The Organization of Women Entrepreneurs in Romania (OFA)

EU Legislative Interests

- European Parliament Resolution on the European Green Deal; - Directive (EU) 2023/1791 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2023 onenergy efficiency and amending Regulation (EU)2023/955; - the European Pillar of Social Rights; - SMEs Relief Package; - SME Strategy for a sustainable and digital Europe; - AI innovation package to support ArtificialIntelligence startups and SMEs; - Pay Transparency Directive; - Directive on improving the gender balance among directors of listed companies and relatedmeasures; - Net Zero Industry Act; - Cohesion Policy; - Common Agricultural Policy; - Affordable Energy Action Plan; - Clean Industrial Deal; - the Omnibus packages.

Communication Activities

OFA has been the initiator and host of over 120 events and (in)formation programs (local, regional, national, even international), attended by an impressive number of over 8,980 people, about: green transition and digital transformation of SMEs; RRF impact on SMEs' resilience; energy efficiency and energy independence of SMEs; SMEs taxation evolutions; funding sources for SMEs' investment projects (productive investmente; R&D projects, internationalization). OFA has created, together with different partners, several tools that it has made available to entrepreneurs in Romania, such as: *A guide that centralizes all types of non-reimbursable financing for the efficiency and energy independence of SMEs in Romania (Regional Programs, Competitiveness Operational Program, Just Transition Program, Sustainable Development Program, Modernization Fund, National Recovery and Resilience Plan , etc.); *A guide that groups recommendations on accessing European funding: "Tips & tricks for accessing non-reimbursable European funds"; *A guide with summaries of all calls for projects dedicated to SMEs in progress or in preparation on the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, on the 8 Regional Programs and on the Just Transition Program. OFA has so far initiated and organized three business-plan pitching competitions dedicated to female entrepreneurship under the name "OFA Startup Angels", a pitching competition with the main objective of supporting the success of female entrepreneurs' businesses. OFA plays an extremely active part in representing the voice of SMEs in the permanent dialogue with, on the one hand, the Romanian government (at all its levels) and, on the other hand with the European Union. OFA is a member of: - The Advisory Committee for the Business Environment of the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism; - the strategic group "Allocation of financial resources for recovery and resilience" within the Coalition for the Development of Romania (CDR) and, respectively, within the Romanian-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFER); - The Monitoring Committee for the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR); - The Monitoring Committee for the implementation of the 2021-2027 Just Transition Program; - The Monitoring Committee for the implementation of the 2021-2027 ”Education and Employment” and, respectively, ”Inclusion and Social Dignity” Operational Programs; - The Monitoring Committee for the implementation of the 2021-2027 Bucharest - Ilfov Regional Program; - Evaluation Coordination Committee (CCE) for the 2021-2027 Smart Growth, Digitization and Financial Instruments (POCIDIF) Program. During the period of preparation of the new Multiannual Financial Framework, OFA was a member of 6 (out of a total of 9) partnership structures of the Ministry of Investments and European Projects (MIPE) dedicated to the Operational Programs (OP) of the 2021-2027 MFF: Regional OPs; Sustainable Development OP; Just Transition OP; OP for Smart Growth, Digitization and Financial Instruments; Education and Employment OP; Technical Assistance OP. In addition to this, OFA has a permanent and highly constructive dialogue with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and, respectively, with the permanent Representation of the European Commission in Romania, as well as with the delegation coordinating Romania’s negotiations for accession to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Moreover, we contribute periodically with points of view, analyses and concrete proposals for policies, actions and programs in the permanent dialogue we have with the National Agency for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men (ANES). OFA has so far demonstrated a firm commitment to supporting, training and empowering entrepreneurship - especially female entrepreneurship - throughout Romania and Europe.

Interests Represented

Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members

Member Of

- The CONCORDIA employers' confederation (the most important one in Romania - https://concordia.ro/en/), which is a member of Business Europe.

Organisation Members

As an employers' organization established according to the Romanian law for social dialogue, our members are private companies - SMEs. At present, we count over 1100 SMEs as members (with approximately 29,000 employees), from 30 counties in Romania (out of the 42 counties). 75% of our member companies are owned and/or managed by women entrepreneurs.