In 'No Time', Not 'Out of Time'! - A Lesson about Strategic Thinking in Regional Development

• Author: Gabriela Marchis
• Pages: 265-274

Performance and Risks in the European Economy

265

In “No Time”, Not “Out of Time”! - A Lesson

about Strategic Thinking in Regional Development

Gabriela Marchis1

Abstract: The innovative approach of regional development during 2014-20 programming period, in line with

the “Europe 2020” strategy, implies a new form of designing the local and regional strategies of development.

The transitio n to a green, smart and innovative economy, cannot be attained only by adapting quickly to

changes that appear in today's European society. Thus, an integrative strategic thinking becomes more

necessary than ever. This research paper intends to guide and inspire those people that have the responsibility

for designing and coordination of local and regional strategies of development. A lesson about strategic thinking

in regional development refers mainly at the p rocess of planning and implementation of policies with local

focus, but with a significant European dimension, in an active partnership with all the relevant stakeholders.

Another important lesson, mainly for Romanian authorities in charge with the management of local and regional

development, is about timing with the Brussels. In order to be able to provide tangible results for citizens, each

local/regional government should collaborate in order to harmonize their public policy in line with EU trend of

development. Real multi-level governance is a novelty but also a necessity and a priority of 2014-20

programming period.

Keywords: future dynamics of EU; regional development and planning; ESI funds; Europe 2020

1. Introduction

Within the European Union, the strategies for regional development evolved during different

programming period, accordingly to EU necessity of development but also from the necessity to keep

the rhythm of growth in a more and more globalized world.

EU is a complex system and the process of its evolution is very dynamic and engages a large spectrum

of decisional factors.

For the current programming period 2014-20 the strategies for regional development should be designed

on three important dimensions: sharper focus on the need of development; better systems for tracking

the progress towards the established targets and a better evaluation of the programmes results.

In this context, it is increasingly clear that in order to benefit for the entire EU technical and financial

support for regional development, each Member State should be in line with these trajectories of

conduct.

Shaping the evolution of a region is not an easy task and requires a lot of knowledge, experience and

data.

1 Associate Professor, PhD, Department of Economics, Danubius University of Galati, Romania, Address: 3 Galati Blvd.,

Galati 800654, Romania, Tel.: +40372361102, Corresponding author: gabrielamarchis@univ-danubius.ro.