Page 150 - Proceeding 2015

FLORESCU Margareta and POTCOVARU Ana-Mădălina
FAMP
CCASP LOCAL DEVELOPMENT’S INFLUENCE ON THE FREEDOM OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
IN LOCAL COLLECTIVITIES IN ROMANIA

planning or a rudimentary approach regarding the investments made (traditional solutions are applied

with most of the investments being made in infrastructure, specific projects or other short term projects
that give a fine sensation of good spending, but unfortunately does not help the local economy in any
point).

Cluj-Napoca has been considered since the Middle Age “the heart of Transylvania” and, for the last
century, has also been one of the most important cities in the country. Established first as a Roman
settlement back in the first century, later as a fortress of German influences, the city developed rapidly

during the Middle Ages and further after its incorporation into Greater Romania, after 1918 (Hin?ea, 2008).

Like most of the major cities in Romania, the current Development Strategy of Cluj-Napoca was
elaborated back in 2012-2013 for the 2014-2020 period, to match with the European Union timeframe

regarding the use and destination of funds. Its vision is formulated for the 2027 horizon, ensuring the
continuity of its main directions and unlike most of cities that construct their strategies with the help of
small expert groups, usually from within the municipality, in Cluj-Napoca the new strategy was put together

with the effort of over 300 experts both local and foreign (Mure?anu, 2012). The general strategy for the
city of Cluj is built on three pillars that are complementary for each other: Innovation, Education and

Participation, which are the key strategic factors for the city’s development. The city prioritizes its long PROCEEDINGS OF THE 11 TH ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ”Strategic Management for Local Communities” 30 th – 31 st October 2015 Bucharest
term sustaiable development over the near term benefits, fact demonstrated by including culture and
creativity as two out of the 25 chapters of the strategy, already making Cluj one of the most developed

city in the cuntry, having a GDP and medium income more above the european average and also the
center of an IT and outsourcing industry or automotive spare parts manufacturing (Heroiu, 2013).

Cluj, being one of the most cosmopolite cities in the country and has the highest quality of life in Romania
(when taking into account the large cities), a fact that attracts more educated and entrepreneurial human

resource from nearby areas or even further away in the country (Muresanu, 2012). Furthermore, Cluj is a
role model city in terms of good governance, an academic hub representing a source for creativity and

innovation and has a very good geographical location, being somewhat close to the Western border of
the country, thus attracting investments in manufacturing and production, making the city to not be
dependent of a single industry for its well-being (Mayor's Office of Cluj-Napoca, 2013).

Timi?oara, one of Romania’s largest city (population 332,000), the main center in the west of the country
and residence town of Timis county, is also one of Romania’s most developed cities along with the capital,
Bucharest and Cluj. City authorities attribute its economic and social progress especially to its strategic

geopolitical position, Timisoara being just 60 km away from the border with Hungary. Other facts that

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