National Sustainable Development Strategy

Local Agenda 21

• LA 21 in Romania

- Fifth phase: 2006-2008

- Fourth phase: 2005-2006

- Third phase: 2004-2005

- Second phase: 2003-2004

- Pilot phase: 2000-2003

• Implementation of LA 21

- NCSD role

- Benefits

- The process

Other Projects

• EASY - ECO

• RES & EMC ICT TOOLS

• REGIONET

• Strenghtening citizens' capacity

First National Forum on Sustainable Development

10-12 April 2002 / Miercurea Ciuc

The organization of the first National Forum for Sustainable Development is another achievement of the pilot phase of the LA 21 project and succeeded under the umbrella of the National Centre for Sustainable Development, and of the Romanian Federation of Local Authorities, with the help of UNDP and of the Miercurea Ciuc City Hall.

The forum benefited from the high auspices of the President of Romania, Mr. Ion Iliescu and enjoyed a broad and important national and international. Besides the President of Romania, the forum was attended by His Excellency, Jonathan Scheele, Chief of the Delegation of the European Commission in Romania, His Excellency Enrico Grillo Pasquarelli, Chief Negotiator for Romania of the European Commission, His Excellency Jesus Atienza, Ambassador of Spain to Romania, Mr. Ben Slay, Director RBEC - Regional Support Center Bratislava, Mr. Denny Robertson and Jim Gordon form USAID and Mr. Keith Withmore from the Council of Europe.

The steering committee of the Romanian Federation of Local Authorities (RFLA) and of the Association of Municipalities of Romania (AMR) took place in the first day of the Forum.

The main discussion points of the Forum were:

- Sustainable Development is / should be increasingly a concept that underpins all governmental actions at all levels and LA 21 is a success from this point of view;

- The general scope of Local Agenda 21 pertains to the function of local reality;

- LA 21 experience has been positive thus, the LA 21 process needs to be extended;

- Need is felt to integrate the follow up of the strategic planning projects; the role of different sectors of the goverment is still being defined (the role of management is increasing and there is an increasing need for information technology);

- The need to assess what has to be achieved from public/private sources and identify the best solution for the achievement of projects.

All in all, the successful implementation of the first phase of the LA 21 project was the key argument in expanding the project to further locations and phases, thus promoting the LA 21 process in Romania.

Main results:

- The participation of around 250 important national and local stakeholders in debates related to the theme of the "sustainable development of the cities in Romania, the path to integrating in the European Union"

- A Joint Declaration of the National Centre for Sustainable Development, and of the Romanian Federation of Local Authorities

- A cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Public Administration, the Ministry of Waters and Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Public Works, Transportation and Housing, and the United Nations Development Programme in Romania

Poster: