Testing the hypothesis at sample level The data confirm that there are not dramatic differences between the number of accessing pre-adherence funds and post-adherence ones until the

date of the survey. It emphasizes a certain practice, a pattern how companies accessed European funds (see Table 4).

Table 4: Access to non-refundable financing in rural areas: pre-adherence and post-adherence funds(%)

Have you accessed any non-refundable pre- adherence fund (PHARE, SAPARD, ISPA)

with your company or another one?

Have you accessed any post-adherence fund?

Yes, I got financing 12.9 12.3

Yes, but I have not got

the funds 5.7 4.4

I have not tried 81.4 83.3

Total 100.0 100.0

Number 1448 1448

We can see that the business environment of the South-West region had taken the least interest in accessing pre and post-adherence funds compared to other regions (see Table 5). There the success rate was lower than in other regions.

Table 5: Access to non-refundable financing in rural areas: pre-adherence and post-adherence funds on development regions firmelor cu interes

Have you accessed any non-refundable pre-adherence fund (PHARE, SAPARD, ISPA) with your company or another

one?

Have you accessed any structural fund (after the accession to EU)? South- Muntenia South- West North- West

West South-Muntenia South- West North- West West Yes, I got financing 14.8% 7.9% 10.7% 16.9% 12.8% 6.1% 10.4% 19.8% Yes, but I

have not got the funds

6.1% 4.7% 5.6% 6.1% 5.1% 4.7% 4.2% 3.2%

I have not

tried 79.1% 87.5% 83.7% 77.0% 82.1% 89.2% 85.5% 77.0% Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Our hypothesis underlines the relationship between access to European funds and public local authorities, central and professional organizations. One can see that there is a direct relationship between access to pre-adherence funds and collaboration with local authorities, central and business ownership associations.The closest collaboration has been with APL – 93%, followed by business ownership associations – 81.7% and public central authorities – 70.1%.

Also, satisfaction degree related to the relationship with the three institutions is increasing. The greatest satisfaction and the closest collaboration is with APL: 74.3% (see table 6).of those who obtained a pre-adherence non-refundable fund, then business ownership associations – 67.9% (see table 7).and public central authorities – 43.9% (see table 8).

Table 6: Correlation between satisfaction degree and colaboration with APL and obtaining a pre- adherence fund

Satisfaction degree

Yes, I have got pre-adherence non-refundable

financing

Yes, but I have not got

any pre- adherence fund I have not tried to access such funds Weight total sample Very satisfied 31.0% 19.3% 20.2% 21.5%

Satisfied 43.3% 45.8% 33.4% 35.4%

Dissatisfied 12.8% 12.0% 12.8% 12.8%

Very dissatisfied 5.9% 7.2% 5.6% 5.7%

I have not had any collaboration

with them until now 7.0% 15.7% 27.9% 24.5%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Table 7: Correlation between satisfaction degree realted to the colaboration with the ownership associations and obtaining pre-adherence funds

Satisfaction degree

Yes, I have got pre-adherence non-refundable

financing

Yes, but I have not got

any non- refundable

pre- adherence

fund

I have not tried to access such funds Weight total sample Very satisfied _{18.7% 3.6% 5.6% 7.2%} Satisfied 49.2% 54.2% 33.5% 36.7% Dissatisfied 12.8% 13.3% 10.1% 10.6% Very dissatisfied 1.1% 6.0% 2.5% 2.6%

I have not had any collaboration

with them until now 18.2% 22.9% 48.2% 42.9%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Table 8 : Correlation between satisfaction degree related to the colaboration with public central authorities and obtaining pre-adherence funds

Satisfaction degree

Yes, I have got pre-adherence non-refundable

financing

Yes, but I have not got

any non- refundable

pre- adherence

fund

I have not tried to access such funds Weight total sample Very satisfied 13.4% 8.4% 4.7% 6.0% Satisfied 30.5% 22.9% 22.8% 23.8% Dissatisfied 17.1% 22.9% 11.8% 13.1% Very dissatisfied 9.1% 8.4% 5.0% 5.7%

I have not had any collaboration

with them until now 29.9% 37.3% 55.8% 51.4%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Those who obtained European funds had a better collaboration with the public local and central authorities than those who accessed pre-adherence nonrefundable financing. Collaboration with APL rose from 93% to 96.1%, business ownership associations from 81.7% to 84.8% and public central authorities from 70.1% to 74.7%.

Satisfaction degree (very satisfied and satisfied) towards collaboration with APL has increased slightly from 74.3% to 75.91%. A higher satisfaction is towards the relationship with the business ownership association from 67.9% to 71.9% and with public central authorities from 43.9% to 46.1%.

Those who tried to obtain a European financing and did not succeed are less satisfied with their relationship with APL than those who tried to obtain pre-adherence funds: 61.1% as opposed to 65.1%. The same happens with business ownership associations 57.8% to 53.1%.

Satisfaction degree towards the collaboration with public local authorities of those who tried to obtain a pre-adherence fund is almost the same with those who wanted a post-adherence financing. The satisfaction feeling is strongly correlated with an expectation feeling. In other words, the expectations from the part of the public local authorities are greater than from the part of the Government and other central authorities.

The weight of the dissatisfied respondents towards public local authorities, business ownership associations and central authorities for those who did not try to access pre-adherence funds remained constant: 18.4-18.2% relationship with APL, 12.6-12.8% relationship with business ownership associations and 16.8-16.5% public central authorities. However we can see a significant statistical association of dissatisfaction of not obtaining European financing and satisfaction degree towards the public central authorities which is not observed in similar cases in the relationship with public local authorities and ownership associations. They are to be blamed for unsuccessful attempts to financing.

Table 9: Correlation between satisfaction degree related to the colaboration with APL and obtaining post-adherence funds

Satisfaction degree

Yes, I have got post-adherence

funds

Yes, but I have not got

post- adherence funds I have not tried to access such funds Weight total sample Very satisfied 29.8% 23.4% 20.2% 21.5% Satisfied 46.1% 37.5% 33.7% 35.4% Dissatisfied 14.0% 12.5% 12.6% 12.8% Very dissatisfied 6.2% 7.8% 5.6% 5.7%

I have not had any collaboration with them until

now

3.9% 18.8% 27.9% 24.5%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Table 10 : Correlation between satisfaction degree realted to the colaboration with the ownership associations and obtaining post-adherence funds

Satisfaction degree

Yes, I have got post-adherence

funds

Yes, but I have not got

post- adherence

funds

I have not tried to access such funds Weight total sample Very satisfied _{11.8% 10.9% 6.3% 7.2%} Satisfied 60.1% 42.2% 33.0% 36.7% Dissatisfied 10.7% 14.1% 10.4% 10.6% Very dissatisfied 2.2% 6.3% 2.4% 2.6%

I ahve not had any collaboration with them until

now

15.2% 26.6% 47.8% 42.9%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Table 11: Correlation between satisfaction degree related to the colaboration with public central authorities and obtaining post-adherence

Satisfaction degree

Yes, I have got post-adherence

funds

Yes, but I have not got

post- adherence

funds

I have not tried to access such funds Weight total sample Very satisfied _{13.5% 9.4% 4.7% 6.0%} Satisfied 32.6% 23.4% 22.5% 23.8% Dissatisfied 20.8% 25.0% 11.4% 13.1% Very dissatisfied 7.9% 10.9% 5.1% 5.7%

I have not had any collaboration

with them until now 25.3% 31.3% 56.3% 51.4%