(2 rânduri libere, 11p) Studies and Scientific Researches. Economics Edition, No 35, 2022 http://sceco.ub.ro 49 SOME PUBLIC POLICY INSTRUMENTS INITIATED IN ROMANIA IN THE COVID-19 CONTEXT Florina Popa Academia Română, Institutul de Economie Națională, București florinapopa289@gmail.com Abstract Ensuring the convergence in the process of the Romanian economic and social environment adaptation, to the requirements of internal market of European Union, but also the alignment of public policies with good practices of European Union, led to the emergence of new types of policies and instruments, for different fields of implementation, in the new conjuncture. As a consequence the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, governments all over the world, imposed restrictions intended for the protection of population, with effects on the economic and social life. In Romania, the government's intervention policies consisted of actions aimed at preventing the collapse in the national economy, materialized in plans, programs and measures, supported by laws and Government Decisions, which constitutes as basic instruments of the period 2020- 2021. The present paper tries to present, in a synthetic manner, two essential public policy instruments used in Romania, to combat the negative effects caused by pandemic crisis, respectively, National Recovery and Resilience Plan and National Reform Programme 2021. The conclusions and proposals which ends the paper express the essence of the results obtained. The research methodology used was the documentation from specialty literature, focus on significant issues, synthesis and processing of information, through the author’ own interpretation. Keywords pandemic crisis; public policies; instruments, economic consequences, recovery and resilience. JEL Classification O20; O21; O29 1. Introduction In Romania, the emergence of new more complex domains for public policy implementation, formed on the basis of the new requirements of development led to the extension of their scope, that enriched with a wide range of policies and instruments directed towards new fields of activity. Financing public polices needs internal financial resources (Stoica C. and Moisoiu C., 2007, p. 520). The alignment of public policies with good practices of European Union, caused by the requirements of European Union led to the emergence of new types of policies and instruments, for different fields of implementation, to answer the new conditions of development. Among others, it has been aimed at ensuring the convergence in the process of the Romanian economic and social environment adaptation, to the requirements of internal market of European Union (Stoica and Moisoiu, 2007, p. 521). It could be highlighted more situations of public policy-making (Stoica and Moisoiu, 2007, p. 520): ⇒ Development of certain policies already known, such as trade policy, monetary and fiscal policy; SOME PUBLIC POLICY INSTRUMENTS INITIATED IN ROMANIA IN THE COVID-19 CONTEXT 50 ⇒ New policy making, in the new conjuncture of development: regional development policy and competition policy or other public policies, such as those of knowledge-based economy; ⇒ The possibility that the component elements of a certain policy to become public policies, such as the food security policy. ⇒ New policy making, by joining with other types: the policy of development through external trade, policy of development through poles of competitiveness. Public policy elaborating, administration and implementation aims at sustaining the optimal running of some sectors of activity and elimination of malfunctions of activity (Stoica C. and Moisoiu C., 2007, p. 520). Following the request of the European Commission, the World Bank, in Romania, the public policy term was institutionalized. This has undergone changes in the administration level, which have materialized in the "transition from a perspective oriented towards keeping institutions, to one oriented towards the results of their activity"1. The main institutions and authorities concerned in the process of public policy formulation, at the national level, are: the Parliament, Legislative Council, the Cabinet of Prime Minister, General Secretariat of the Government (GSG), Public Policy Units (PPU) at ministers′ level, the Permanent Inter-Ministerial Councils2. The proposals concerning public policies precede the stage of elaboration of the normative acts for their application. For that purpose, the elaboration of the appropriate legislative framework is initiated and finalized, at the level of government and relevant bodies3. In Romania, there have been concernments for the development of legislative 1Guvernul României, MAI ANFP, p. 11, Politici publice, Uniunea Europeană - Fondul Social European; Guvernul României - Ministerul Administrației şi Internelor; Inovație în administrație - Programul Operațional "Dezvoltarea Capacității Administrative", „Creşterea capacităţii funcţionarilor publici din Ministerul Apărării Naţionale şi Agenţiei Naţionale a Funcţionarilor Publici de a gestiona procesele de management strategic instituţional şi de proiect, în contextul dezvoltării şi întăririi rolului funcţiei publice” cod SMIS nr. 22857 ADMINISTRAȚIE ȘI APĂRARE – PARTENERIAT PENTRU PERFORMANȚĂ, http://www.anfp.gov.ro/R/Doc/2015/Proiecte/Incheiate/MAPN/3.