During the last 20 years of the Communist regime in Romania, the road network was allowed to fall into decline. But since 1993 Romania's plans for accession to the European Union have led to an increased emphasis on effectiveness and efficiency of the road transport system, and plans have been prepared and implemented for restructuring the road sector. Progress in the restructuring is charted in the areas of road sector financing, management, and regulatory and institutional development. Efficiencies have resulted from greater specificity of operations and increased use of competition. There have been remarkably few losses resulting from this process. The approach adopted in Romania provides a simple framework that has potential for application throughout Central and Eastern Europe, and perhaps more widely, for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of road network management arrangements.
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