Minister Adrian-Ioan Veștea received a delegation from the Committee for Regional Development Policies of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) at the Ministry of Development, Public Works, and Administration. The delegation was led by Mr. Enrique Garcilazo, and Ambassador Luca Niculescu, the national coordinator for OECD accession, also attended the meeting.

The visit of the OECD delegation was organized in the context of Romania's accession process to the organization, with the Ministry of Development being responsible for regional development activities.

The main topics of discussion focused on the national framework for regional development policy, challenges, and key priorities for regional development, strategic planning, as well as sources of funding for the regional development process.

"OECD accession is a priority for the Romanian Government, reflected in the activities of the Ministry of Development, which is responsible for regional development, territorial cohesion, urban development, housing, and urban mobility. Thus, the Ministry of Development has taken significant steps in recent times to align with European practices, including those established by OECD instruments," Minister Adrian-Ioan Veștea stated.

In this context, legislative initiatives such as the Law on metropolitan areas, the Law on sustainable urban mobility, Romania's Urban Policy, the National Housing Strategy for the period 2022-2050, the National Seismic Risk Reduction Strategy, the National Long-Term Renovation Strategy, the Spatial Planning, Urbanism, and Construction Code, currently in parliamentary procedure, were mentioned. Additionally, there was a focus on updating technical norms and digitizing processes related to the ministry's coordinated domains.

Moreover, the Ministry of Development provides substantial financial support for local authorities to modernize local infrastructure, both with European funds, provided through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, and with funds from the state budget, through the National Local Development Program and the Anghel Saligny National Investment Program.

"Through all the programs we coordinate, we aim to improve the quality of life for residents by reducing territorial disparities and ensuring access to public services, strengthening urban-rural connections, supporting metropolitan areas, enhancing territory attractiveness through connected infrastructure, strengthening administrative capacity, and inter-institutional cooperation at both national and multi-levels. This includes collaboration with other ministries and national institutions as well as with regional development agencies, county councils, and cities and municipalities throughout Romania," emphasized the Minister of Development.