%20Materiale%20de%20formare%20Poli tici%20publice.pdf; 2Guvernul României MAI ANFP, p. 11, 12, Politici publice, Uniunea Europeană - Fondul Social European; Guvernul României - Ministerul Administrației şi Internelor; Inovație în administrație - Programul Operațional "Dezvoltarea Capacității Administrative", „Creşterea capacităţii funcţionarilor publici din Ministerul Apărării Naţionale şi Agenţiei Naţionale a Funcţionarilor Publici de a gestiona procesele de management strategic instituţional şi de proiect, în contextul dezvoltării şi întăririi rolului funcţiei publice” cod SMIS nr. 22857 ADMINISTRAȚIE ȘI APĂRARE – PARTENERIAT PENTRU PERFORMANȚĂ, http://www.anfp.gov.ro/R/Doc/2015/Proiecte/Incheiate/MAPN/3.%20Materiale%20de%20formare%20Poli tici%20publice.pdf.; Fundația PAEM ALBA; ACE-ES, București (Asociația Consultanților și Experților în Economie Socială România) (2019), p. 18, Manual de bune practici internaționale cu privire la metode de participare și influențare a politicilor publice , Perioada de elaborare: Ianuarie 2019 – Aprilie 2019, Uniunea Europeană - Fondul Social European, Guvernul României, POCA (Programul Operațional Capacitate Administrativă Competența face diferența!), Instrumente Structurale 2014-2020, https://www.paemalba.ro/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Manual-de-bune-practici-.pdf; 3Fundația PAEM ALBA; ACE-ES, București (Asociația Consultanților și Experților în Economie Socială România) (2019), p. 18, Manual de bune practici internaționale cu privire la metode de participare și influențare a politicilor publice , Perioada de elaborare: Ianuarie 2019 – Aprilie 2019, Uniunea Europeană - Fondul Social European, Guvernul României, POCA (Programul Operațional Capacitate Administrativă Competența face diferența!), Instrumente Structurale 2014-2020; Guvernul României, MAI ANFP, p. 11, Politici publice, Uniunea Europeană - Fondul Social European; Guvernul României - Ministerul Administrației şi Internelor; Inovație în administrație - Programul Operațional "Dezvoltarea Capacității Administrative", „Creşterea capacităţii funcţionarilor publici din Ministerul Apărării Naţionale şi Agenţiei Naţionale a Funcţionarilor Publici de a gestiona procesele de management strategic instituţional şi de proiect, în contextul dezvoltării şi întăririi rolului funcţiei publice” cod SMIS nr. 22857 ADMINISTRAȚIE ȘI APĂRARE – PARTENERIAT PENTRU PERFORMANȚĂ, http://www.anfp.gov.ro/R/Doc/2015/Proiecte/Incheiate/MAPN/3.%20Materiale%20de%20formare%20Politici%20publice.pdf http://www.anfp.gov.ro/R/Doc/2015/Proiecte/Incheiate/MAPN/3.%20Materiale%20de%20formare%20Politici%20publice.pdf http://www.anfp.gov.ro/R/Doc/2015/Proiecte/Incheiate/MAPN/3.%20Materiale%20de%20formare%20Politici%20publice.pdf http://www.anfp.gov.ro/R/Doc/2015/Proiecte/Incheiate/MAPN/3.%20Materiale%20de%20formare%20Politici%20publice.pdf https://www.paemalba.ro/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Manual-de-bune-practici-.pdf Popa 51 framework for the public policy formulation, at central level. The normative framework (H.G. 775/2005) regulates the procedures for ”elaborating, monitoring and evaluation of public policies at central level”4. Also, ”public policy units (PPU) have been created at the level of ministries” 5. Among the public policies in Romania, it can be exemplified: trade policy, monetary and fiscal policy, regional development policies, competition policy (Stoica C. and Moisoiu C., 2007, p. 520). 2. Public policies, instruments developed for sustaining national economy, in pandemic crises The world economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis have been significant, affecting the economic growth in the context of the restrictions imposed by government measures to protect the population. The effect was felt throughout the production circuit, with an impact on jobs, incomes, the evolution of demand and supply6. The government's intervention policies consisted of actions aimed at preventing the collapse in the Romanian economy, initiatives to help companies and provide the necessary resources to finance companies, measures taken to keep the jobs of employees who have suffered temporary interruptions, public investment in order to http://www.anfp.gov.ro/R/Doc/2015/Proiecte/Incheiate/MAPN/3.