Page 135 - Proceeding 2015

Mirela CARAMAN FAMP

STRATEGIC SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLANNING IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES. EXPERIENCE
CCASP
OF INTEGRATED TERRITORIAL INVESTMENTS (ITI) DANUBE DELTA

? The possible delegation of management of ITIs empowers sub-regional actors (local/urban
stakeholders) by ensuring their involvement and ownership of programme preparation and
implementation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 11 TH ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
? As an ITI will have its various funding streams secured at its inception, there will be greater
certainty regarding the funding for integrated actions.

? ITI is an instrument designed for a place-based approach to development that can assist in

unlocking the under-utilised potential contained at local and regional levels.

In October 2011, the European Commission adopted draft legislative proposals for EU cohesion policy
for 2014-2020. The new proposals are designed to ensure that EU investment is targeted on the

Commission’s long term goals for growth and jobs and aim to harmonise the rules related to different
European Funds (European Parliament, 2013). EU Cohesion Policy invests in areas such as energy
efficiency; training; research and innovation; transport; support for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises

30 th – 31 st October 2015 ”Strategic Management for Local Communities” Bucharest changes to the Cohesion Policy for 2014-2020 in order to deliver the Europe 2020 Strategy objectives
(SMEs); renewable energy; and cooperation between European regions. The Commission is proposing

with a greater focus on results and positive outcomes and to maximise the impact of European Funding
(European Parliament, 2013) . One aspect of the cohesion policy is promoting social cohesion and
tackling issues such as social and economic deprivation.

In an effort to reinforce territorial cohesion the Commission believes that European cities have the
potential to make a much larger contribution to policies for growth, social cohesion and environmental
sustainability. To this end it is proposing that a minimum of 5% of the European Regional Development

Fund (The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) finances a number of areas in order to reduce
economic, environmental and social problems – e.g. SME investment to create sustainable jobs;
environment, energy and transport infrastructure; research, technology and innovation, communications;

the development of economic and cross-border relations) resources for each Member State for 2014-
2020 should be invested in integrated actions for sustainable urban development with the management
and implementation delegated to cities (European Parliament, 2013).

What types of Integrated Territory Investments (ITIs) could be formed?

A research paper by Soto et al (2012), which explores the possibility of ITIs as a powerful tool for
innovation and change in European cities, identified six possible types of ITIs:

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