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The integration processes taking place in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) are contributing to the sustainable development of this unique territory. Intensive cooperation financed from EU funds under the cohesion policy and the neighborhood policy have provided an opportunity for the development of ethnic and national minorities, who are important but still marginalized stakeholders. The theoretical aim of the article is to identify the attributes of national and ethnic minorities and to indicate key determinants of their sustainable development. The authors seek to answer whether territorial cooperation in the BSR contributes to the development of national and ethnic minorities, and if so, how. In the article, concepts and definitions related to the term "minority" are verified, classifications are developed and a model of sustainable development of ethnic and national minorities is built. Official statistical data are used to present the national and ethnic structure of the BSR countries. Then, 22 national minorities and 17 ethnic minorities are identified and described. Quantitative and qualitative research was carried out on 126 territorial cooperation projects supporting the development of national and ethnic minorities totaling EUR 85.25 million in value and implemented within 38 BSR programs in 2000–2020. The Sami minority were the greatest beneficiaries of the cooperation. Territorial cooperation projects have been shown to contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage and the development of education, social support and political empowerment. Territorial cooperation is a powerful instrument of sustainable development. Unfortunately, it still contributes only moderately to the development of national and ethnic minorities. There is a need to strengthen this issue in future programs of the cohesion policy and the neighborhood policy and to develop systemic solutions enabling national and ethnic minorities to participate more actively in the implementation of territorial cooperation projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper intends to fill a gap in available literature by debating the role of human geography in the elaboration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. More particularly, it elaborates on the relevance of spatial planning and territorial cohesion processes to implement sustainable development. This paper explores potential points of intersection and complementarity between several human geography related policy goals and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the same time, it identifies promising directions for delving more deeply into fundamental policy goals associated with spatial planning and territorial cohesion. Inspired by the advantages associated with the holistic and interdisciplinary approach of human geography, the paper proposes two additional SDGs for the 2030 Agenda to reinforce territorial cohesion and planning processes. It concludes that the identification of SDGs is excessively predicated on a prevailing conceptual triad (economy + society + environment). Thereby, it undercuts a common assumption that crucial human geography related policy arenas are not seen as essential pillars of sustainability processes. In particular, the research intends to fuel the clamour for more holistic approaches to sustainable development policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formally initiated in 1989, European Union (EU) cohesion policy (ECP) has since passed through a series of metamorphoses, along its five programming periods, while becoming the most financed EU policy. As its name indicates, its initial goals were earmarked for promoting economic and social cohesion, following the intentions expressed in the Single European Act. Since then, from a policy strategy intervention point of view, ECP has shifted into a financial tool to promote investment for growth and jobs. In the meantime, European spatial planning (ESP), which had its debating pinnacle with the release of the European Spatial Development Perspective, by 1999, has declined in interest and narrowed into a novel notion of Territorial Cohesion. In this challenging context, this article analyses the implementation and main impacts of ECP and proposes a new strategic paradigm, built around a novel ‘ESP’ vision, backed by the main pillars and dimensions of territorial development and cohesion. More particularly, we suggest that the current rationale for a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth could instead fuel an alternative strategic design based on a cohesive and sustainable development vision: green economy, balanced territory, good governance and social cohesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Danube strategy can only constitute a step forward regarding the stated intentions, via the Black Sea Synergy program of the European Union towards the boosting of economic development, democratic governance, security etc., in the Black Sea region. Even more, this implies the warranty of sustainable development considering that the purposes of the Danube strategy call for more effective transports and environmental protection. First of all, the advantages for the Black Sea area derive from the complexity and large scale of the strategy plan for the Danube, which implies a surface of over 800.000 km2, a population of over 100 million inhabitants, 10 European countries and 4 European capitals. Although this time, because of the ongoing economic crisis, the European Commission has declared its full support for this cause while unable to cover any of its expenses, we should not forget that the idea of this project has been derived from the success of another macro region project, the Baltic Sea strategy. This model mainly implies the possibility of real benefits for the countries which are included in the Danube strategy and which are also near the Black Sea: Romania, Bulgaria, and, in a broader perspective, Moldova as well as Ukraine. The detailing of this feature is the main objective of the current paper, an objective which, we trust, can be accomplished by the careful extrapolation of the advantages offered by past macro region projects of the European Union, and the theoretical approach of their implementation in the regional context of the Black Sea. The method used is the analysis of official EU Inforegio documents, but the current article also relies on the recent literature on this subject.