%20Materiale%20de%20formare%20Poli tici%20publice.pdf; Hotărârea de Guvern nr. 775 din 14 iulie 2005 pentru aprobarea Regulamentului privind procedurile de elaborare, monitorizare şi evaluare a politicilor publice la nivel central, Monitorul Oficial nr. 685/29 iulie 2005, https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocumentAfis/63743; Regulament din 14 iulie 2005 privind procedurile de elaborare, monitorizare şi evaluare a politicilor publice la nivel central, aprobat de Hotărârea de Guvern nr. 775 din 14 iulie 2005, Monitorul Oficial nr. 685 din 29 iulie 2005, https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocumentAfis/63744; Cosmin Stoica, Cristian Moisoiu (2007), p. 521, Importanţa politicilor publice în dezvoltarea social-economică a României; 4Fundația PAEM ALBA; ACE-ES, București (Asociația Consultanților și Experților în Economie Socială România) (2019), p. 18, quotes H.G.775/2005, in Manual de bune practici internaționale cu privire la metode de participare și influențare a politicilor publice , Perioada de elaborare: Ianuarie 2019 – Aprilie 2019, Uniunea Europeană - Fondul Social European, Guvernul României, POCA (Programul Operațional Capacitate Administrativă Competența face diferența!), Instrumente Structurale 2014-2020; Guvernul României, MAI ANFP, p. 11, quotes H.G.775/2005, in Politici publice, Uniunea Europeană - Fondul Social European; Guvernul României - Ministerul Administrației şi Internelor; Inovație în administrație - Programul Operațional "Dezvoltarea Capacității Administrative", „Creşterea capacităţii funcţionarilor publici din Ministerul Apărării Naţionale şi Agenţiei Naţionale a Funcţionarilor Publici de a gestiona procesele de management strategic instituţional şi de proiect, în contextul dezvoltării şi întăririi rolului funcţiei publice” cod SMIS nr. 22857 ADMINISTRAȚIE ȘI APĂRARE – PARTENERIAT PENTRU PERFORMANȚĂ,; 5Fundația PAEM ALBA; ACE-ES, București (Asociația Consultanților și Experților în Economie Socială România) (2019), p. 18, Manual de bune practici internaționale cu privire la metode de participare și influențare a politicilor publice , Perioada de elaborare: Ianuarie 2019 – Aprilie 2019, Uniunea Europeană - Fondul Social European, Guvernul României, POCA (Programul Operațional Capacitate Administrativă Competența face diferența!), Instrumente Structurale 2014-2020; Guvernul României, MAI ANFP, p.12, Politici publice, Uniunea Europeană - Fondul Social European; Guvernul României - Ministerul Administrației şi Internelor; Inovație în administrație - Programul Operațional "Dezvoltarea Capacității Administrative", „Creşterea capacităţii funcţionarilor publici din Ministerul Apărării Naţionale şi Agenţiei Naţionale a Funcţionarilor Publici de a gestiona procesele de management strategic instituţional şi de proiect, în contextul dezvoltării şi întăririi rolului funcţiei publice” cod SMIS nr. 22857 ADMINISTRAȚIE ȘI APĂRARE – PARTENERIAT PENTRU PERFORMANȚĂ,; 6Guvernul României, Planul Național de Investiții și Relansare Economică (The National Plan for Investments and Economic Recovery - NPIER) – Iulie 2020, p.11; Òscar Jordà, Sanjay R. Singh, and Alan M. Taylor (2020), The Long Economic Hangover of Pandemics History shows COVID-19’s economic fallout may be with us for decades, Finance & Development F&D Magazine, June 2020, Vol. 57, Number 2, International Monetary Found June 2020, https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2020/06/pdf/long- term-economic-impact-of-pandemics-jorda.pdf; http://www.anfp.gov.ro/R/Doc/2015/Proiecte/Incheiate/MAPN/3.%20Materiale%20de%20formare%20Politici%20publice.pdf http://www.anfp.gov.ro/R/Doc/2015/Proiecte/Incheiate/MAPN/3.%20Materiale%20de%20formare%20Politici%20publice.pdf https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocumentAfis/63743 https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocumentAfis/63744 https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2020/06/pdf/long-term-economic-impact-of-pandemics-jorda.pdf https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2020/06/pdf/long-term-economic-impact-of-pandemics-jorda.pdf SOME PUBLIC POLICY INSTRUMENTS INITIATED IN ROMANIA IN THE COVID-19 CONTEXT 52 balance the economy, affected by the interruption of the activity of some economic sectors.7 These interventions have materialized in plans, programs and measures, have been supported by laws and Government Decisions, included in national plans and programs which are made up as basic instruments of the period 2020-20218. 