(Re)Inventing Galati-Braila urban agglomeration with the support of HEIs

• Author: Gabriela Marchis
• Position: Associate Professor, PhD, Danubius University of Galati, Romania
• Pages: 82-93

European Integration - Realities and Perspectives. Proceedings 2019

82

(Re)Inventing Galati-Braila Urban

Agglomeration with the Support of HEIs

Gabriela Marchis1

Abstract: The local development potential of the Galati-Braila urban agglomeration is bigger than if we were

thinking about the socio-economic development at each city level. A r enewed design of spatial development

strategies are required in order to overcome the local limiting factors and to create the necessary local consensus

for policies targeting institutional reforms mainly on l abour market, capital mobility and some basic

infrastructure and accessibility policies. This research paper is an inventory of needs and resources of Galati-

Braila urban agglomeration from the perspective of HEIs which provide a creative environment able to foster

cooperation and collective action of a wide range of actors, from public sector institutions to civil society,

incorporating private sector actors and moreover research institution from abroad, ensuring in this way that the

knowledge is decisively t ransferred from the scientific literature into institutional work-frame. The paper

concludes that territorial development policies should first and foremost help Galati-Braila urban agglomeration

to develop its territorial capital, the role of HEIs being fundamental, especially because superior education aims

to increase competences and human capital endowment.

Keywords: iGeneration; quality of governance; regional settings; (Re)New University

JEL Classification: R58; I23; I25.

1. Introduction

Building a shared European future for the next generation was the main concern of the 8th edition of the

European Summit of Regions and Cities which was held in Bucharest on 14 and 15 March 2019 under

the title “(Re)New Europe”. The Declaration adopted at the end of the Summit, entitled “Building the

EU from the ground up with our regions and cities”, emphasized that “Europe is being transformed at

an unprecedented speed by globalisation, by the digital revolution, climate, and demographic change.”

In order to face these transformations, which may materialize in the increase of social, economic and

territorial inequalities, prejudicing in this way the process of European integration, a concerted effort of

all levels of government is required, especially because one third of all public expenditure and more

than half of public investment is carried out at the sub-national level.

This research is a case-study of the challenges and opportunities that Galati-Braila urban agglomeration

faces, loyal cooperation between all relevant stakeholders in local and regional development being

essential for this conurbation to be able to deliver on its objective of economic and social progress for

its citizens.

1 Associate Professor, PhD, Danubius University of Galati, Romania, Address: Blvd. Galati no. 3, Galati, Romania,

Corresponding author: gabrielamarchis@univ-danubius.ro.