- STATUTUL UNITĂŢII ADMINISTRATIV-TERITORIALE
- “REGULAMENTELE PRIVIND PROCEDURILE ADMINISTRATIVE”
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- Regulament de organizare și funcționare CJH
- Regulament de ordine interioară
- Dispoziție nr. 125/2024
- Dispoziția nr. 9/2025_ROI – modificare(Program de lucru)
- Dispoziție nr. 125/2024
- Integritate Instituțională
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- HOTĂRÂRILE AUTORITĂȚII DELIBERATIVE
Now is the time to speak up so that we can apply for important developments in the European Union from 2028 onwards!
A new report is being prepared in the European Committee of the Regions, which aims to target the development of rural regions in the EU. Rapporteur Csaba Borboly and expert László Csák discussed the two-stage consultation process related to this during the press confrence held on September 15.
The purpose of the report is to shape EU policies that promote the economic, social, and environmental development of rural areas by harnessing cultural diversity and creativity.
”It is crucial to keep in mind that the European Union always plans ahead. To access the resources we truly need in 2028, we must speak up now. We shouldn’t let others determine what is important for us. We should take into account the strength of our region and highlight our own tourist attractions based on our culture, traditions, and values,” said Csaba Borboly, who would contribute to facilitating social, economic, and environmental transformation through the consultation.
László Csák, a rural development expert, emphasized that this report focuses on culture-centric rural development based on local characteristics and values. It initiates a renewal grounded in traditions and also takes into account the interests of minorities, as rural life is often intertwined with them.
The comments and experiences received during the consultation will help shed light on the factors affecting rural development, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the promotion of sustainable practices, with a particular emphasis on biocultural areas.
The survey is of paramount importance in shaping rural areas that have an impact on rural communities. The input received can contribute to the development of more inclusive, diverse, and sustainable initiatives.
The survey will conclude on the 30th of September 2023. Further details will be communicated later.
You can access the questionnaire here:
Local Cultural Flavours
Local Cultural Flavours — Authentic tourism based on local cultural flavours.
Project financed by Interreg Europa programme.
Specific objective: 4.1. Improving natural and cultural heritage policies
The objective of the project is to improve supporting places unable to fully exploit their cultural legacies due to less-advantaged locations. The project will help partners to meet the challenges and identify the most effective ways to support their unique local sites with an innovative analysis toolkit and transfer knowledge between public and private stakeholders.
Lead Partner: Institute of Advanced Studies Hungary
Partners:
- Hertogenbosch Municipality, Netherlands
- Waterford City Council, Ireland
- Savonlinna Development Agency, Finland
- Vittora Vento Municipality, Italy
- Riga Planning Region, Latvia
- Institute of Tourism, Croatia
- University of Bologna, Italy
Budget: 1.777 873.00 EUR, of which the budget of Harghita County Council is: 135.467.00 EUR.
The duration of the project is 3 years (36 months, of which the first phase is 24 months, the second phase is 12 months).
Project related news
2022.03.17 – Activity report – project meeting
2022.03.18 – Activity report – project meeting
2022.04.28 – Activity report – project meeting
2022.05.11 – Activity report – project meeting
Our internationally presented “Youthmagnet” community space is waiting for you!
Within the European Year of Youth, the Hargita County Council representatives participated in another successful international partner meeting. The European project called Talent Magnet invited its partners to Slovenia, where local good examples and activities were also presented during the workshops and conference between November 7-10.
At the partner meeting, the Hargita County team was happy to report on the recently inaugurated Youth Magnet community space and the organized workshop, which provides young people with the opportunity to talk about their professions, encouraging the audience to follow their dreams.
The primary goal of the project is to support youth, reduce the emigration of talented young workers, and attract and retain talent at the local level. During the running time of the project, not only a county level action plan was completed, but there was also the opportunity to organize a community youth hackathon, ensuring that the young people formulate their needs and problems and find solutions to them together.
This is how the expectation arose to create a youth space that young people could take possession of.
Read more about the inauguration of the YouthMagnet here: https://www.facebook.com/borbolycsaba/videos/423118646496666/
The Hargita County Council welcomes interested parties, teachers, youth organizations, student councils, and associations who would like to use the youth space, a good opportunity to organize workshops, discussions, games, lectures and other programs.
If you are interested, you can apply at [email protected].
Csíkszereda, November 22, 2022.
The youth of Harghita County have a voice that needs to be heard at all levels of governance!
The Future of Talents – The actors of Europe’s Future! event, organized by the Harghita County Council within the European Week of Regions and Cities
The European Year of Youth gave even more voice to events that focused on the development and involvement of young people in formulating and making decisions that shape their future.
The priority of Harghita County Council is to give youth the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, at home, in Harghita County, and thus, the events organized by the institution have the role of identifying the problems and situations they face, but also to involve them in identifying and formulating solutions.
Mr. Borboly Csaba, the President of the County Council and Member of the European Committee of the Regions, together with young people and their representatives, during the workshop entitled Future of Talents – Actors of the Future of Europe, emphasized the importance of young people having a vision, to assume a role and actively participate in the formulation and decision-making process, so that their voice is heard at local, national and European level and that their ideas are included in laws and regulations.
Mr. Farkas András, strategic director of the Pont Group Consulting organization, appreciated that Europe cannot exist without young people and that the way society will transform depends on how we create a future for young people, pointing out that the future of localities is organically linked to what is happening now with young people and as such it is very important that decisions are made with them and for them.
Mr. Fekete Örs, the Director of the Public Service of Mountain Rescue of Harghita County Council, presented to the youth his experience, both in political life, as a local councilor, but also as member of the network of Young Elected Politicians within the CoR, as well as in the activity professional, day-to-day life, encouraging them to push their limits, persevere and seek to increase their resilience by actively engaging in all activities.