2.1. National Recovery and Resilience Plan At European Union level, a financial instrument, #NextGenerationEU, was developed with a value of EUR 750 billion9,, a distinct component of the European Union's long- term budget (EUR 1074.3 billion)10, with the aim of supporting Member States' action to combat the negative effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, manifested at health, economic, social level. From the € 750 billion for Next Generation EU, € 672.5 billion11 is the sum allocated by the European Commission, to the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, which is a source of funding for recovery and resilience plans drawn up by European Union Member States. The amounts of the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRM) budget are divided into two segments12: • grants - approximately 312.5 billion euros; • loans of up to 360 billion euros. The diagram below shows the share of the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism in the NextGeneration EU financial instrument (Figure 1): Through the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, Romania has the prospect of benefiting from grants amounting to 14.248 billion euros and loans of approximately 14.935 billion euros, these amounting to 29.2 billion euros13. The National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) is an instrument that each member country must elaborate in order to access the amount allocated by the European Commission, to the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRM). Within National Recovery and Resilience Plan, there have been established the priority areas for investment, to combat the effects of the crisis, create opportunities for economic recovery, increase resilience to the negative factors. The National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania (RNRRP), a strategic document, aims to achieve the development objectives of our country, according to the 7Guvernul României, Planul Național de Investiții și Relansare Economică (The National Plan for Investments and Economic Recovery - NPIER) – Iulie 2020, p.4; 8Guvernul României, Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene – Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență al României (28 octombrie 2021) (The National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania – NRRP), Partea I; 9Guvernul României, Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene – Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență al României (28 octombrie 2021) (PNRR) (The National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania - NRRP), https://mfe.gov.ro/pnrr/; 10Guvernul României, Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene – Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență al României (28 octombrie 2021) (PNRR) (The National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania - NRRP), https://mfe.gov.ro/pnrr/; 11Guvernul României, Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene – Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență al României (28 octombrie 2021) (PNRR) (The National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania – NRRP), https://mfe.gov.ro/pnrr/; 12Guvernul României, Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene – Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență al României (28 octombrie 2021) (PNRR) (The National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania – NRRP), https://mfe.gov.ro/pnrr/; 13Guvernul României, Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene – Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență al României (28 octombrie 2021) (The National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania – NRRP), https://mfe.gov.ro/pnrr/; https://mfe.gov.ro/pnrr/ https://mfe.gov.ro/pnrr/ https://mfe.gov.ro/pnrr/ https://mfe.gov.ro/pnrr/ https://mfe.gov.ro/pnrr/ Popa 53 priority requirements of the European Union, against the background of economic and social recovery from the negative consequences generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, at national, European and world level. Through this instrument, at the level of our country, it is ensured the alignment with the general objective of the RRM14, according to Regulation 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 12 February 2021, art.415. Figure 1 The NextGenerationEU Programme Source: Guvernul României, Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene, Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență al României (PNRR) (National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania – NRRP), https://mfe.gov.ro/pnrr/ At the level of our country, the general objective is “the development of Romania by carrying out essential programs and projects that support the resilience, the level of preparedness for crisis situations, the adaptability and growth potential, through major reforms and key investments with funds from the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism.”16. The reform and public investment proposals are based on the Country Specific Recommendations 2019-2020 and are to be implemented till 2026. 