Vice President of SMEs Suceava, Ștefan MANOLACHE, at REFM 2025: “Those who manage to turn European funds into jobs are the heroes of local development”
Mesaje publice
REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM MOLDOVA 2025
19th Edition – Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025
Thematic Panel:
European and Governmental Funds: Opportunities, Challenges, and Cross-Border Cooperation
Speakers:
Ștefan Manolache – Vice President of SMEs Suceava
Lucian Laurus – CĂMARA LAURUS SRL
Andrei Pîțu – Comfy Bistro and PIT RIDE SRL
Intervention Topic:
“Successful Models in Romanian Entrepreneurship Funded by European Grants – Examples from Suceava County”
Panel 2 – European and Governmental Funds within REFM 2025 showcased three concrete examples of bold entrepreneurship, driven by grant funding and supported by hard work, vision, and determination.
A standout moment was the speech of Ștefan Manolache, Vice President of SMEs Suceava, who, besides analyzing the benefits and challenges of EU funds in regional development, highlighted two inspirational success stories from Suceava County.
These stories were about Andrei Pîțu, an entrepreneur in the HoReCa sector, and Lucian Laurus, founder of “Cămara Laurus”, both beneficiaries of European-funded projects who turned simple ideas into sustainable businesses that contribute to regional growth and the revitalization of rural Romania.
Their presentations clearly illustrated how EU cohesion policies can be applied in practice and what it truly means to start a business in rural Romania, facing bureaucratic challenges and severe labor shortages.
Ștefan Manolache (SMEs Suceava): “Those who implement EU projects are, in reality, heroes”
During the panel on European and governmental funds at REFM 2025, Ștefan Manolache, Vice President of SMEs Suceava, emphasized the essential contribution of non-reimbursable funds to regional economic development and the major challenges faced by project implementers.
“For over 15 years, SMEs Suceava has been actively involved in attracting and managing European funds. We’ve supported hundreds of Romanians, especially from the diaspora, to return home, open businesses, and specialize in modern fields like digitalization. Our goal is to turn high-potential ideas into viable entrepreneurial initiatives.”
Currently, the organization is running four major projects, granting between €60,000 and €100,000 to 120 beneficiaries to set up social economy enterprises. These initiatives are expected to generate over 500 new jobs, particularly in vulnerable communities, promoting inclusion and reinvestment into social causes.
Still, Ștefan Manolache sounded the alarm regarding persistent bureaucratic hurdles.
“It takes real courage to navigate this legislative jungle. Too often, those who implement EU projects are looked upon with suspicion, as if they had other interests. In reality, 99% of beneficiaries act in good faith, aiming to bring positive change to their communities. Unfortunately, inconsistent interpretations of the guides – such as the definition of a ‘disadvantaged person’ – vary between regional offices, creating confusion and bottlenecks.”
He emphasized the urgent need for clarity, simplification, and unified interpretations in the implementation process of EU-funded programs.
