THE CONTRIBUTION OF COHESION POLICY IN THE "LOWER DANUBE" EUROREGION: THE MAPPING OF THE IMPLEMENTED PROJECTS' OUTPUTS AND THEIR IMPLICATION TO TRANSITION FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract

Through its programmes, the European Union supports Euroregions so as to help develop joint projects, meant to enforce the economic and social cohesion. Do these programmes of the Cohesion Policy also support the transition processes towards sustainability? This study examines this aspect, by achieving an overall image of the results of the projects implemented in the "Lower Danube" Euro-region. This work uses the method of mapping the results in order to understand the way in which the cohesion policy supports the Euroregions in terms of territorial cohesion and durable development. Therefore, there are roughly analysed the types of results which prevail and their implications in ensuring the sustainability. This method can be adapted for other territorial structures (towns, regions etc) so as to appreciate the transition towards sustainability of the studied territory. The financial support for ensuring the territorial and social cohesion needs to be rethought depending on the potential and social-economical characteristics of the region.

Keywords

• cohesion
• instruments
• projects
• outputs
• euroregion
• sustainability