14Guvernul României, Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene, p. 2, Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență al României (The National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania – NRRP) (28 octombrie 2021), facada6fdd5c00de72eecd8ab49da550.pdf (gov.ro), - ”The overall objective of the mechanism is to promote the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the European Union by improving resilience, degree of preparedness for crisis situations, adaptability and Member States `growth potential, by remission of social and economic impact of crisis in question [...], by supporting the green transition, by contributing to the achievement of the Union`s climate goals for 2030, established in Article 2, point 11 of the Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and in compliance with the EU's goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, as well as the digital transition, thus contributing to upward economic and social convergence, [...] encouraging the creation of high-quality jobs, contributing to the Union's strategic autonomy alongside an open economy and creating European added value” (Guvernul României, Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene, Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență al României (28 octombrie 2021), https://mfe.gov.ro/wp- content/uploads/2021/10/facada6fdd5c00de72eecd8ab49da550.pdf; facada6fdd5c00de72eecd8ab49da550.pdf (gov.ro), p. 2; 15Guvernul României, Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene, p. 2, Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență al României (The National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania – NRRP) (28 octombrie 2021), quotes Regulation 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 12 February 2021, art.4, https://mfe.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/facada6fdd5c00de72eecd8ab49da550.pdf; facada6fdd5c00de72eecd8ab49da550.pdf (gov.ro); 16Guvernul României, Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene – Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență al României (28 octombrie 2021) (The National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania – NRRP), p. 2; Loans Grants Other programs 312,5 billions euro 360 billions euro 77,5 billions https://mfe.gov.ro/pnrr/ https://mfe.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/facada6fdd5c00de72eecd8ab49da550.pdf https://mfe.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/facada6fdd5c00de72eecd8ab49da550.pdf https://mfe.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/facada6fdd5c00de72eecd8ab49da550.pdf https://mfe.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/facada6fdd5c00de72eecd8ab49da550.pdf https://mfe.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/facada6fdd5c00de72eecd8ab49da550.pdf https://mfe.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/facada6fdd5c00de72eecd8ab49da550.pdf SOME PUBLIC POLICY INSTRUMENTS INITIATED IN ROMANIA IN THE COVID-19 CONTEXT 54 The principles of implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan17 consist in the equitable distribution of funds, means economic recover through investments and reforms at the level of the whole country. An equitable allocation of resources can lead to the preservation and capitalization of heritage. The principle of decentralization works which means that central and local authorities take responsibility for carrying out reforms, in order to achieve the green and digital transition and increasing resilience18. National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania (NRRP) has six pillars comprising fifteen areas associated with them. Table 1 The pillars of National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania PILLAR COMPONENT BUDGET19 1.Green transition. Aims to investment commitment towards reforming and introducing new green technologies and capabilities20 to align the objectives of the European Union to combat the negative effects of climate change, ensure the economic long-term growth, invest in creating new jobs and preserve energy security. C1.Water Management 1.462 million euros C2.Forests and biodiversity protection 1.173 million euros C3.Waste Management 1.239 million euros C4.Sustainable transport 7.620 million euros C5.Wage of Renewal 2.200 million euros C6. Energy 1.620 million euros 2. Digital transformation. Objectives are pursued with a view to increasing the Union's resilience and ensuring global competitiveness. By reforms and investments it is aimed at the