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN HUMAN SETTLEMENTS HAVE AL WA YS EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO LIVR BETTER USING THE CONDITIONS OFFERED BY THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE IDEA OF INCREASING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THESE COMMUNITIES WAS EMPIRICAL AND HAS BEEN STUDIED DURING THE MODERNIZATION OF SOCIETY. FOR A CORRECT UNDERSTANDING OF THE EVOLUTION OF SOCIETY IN GENERAL AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS IN PARTICULAR LITERATURE HAS STUDIED SIGNIFICANT STAGES OF EMERGENCE AND EVOLUTION OF THESE SETTLEMENTS FROM THE BEGINNING UNTIL NOW. TOGETHER WITH THE UNDERSTANDING AND PRECISE DEFINITION OF THE PHENOMENON OF DEVELOPMENT OF SETTLEMENTS, DOCUMENTARY SOURCES HAVE BECOME EXTREMELY NUMEROUS, SO THIS PROCESS COULD BE STUDIED IN ALL ITS COMPLEXITY, THUS DEFINING RESEARCH METHODS, DEVELOPMENT MODELS CORRESPONDING TO DIFFERENT STAGES OF HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT TREANDS. MOST OF THE ISSUE PRESENTATION IS RESEVED FOR THE CHALLENGES CURRENTLY FACED BY MANKIND SUCH AS GLOBALIZATION WHICH LED IN ITS TURN TO A GROWING CONCERN FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW FORMS OF DEVELOPMENT, NAMELY THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, INTEGRATED URBAN DEVELOPMENT, LAND MANAGEMENT AND SPATIAL PLANNING, SUSTAINABLE SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND TERRITORIAL COHESION. THE CURRENT PRESENTATION TACKLES CONCEPTS, PROGRAMS AND MEASURE AND MEASURES ADOPTED WORLDWIDE AND AT THE EUROPEAN UNION LEVEL AND EXAMINES ALSO THE STRATEGIC TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT 'ROMANIA 2030'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to firstly develop a brief review of the creation and functioning of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC), highlighting the role of the EGTC in respect of its contribution to the harmonious development of the whole European Union through the strengthening of economic, social and territorial cohesion. The article highlights recent changes in EU legislation governing the EGTC and analyses the infl uence that there is in choosing the State where a Gro uping will be located, and the applicable law. Subsequently, the article outlines the contribution of those EGTCs - constituted by municipalities in Romania and Hungary - to regional sustainable development. Utilising a cross-border EGTC is a way of promoting of better neighbourliness, and stimulating balanced economic development and social stability by harnessing local resources and regional joint projects. At the end of the article I stress the need for cross-border cooperation between Romania and Hungary in developing services of general economic interest, as well as transport infrastructure and tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Danube strategy can only constitute a step forward regarding the stated intentions, via the Black Sea Synergy program of the European Union towards the boosting of economic development, democratic governance, security etc., in the Black Sea region. Even more, this implies the warranty of sustainable development considering that the purposes of the Danube strategy call for more effective transports and environmental protection. First of all, the advantages for the Black Sea area derive from the complexity and large scale of the strategy plan for the Danube, which implies a surface of over 800.000 km², a population of over 100 million inhabitants, 10 European countries and 4 European capitals. Although this time, because of the ongoing economic crisis, the European Commission has declared its full support for this cause while unable to cover any of its expenses, we should not forget that the idea of this project has been derived from the success of another macro region project, the Baltic Sea strategy. This model mainly implies the possibility of real benefits for the countries which are included in the Danube strategy and which are also near the Black Sea: Romania, Bulgaria, and, in a broader perspective, Moldova as well as Ukraine. The detailing of this feature is the main objective of the current paper, an objective which, we trust, can be accomplished by the careful extrapolation of the advantages offered by past macro region projects of the European Union, and the theoretical approach of their implementation in the regional context of the Black Sea. The method used is the analysis of official EU Inforegio documents, but the current article also relies on the recent literature on this subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy transition is a multi-dimensional process of developing sustainable economies by seeking renewable energy sources, saving energy, and improving energy efficiency. This process follows the rules of sustainable development. The article presents an analysis of energy transition in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) enjoying long-term and intensive territorial cooperation. The region embraces 11 countries diversified in terms of their economic development level and the use of renewable energy sources. The article strives to answer the question of whether territorial cooperation contributes to BSR energy transition, and if so, in what way. Another goal is to identify the transition drivers that arise from the Baltic Sea Region's unique characteristics. The authors applied the system analysis methodology. The performed literature studies allowed the researchers to identify the attributes of energy transition. Empirical research relied on secondary sources, including the European Union (EU) statistics, The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR), and related documents. The key role in the conducted research can be attributed to the EU projects database (keep.eu), which enabled identifying the 2016–2020 programmes and projects. The research identified 14 BSR territorial cooperation programmes and 1471 projects conducted under the programmes, including 137 energy transition-related projects. The project results were presented in quantitative and qualitative terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]