of request for 

proposals, the applicant's guide specific conditions or amendments may contain exceptions to this rule. 

POSDRU - Financial and operational capacity: this condition does not exist. 

Following a survey of the business environment and institutional framework, both by the funding authorities and 

their representatives directly, we found that a significant number of beneficiaries who have implemented projects 

POSDRU have difficulties in settlement of project expenditure, as effect of late payment applications for 

reimbursement and / or payment by the competent authority. 

The new financing program, POCU attempts by the ministry by funding authorities to regulate matters of a financial 

nature unwanted (unable to pay or the insolvency or bankruptcy) by capping the deposit up to 5 projects. 

POCU - Financial capacity of the partnership 

 

1. Public Institutions 

2. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) older than 1 year 

3. Companies (SC) older than 1 year 

4. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are older than 1 year 

5. Companies (SC) are older than 1 year 

POSDRU - Financial capacity of the partnership 

1. Public Institutions 

2. ONG older than 1 year 

3. SRL older than 1 year 

4. ONG for less than 1 year 

5. SRL are older than 1 year 

The importance and relevance of this change is bringing added value to the principle of equal opportunities for 

POSDRU started and continued through this change, enabling the diversification of the types of companies to 

support the objectives well defined POCU. 

                                                           
9
 Guidelines on accessing funding under POCU 2014-2020, April 2016 



13 

 

POCU - General rules on eligibility 

Cash payments will only be used in duly justified circumstances (e.g. subsidies for the target group), only in 

situations where payments through the banking system or through postal order cannot be carried out. In these 

particular cases, the Beneficiary shall require the prior consent of the AM/OI POCU responsible. Any cash payment 

made by the Beneficiary / Partner without prior AM/OI POCU will be deemed ineligible. 

POSDRU - General rules on eligibility: this condition does not exist. 

Given the accounting policies Romania's alignment with European and they are aimed at eliminating possible cash 

transactions so that POCU help achieve them by adding the above mentioned amendment. 

POCU - Expenses related to outsourced activities 

POCU funded projects are not mandatory auditing services and auditing. Where, for implementing the project, the 

applicant decides to use the services, expenses will be classified as indirect costs. 

POSDRU - auditing services and financial auditing 

Quality Assurance refund applications submitted during the implementation of the project and the expenditure 

incurred, are necessary services provided by a chartered accountant/chartered accountant and an independent 

auditor. 

Analyzing goal this change, we can say that has both positive points and less favourable. We consider favourable 

financial terms that without mandatory outsourcing accounting expertise and financial audit intervenes in budget 

savings applicant also is in the process of gaining time applications for payment or reimbursement; the fact that an 

unfavourable accounting expertise and financial audit on the expenditure ensure their authenticity and accuracy, so 

if that occurred some errors, they could be checked and corrected. 

Conclusion  

Need for European funding for organizations in Romania focused on human capital development have been, are and 

will be required to develop both horizontally and vertically to these organizations in this context based on the 

comparison between the two guides we conclude that the new guide POCU comes with a number of additions and 

clarifications but not enough detail on the small entrepreneur from Romania. 

Bibliography 

1. According to statistics data on fonduri structurale.ro  

2. Guidelines on accessing funding under POCU 2014-2020, April 2016 

3. http://graduo.ro/economie/programul-operational-dezvoltarea-resurselor-umane-143961 accessed in 1st of 

November 2016 

4. http://www.fonduri-ue.ro/pocu-2014 accessed in 1st of November 2016 

5. www.fonfuri-ue.ro Applicant's Guide 2015 

6. www.fonduri-ue.ro/pocu-2014  POCU synthesis 

 

 

http://www.fonfuri-ue.ro/
http://www.fonduri-ue.ro/pocu-2014

