Maria Viorica Bedrule-Grigoruta

Integrated Institutional Management Model to Facilitate the Relations Towards the Users of Public Services

Major changes of the local public services systems happen in all European countries, at different levels and at different paces. This paper realizes a complex analysis of how the current management systems of the public services institutions focus towards specific users. The proposed model creates a formal communication system between the institution and its external partners as well as inside the institution. Still, the focus on the final user of the public services is the essential element of this model.

Cross-Border Cooperation - A Tool for Regional Development in Europe

The aim of this paper is to present the importance of the cross border cooperation for the regional development in European Union. We would also want to put a stress on the euroregions concept, as forms for promoting regional integration through cross border cooperation - the case of Siret-Prut-Nistru Euroregion situated in Romania-Moldova Republic border area. With its last enlargement in 2007, the European Union has taken a big step forward in promoting security and prosperity on the European continent. The accession of Romania in E.U. also means that the external borders of the Union have changed, E.U. have acquired new neighbours and have come closer to old ones. These circumstances have created both opportunities and challenges. In this context, the Economic and Social Development Strategy for Siret-Prut-Nistru Euroregion, 2007-2013 project aims to promote reinforcing the existing forms of regional cooperation and to provide a strategic framework for their further development, which is corresponding to the objectives of the European Neighbourhood Policy. In this context, the cooperation between Ungheni (Republic of Moldova) and Iasi (Romania) evolved and conveyed to an institutional structure - Siret-Prut-Nistru euroregion. We think the future success or failure of this entity is depending on the public administrations capacities to promote and sustain partnerships.

Assessing and Improving Culture and Organizational Performance of the Romanian Public Administration

Organizational performance has become an important issue for public organizations as they face increasing demands to demonstrate that they generate relevant outputs for citizens and beneficiaries. This paper characterizes the concept of organizational performance and highlights both the importance of performance assessment and the relation with performance improvement in public sector. Different approaches to performance assessment in Romanian Public Administration are briefly described. Lastly, it introduces a system of performance assessment for civil servants in public organizations, for which the present procedures were developed by the Romanian Government. Civil servants are frequently facing a growing degree of politicization in the Romanian public services, but they are not really appreciated for their performances. The research we have performed clearly highlights the essential relation between the process of professionalization of the public administration employees, described by specifying the influence of certain factors, organizational culture of Romanian public organizations and the organizational performance actually measured in some public organizations in the country.