penetration of digital technologies in public services, the creation of poles for innovation in the digital field21. C7.Digital Transformation 1884.96 million euros 17Guvernul României, Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene – Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență al României (28 octombrie 2021) (The National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania – NRRP), p. 2 – 3; 18Guvernul României, Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene – Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență al României (28 octombrie 2021) (The National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania – NRRP), p. 3; 19Guvernul României, Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene – Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență al României (28 octombrie 2021) Partea I, (The National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania – NRRP) pp. 9, 11, 16, 19, 21, 22, 23; 26; 28, 30; 20Guvernul României, Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene – Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență al României (28 octombrie 2021) Partea I, (The National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania – NRRP), pp. 4, 5; 21Guvernul României, Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene – Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență al României (28 octombrie 2021) Partea I, (The National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania – NRRP), pp. 4, 5; Popa 55 3. Smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Objectives are pursued, such as: recovery and long-term growth in the European Union. Measures are provided in the field of entrepreneurship, social economy, infrastructure development and mitigation of the negative consequences of the COVID-19 crisis. C8.Fiscal reform and pension reform 456.93 million euros C9.Support for private sector, research, development and innovation 2558.63 million euros 4. Social and territorial cohesion. Reforms for economic recovery by: mitigating the effects of poverty and reducing unemployment, creating new jobs, paying attention to disadvantaged groups through social inclusion, social protection systems. Measures are targeted to the application, as balanced as possible, at the whole European Union, to avoid lagging some areas of it. C10.Local Fund 2100 million euros C11.Tourism and culture 449.01 million euros 5. Health, as well as economic, social and institutional resilience. Improving the management capacity of public health funds, increasing investments in health infrastructure, reforms in the social field, improving the selection process for hiring and advancing civil servants. C12. Health 2450.01 million euros C13.Social Reforms C14.Good governance 196.74 million euros 165.6 million euros 6. Policies for the new generation. Improvements in infrastructure, efficiency, ensuring equitable access to education. C15. Education 3605.97 million euros Source: Processing data from Guvernul României, Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene – Planul Național de Redresare și Reziliență al României (The National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania – NRRP) (28 octombrie 2021), Partea I, facada6fdd5c00de72eecd8ab49da550.pdf (gov.ro) https://mfe.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/facada6fdd5c00de72eecd8ab49da550.pdf; 2.2. National Reform Programme (NRP) 2021 The National Reform Program (NRP) is another instrument with the significance of a "framework platform", designed to initiate policies to address the problems observed in the European Semester. The elaboration of NRP 2021 is regulated by “Regulation no. 1175/2011 amending Regulation no. 1466/97 on strengthening of the surveillance of budgetary positions and the surveillance and coordination of economic policies"22. The European Semester 2021 is directly related to the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRM). For accessing funds from the Mechanism, Member States initiate National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRP). 22Guvernul României, Programul Național de Reformă (The National Reform Programme), 2021, https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/2021-european-semester-national-reform-programme- romania_ro.pdf, p. 6, quotes Regulamentul nr. 1175/2011 de modificare a Regulamentului nr. 1466/97 Art. 2-a, para. (2), lit. (d); https://mfe.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/facada6fdd5c00de72eecd8ab49da550.pdf https://mfe.