CLUJ-NAPOCA BABES-BOLYAI UNIVERSITY

The project concerns the campus development programme of the University Babes Bolyai (UBB) in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

The project is part of a longer term modernisation programme of the University and in line with EU public policy goals associated with Education and Training 2020 and Horizon 2020. The project contributes to the European Higher Education Area and the European Research Area by enhancing teaching and learning environments and improving research facilities. The proposed operation provides additional financial resources for the expansion and improvement of both teaching and research activities and therefore, responds to various needs of the innovation system in Romania, most notably the supply of highly skilled graduates in areas of key economic and social importance and the provision of infrastructure for public research.

The project concerns the campus development programme of the University Babes Bolyai (UBB) in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The project addresses a sub-optimal situation with regard to investments in public higher education and research infrastructure. The project addresses shortcomings in the University of Babes Bolyai's (UBB) infrastructure by creating new space for teaching and staff offices. Moreover, the project provides UBB's most successful research groups with state-of-the-art research infrastructure. The project also addresses the need for the energy efficiency upgrade of several faculty buildings. These measures can be expected to increase the quality and relevance of higher education in Romania's Northwest region, and contribute to increasing the region's capacity to innovate. The EIB advisory support through the resources of the European Investment Advisory Hub (EIAH) had a significant impact on the Borrower's ability to mobilise the financing. The Bank's contribution will help accelerate the investments also by offering financing of longer tenor and at advantageous conditions  thus providing substantial value added.

The Directive 2011/92/EU amended by 2014/52/EU does not specifically mention the need for an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for buildings relating to education, but it may be that some sub-projects can be regarded as urban renewal projects (Annex II of the European Directive). This will be analysed in detail during the development of the studies. The possible impact on natural sites will be checked prior to the building permit authorisation request stage.

The Bank will require the Promoter to ensure that contracts for the implementation of the project have been/shall be tendered in accordance with the relevant applicable EU procurement legislation (Directive 2014/24/EU as well as Directive 89/665/EEC) as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the EU, with the publication of tender notices in the Official Journal of the EU, as and where required.