1. Territorial development in Harghita county
Gábor Kelemen
Harghita County Council
Szeged, 25 April 2013

2. Location Location Romania is structured in 41 counties
Harghita: in the middle of Romania, at the eastern border of Transylvania
Total population: (2011)
Surface: 6639 km2, 2,8% of the country.
Rural population: 56.1 %
The capital of Harghita county is Csíkszereda (Miercurea-Ciuc). (42,487 inhabitants)
85% Hungarians (Szeklers), 14% Romanians and 1% other nationalities.

3. Ethnic region of Szeklerland
territories inhabited by the Szeklers, a Hungarian people living in Eastern Transylvania, centre of present-day Romania.
autonomous region until its role was replaced by the county system.
approximately 670,000 Szeklers in three counties (Hargita/Harghita, Kovászna/Covasna, and Maros/Mureș)
Resources:
Mineral water springs
Woodlands
Eco-agriculture
Active tourism
Ecotourism
Rural tourism
Hungarians in Romania

4. Economic Overview Main economic activities: wood processing
printing industry
garment production
food processing
agriculture
tourism

5. Economic Overview
Main economic activities (2010)

6. Basic economic figures
The number of economically active people in 2007 was
proportion of working age population: 69%
unemployment rate: 8,9 % (2010)
Average income: 1064 RON (approx 230 EUR) (2012)
County
Share in the regional GDP (2008)
Alba
15,24%
Brașov
29,21%
Covasna
6,93%
Harghita
10,42%
Mureș
18,84%
Sibiu
19,35%
Central Region: 12% the GDP of Romania
Per Capita GDP in Harghita (2010): 4308 EUR

7. Territorial development in Romania
Basis: Member state regulations and EU legislation
Basic documents of the territorial development
The Spatial Planning of National Territory, National Development Plan, National Strategic Reference Framework, National Rural Development Program
General Regulation of Urban Areas
Territorial Development Strategy of Romania / only a concept
The Spatial Planning of specific Areas -
The Spatial Planning of Regions – Regional Development Strategy
County Spatial Plan - County Development Plan
General Urban Plan
Zonal Urban Plans – Integrated Urban Development Plan, Local Rural Development Strategy – depending on EU sources
Detailed Urban Plans – Local Development Plans, IUDP
“Planning type” system of documents (more technical)

8. Territorial development in Romania
Objectives stipulated by Romanian legislation concerning Territorial Development (conform ESDP)
Concentration of development in urban growth poles
Development of urban networks
Fostering the urban-rural solidarity
Consolidation of the connections through the Carpathians
Good management of natural and cultural heritages

9. System of the territorial administration
Central bodies
Local Authorities: county level and community level
The government has indirect regulation and financial tools to influence the local level
Lack of hierarchical connections at local level (CC without regulatory authority)
Informal influence of county councils: county roads, sources for territorial balancing
Dependence on external sources at local level
Partnerships are not encouraged

10. Territorial development in Romania
Problems:
Without administrative organizational background the planning system cannot work properly
The EU planning principles are incorporated formally in a dysfunctional system
Limited possibilities of the local level – expanding responsibilities without the increase of development sources, the own sources are low
Most of the plans are not connected to sources, tools and dedicated administrative structures
Even if they exist, the planning period was too short for a effective development (IUDP)
The use of EU funds is separate from the national planning system – the absorption is more important
The requirements of the EU RD policy are adopted but without special country tailored content – the planning system can not function properly

11. Regional Development in Romania
Only one ROP
Objective: Reduce the differences among regions, but
Only 29,4% of the convergence objective to the ROP
Only 19% of the sources of the cohesion policy
Distribution of RD sources was not by GDP/capita
No territorial aspects in distribution of funds
Overweight of sectorial OPs
The ROP is more efficient in absorption of funds
Formal development policy documents are elaborated but ad hoc implementation

12. Regional Policy in Romania
Summarizing:
There are no strategies, tools to realize the TA objectives at member state level
The objectives are declared in legislation
Formal partnerships, top-down
The subsidiarity is reciprocal
The regional level is empty
Lack of competence at local level
The legislation was not put in practice
The additionality is reverse (member state sources are added to EU objectives)
member state regional policy doesn’t exist

13. Regional Policy in Romania
Consequences:
The polarization is bigger than in other countries
The regional differences are growing (GDP/capita, incomes, inhabitants, R&D, etc.)
The development is on wrong way
The differences are growing inside of the regions
The system of settlements is changing dynamically
Problems with the regions – the development programs are not as effective on territories as should
The developed regions and countries are the winners

14. Regional OP – GDP/capita
2000
40-50
50-65
65-80
80-95
95-110
170+
2010
40-50
50-65
65-80
80-95
95-110
170+

15. Regional OP Funds concentrating in more developed regions
More funds to the regions capital and its surrounding
Business development funds to more developed regions
Tourism development in urban counties

16. Hargita County Council
elected authority of county public administration,
based on the principles of local autonomy, decentralization of public services, legality and citizen’s consultation regarding local problems of main interest.
Responsibilities:
coordination of the local council’s activities (municipalities, towns and villages)
public services
contributes to the local economic growth by means of development programs

17. Development Plans and Strategies of Harghita county
The Spatial Planning of the County
Spatial Planning of specific areas
Economic Development Strategy
Tourism Development Strategy
Agricultural and Rural Development Strategy
The territorial development strategy of the county is missing!

18. Economic development programs
Fostering the business environment:
Establishment of local SME associations
Business incubation center
Agro-industrial park network: planning in progress: agro-industrial activities, research, development and innovation activities involving foreign institutions, investors and experts. 
Tourism development:
Marketing
TDM organizations
Development of infrastructure (access and security)

19. Economic development programs
Agricultural and rural development:
Promotion of local products - Szekler community trademark
Promote the associations of producers
Marketing and fairs
Internationalization of local products – approaching new markets

20. Regional OP in Harghita
Development of:
Roads
Social infrastructure
Educational infrastructure
Less project in:
Tourism
Business development
Business environment
Foster environmental spirit?
Raise of employment?
More added value?
What about the economies of scale?