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/facada6fdd5c00de72eecd8ab49da550.pdf https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/2021-european-semester-national-reform-programme-romania_ro.pdf https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/2021-european-semester-national-reform-programme-romania_ro.pdf SOME PUBLIC POLICY INSTRUMENTS INITIATED IN ROMANIA IN THE COVID-19 CONTEXT 56 National Reform Plan (NRP) 2021 is complementary to National Resilience and Recovery Plan for Romania and has a scheme corresponding to the six pillars that make the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism23. The programs and measures contained in the NRP 2021 support the green transition, the digitization process, increasing employment degree, stimulating long-term economic development, as well as other measures in the field of health, education and social protection. The interventions included in the programme are expressed through priority policies on areas of activity, each of them oriented towards directions of action. Fiscal-budgetary policy. This section referring to the fiscal-budgetary policy of the National Reform Programme 2021 is interrelated to pillars and components of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan24: ⇒ pillar III, component C8 and ⇒ pillar II, component C7. The green transition. This policy concerning the green transition is correlation with the National Recovery and Resilience Plan for25: ⇒ Pillar 1, components 1-5; ⇒ Pillar II, component 7; ⇒ Pillar III, component 9; and ⇒ Pillar IV, component 10. Energy. In the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the energy policy corresponds to26: ⇒ Pillar I, components 5-6 and ⇒ Pillar III, component 9. Digital transformation. The correlation in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan can be found in27: ⇒ Pillar II, component 7, ⇒ Pillar III, components 8 and 9, ⇒ Pillar V, components 12 and 14, ⇒ Pillar VI, component 15. Business environment and competitiveness. Correlation in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan can be found in28: ⇒ Pillar I, components 4 and 6, ⇒ Pillar II, component 7, ⇒ Pillar III, components 8 and 9, ⇒ Pillar IV, component 11 and ⇒ Pillar V, component 14. Transport. In National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the field of Transport is interrelated to29: 23Guvernul României, Programul Național de Reformă (The National Reform Programme), 2021, p. 6; 24 Guvernul României, Programul Național de Reformă (The National Reform Programme), 2021, p.26; 25 Guvernul României, Programul Național de Reformă (The National Reform Programme), 2021, p.34; 26 Guvernul României, Programul Național de Reformă (The National Reform Programme), 2021, p.41; 27 Guvernul României, Programul Național de Reformă (The National Reform Programme), 2021, p. 48; 28 Guvernul României, Programul Național de Reformă (The National Reform Programme), 2021, p. 61; 29Guvernul României, Programul Național de Reformă (The National Reform Programme), 2021, p. 67; Popa 57 ⇒ Pillar I, components 4 and 6; and ⇒ Pillar IV, component 10. Research, development, innovation. This area is interrelated to30: ⇒ Pillar III, component 9. Labor market, social inclusion and the fight against poverty. The policies addressed in this sector - Labor market, social inclusion and fight against poverty - are correlated with National Recovery and Resilience Plan31: ⇒ Pillar I, component 1 and 5, ⇒ Pillar II, component 7, ⇒ Pillar III, component 8, ⇒ Pillar IV, component 10 and 11, ⇒ Pillar V, components 12-14, ⇒ Pillar VI, component 15. Health. The correlation of the field - Health - in NRRP, is found in32: ⇒ Pillar V, component 12 and ⇒ Pillar 2, component 7. Strengthen administrative capacity and other governmental measures. The correlation of the field - Strengthen administrative capacity and other governmental measures - in National Recovery and Resilience Plan is found in33: ⇒ Pillar V, component 14; ⇒ Pillar I. component 5; ⇒ Pillar II. Component 7; ⇒ Pillar III, component 9; ⇒ Pillar IV, component 10. Education and skills. Complementarity of the field - Education and skills - with National Recovery and Resilience Plan, is done with34: ⇒ Pillar VI, component 15. In essence, the National Reform Programme shows the priorities of the reform in the main areas, whereby there are taken into account both a continuity of the reforms of the previous stage and the provision of new measures motivated by the requirements of the economic and social recovery process within the post-pandemic period. The provisions of National Reform Programme are complementary to those of National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which is, also, a strategic instrument considering the reformes required for recovery and growth35. 