Faces of Interreg: Tamara Paica on the local impact of Interreg

Seven questions for Tamara Paica

What led you to work in Interreg or in European cooperation?

My entry into the European cooperation family was quite sudden and, I admit, quite stressful. Proof of the fact that only in time can we see whether the events in our lives are beneficial to us or not. Following a reorganisation in 2013, I ended up in a very different field than I had previously worked in – First Level control. The first impression was that it was something very interesting, but extremely complex. It was a challenge, essential for growth. That's how my journey in EU cooperation began.


If you had to define Interreg to a citizen using only three words, which would they be?

Communities, cooperation, prosperity.


What impact of Interreg (on a territory or a community) has impressed you the most?

I came to the Interreg family from very high-value EU funds and tended to see cooperation projects as something small, with little impact. I was very surprised to find out that not necessarily the value of the budget, but the correct identification of the needs of a community, is essential for maximum impact. Out of several hundred checked projects, it would be impossible and unfair for me to identify only a few that impressed me the most. But I saw rehabilitated hospitals, modernized border crossing points, equipped schools, festivals, and meetings that highlighted the intangible heritage of communities and many, many other wonderful projects.

What does your job involve day-to-day? In this sense, what’s harder than people think?

The control activity, namely the verification of the eligibility of the expenses made by the Romanian partners within the cross-border projects, is a very complex activity that requires knowledge in various fields such as law, economics, engineering, accounting, legislation in the field of payroll, and procurement. Thus, it is a domain in which you must stay up to date and upgrade your knowledge. However, not the technical aspect, but working with people is a real challenge. Building a good team is an achievement that requires a lot of dedication. Trying to motivate your team to perform in challenging conditions is a real effort that comes, of course, with many satisfactions.


In such a demanding role, what is the one hobby or ritual that keeps you grounded?

Morning gymnastics, evening walks, as well as good music keep me connected with my body and soul.

If you could have dinner with any founding figure of the EU, who would it be and what would you ask them about today’s Europe?

If I had to choose a “founding figure” for an informal discussion on the financial control work on Interreg, I would choose Jean Monnet. Why him? Because he was not only a visionary but also a practical architect of European mechanisms. He thought in terms of functionality, results, and concrete steps, not just principles. Exactly the kind of perspective that is sometimes missing in current control systems. 

At a table with him, I would not ask him abstract questions, but very applied ones:

• Should EU financial systems prioritize faster implementation with more risk, or stricter control even if it causes delays?
• Do today’s rules and checks still reflect the original spirit of European cooperation, or has the system become overly self-protective?
• How can Interreg rules be simplified to encourage innovation and flexibility without reducing trust between states?
• Does the current strict audit system show a decline in trust between EU member states?
• If a project follows all rules but creates little real impact, can it still be considered a success?

What is the one personal contribution you want to be remembered for in the European world?

I wish I could introduce a risk-based first-level control model, where beneficiaries with a good track record and proven capacity are checked more efficiently, and the focus is on real problem areas. Basically, there would be less time wasted on formalities and more energy for impact.