3. Conclusions In Romania, along with the alignment with the good practices of European Union, the emergence of new more complex domains for public policies implementation, formed on the basis of the new requirements of development led to the extension of their scope, that enriched with a wide range of policies and instruments directed towards new fields of activity (Stoica C. and Moisoiu C., 2007, p. 520, 521). 30Guvernul României, Programul Național de Reformă (The National Reform Programme), 2021, p.73; 31Guvernul României, Programul Național de Reformă (The National Reform Programme), 2021, p.85; 32Guvernul României, Programul Național de Reformă (The National Reform Programme), 2021, p.93; 33Guvernul României, Programul Național de Reformă (The National Reform Programme), 2021, p.114; 34Guvernul României, Programul Național de Reformă (The National Reform Programme), 2021, p.132; 35Guvernul României, Programul Național de Reformă (The National Reform Programme), 2021, p.6; SOME PUBLIC POLICY INSTRUMENTS INITIATED IN ROMANIA IN THE COVID-19 CONTEXT 58 The proposals concerning public policies precede the stage of elaboration of the normative acts for their application. For that purpose, the elaboration of the appropriate legislative framework is initiated and finalized, at the level of government and relevant bodies In Romania, there were concernments for the development of legislative framework for the public policy formulation, at central level 36. The world economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis have affected the economic growth in the context of the restrictions imposed by government′s measures to protect the population. The effect was felt throughout the production circuit, with an impact on jobs, incomes, the evolution of demand and supply37. The consequences felt in economic and social field, in Romania and the magnitude of the pandemic challenges draw attention on the potential of resilience to the shocks of the crisis, at institutional and economic level38. The government's intervention policies consisted of actions aimed at preventing the collapse in the Romanian economy, initiatives to help companies and provide the necessary resources to finance companies, measures taken to keep the jobs of employees who have suffered temporary interruptions, public investment in order to balance the economy, affected by the interruption of the activity of some economic sectors.39 These interventions have materialized in plans, programs and measures, have been supported by laws and Government Decisions, included in national plans and programs which are constituted as basic instruments of the period 2020-202140. Acknowledgment: The study is a part of the research paper of the Institute of National Economy, Romanian Academy,”Abordarea efectelor economice ale crizei COVID-19 36Fundația PAEM ALBA; ACE-ES, București (Asociația Consultanților și Experților în Economie Socială România) (2019), p. 18, Manual de bune practici internaționale cu privire la metode de participare și influențare a politicilor publice , Perioada de elaborare: Ianuarie 2019 – Aprilie 2019, Uniunea Europeană - Fondul Social European, Guvernul României, POCA (Programul Operațional Capacitate Administrativă Competența face diferența!), Instrumente Structurale 2014-2020; Guvernul României, MAI ANFP, p. 11, Politici publice, Uniunea Europeană - Fondul Social European; Guvernul României - Ministerul Administrației şi Internelor; Inovație în administrație - Programul Operațional "Dezvoltarea Capacității Administrative", „Creşterea capacităţii funcţionarilor publici din Ministerul Apărării Naţionale şi Agenţiei Naţionale a Funcţionarilor Publici de a gestiona procesele de management strategic instituţional şi de proiect, în contextul dezvoltării şi întăririi rolului funcţiei publice” cod SMIS nr. 22857 ADMINISTRAȚIE ȘI APĂRARE – PARTENERIAT PENTRU PERFORMANȚĂ, http://www.anfp.gov.ro/R/Doc/2015/Proiecte/Incheiate/MAPN/3.%20Materiale%20de%20formare%20Poli tici%20publice.pdf; Hotărârea de Guvern nr. 775 din 14 iulie 2005 pentru aprobarea Regulamentului privind procedurile de elaborare, monitorizare şi evaluare a politicilor publice la nivel central, Monitorul Oficial nr. 685/29 iulie 2005, https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocumentAfis/63743; Regulament din 14 iulie 2005 privind procedurile de elaborare, monitorizare şi evaluare a politicilor publice la nivel central, aprobat de Hotărârea de Guvern nr. 775 din 14 iulie 2005, Monitorul Oficial nr. 685 din 29 iulie 2005, https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocumentAfis/63744; Cosmin Stoica, Cristian Moisoiu (2007), p. 521, Importanţa politicilor publice în dezvoltarea social-economică a României; 37Guvernul României, p. 11, Planul Național de Investiții și Relansare Economică (The National Plan for Investments and Economic Recovery - NPIER) – Iulie 2020; Òscar Jordà, Sanjay R. 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