Mr. Csala Dénes, data- researcher, discussed the role of artificial intelligence, digitization and the need for responsible behavior so that the place and role of young people in this evolutionary process is identified.
Mr. Bogos Ákos, president of CSTIT (Youth Organization of Ciuc Microregion of Harghita County), spoke about the programs that the organization he leads runs with the aim of reaching young people and supporting them in their personal and professional development, pointing out as important their support in purchasing their first home.
Mr. Cilip Àrpàd, the Director of the Harghita County Development Agency, emphasized the importance of professional training and skills development for young people and the fact that they began to give an increasing role to professional practice, mentioning the programs that the agency runs with the aim of developing young people’s careers.
The conclusion of the event is that the future of Harghita county and Europe will depend on how we all contribute to the well-being of the next generation with our current means and experience and how we invest in young talents.
Furthermore, the European Year of Skills of 2023 will need to take in consideration the challenges and talents of youth from local and regional level, especially those from less developed regions and who have less access to the European decision making forums. The EU needs to bet on the talent of its labour force, to prevent brain drain and to provide training in the right skills to citizens at all stages of their lives, no matter where they live. Without support, the current gap will be greater and we cannot afford to have huge disparities within the EU, therefore young people with no prospect in one country should be supported to not to be forced to move to another country. As local and regional authorities we must bring them closer to the EU institutions, as well as to represent their messages on such level, based on the principle of subsidiarity and of the bottom-up approach.
Young people must be encouraged, involved and supported. How? By providing the space for development, mentoring, and providing funds. Their future requires equal opportunities and equal access; this can be achieved through sustainable methods and preparation for a digital transformation.
Thus, local authorities must link regional development with youth development.
Miercurea Ciuc, 7th of November 2022.
The first round table discussion of the CAPactivities 2022 project took place on the 10th of November in the County Council building in Miercurea-Ciuc
CAPactivities 2022 roundtable discussion
The first roundtable discussion of the CAPactivities 2022 project took place on the 10th of November in the County Council building in Miercurea-Ciuc. The event was attended by small producers, farmers, cooperatives and local authorities.
The first discussion focused mainly on dairy processing, its potential and shortcomings. At the same time, participants discussed how it can bring economic and social benefits, with attention to biodiversity and nature.
Participants also had the opportunity to increase their knowledge of the aspects and measures of the Common Agricultural Policy, thus promoting this policy among farmers and raising their awareness of the potential of agriculture.
An integral part of the event was the exploration of mountain farms and their potential. A funding opportunity for mountain areas is current and provides assistance in three areas. An invitation is issued for the construction of mountain huts, milk collection centres and collection centres focusing on berries, mushrooms, herbs and spices. Dr. Róbert István from the Harghita Veterinary Health and Food Safety Directorate, Dr. Előd Vass from the Harghita County Public Health Directorate and Enikő Both from the Harghita Environmental Protection Agency provided guidance on the practical aspects of the application. At the same time, the competent authorities talked about the permitting process, how it works and possible pitfalls.
In addition, Antal Szabolcs Barabási, Secretary of State, Csaba Könczei, Member of Parliament, Zsolt Romfeld, Director of the Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Development, Csongor László, Director of the Intercommunity Rural Development Association of Harghita County Council, István Becze, President of the Association “Székely Gazdaszervezetek”, and Árpád Cilip, Director of theDevelopment Agency of Harghita County, added professionalism and improved the quality of the event.
Miercurea Ciuc, 10th of November 2022
#IMCAP #CAPactivities
Pilot projects – an integrated approach to education for inclusion
Digitalization of education does not mean online education
On 12th October, within the European Week of Regions and Cities, Harghita County Council organized the event entitled #LocalAction4Education – Pilot project for digital education.
The event was moderated by Gyula Winkler, Member of the European Parliament, with the participation of Ms. Margrethe Vestager Executive Vice President of the European Commission as keynote speaker, as well as with further panelists: Mr. Alpár Ferencz Salamon director of the Teacher`s House of Harghita County, Mr. László Csák expert in European policies, Mr. Daniel Böjte expert in digitalization, Mr. Endre Borsos expert on digitalization of education, and Mr. Juraj Bilic Vice-CEO of the Croatian Academic and Research Network (CARNET).
The purpose of the event was to bring together the good practices, experiences, challenges which contribute to supporting education in all learning environments in order to reduce the digital gap in the less developed regions.
“During the COVID 19 pandemic schools, teachers, students and parents faced a new situation in which the traditional way of education was no longer possible and every entity and family had to find new solutions. For some of them, challenges consisted in organizing education at home, but for many, especially in less developed regions, such as in Harghita County, challenges started with the lack of equipment and internet connection. Harghita County Council took the initiative and established a working group for the digitalization of the education in Harghita County, which is operating with relevant actors and highly rated experts from the field of digital education, aiming primarily at solving urgent requests related to online education.” – added Csaba Borboly, president of the county council.
In order to have a long-term impact, the working group concluded that a holistic, regional, comprehensive and strategic approach is needed and elaborated the DigEdu2030 – Action plan for digital education, which proposes the launch of a pilot project for education digitization in Harghita County.
Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice President of the European Commission, keynote speaker of the event, welcomed the initiative of the county council to implement a pilot project assuring their support in its implementation, at the same time appreciating that it is impossible to talk about inclusion without mentioning education and it is highly important to ensure access to learning and training for all in order to reduce gaps.
Digitalization of education and digitization in general has become a priority on European and national level, but financing sources/funding options for the implementation of comprehensive and multi-level pilot projects still lacks.
Mr. Alpár Ferencz Salamon director of Teacher`s House of Harghita County appreciated that the well-being of digitization is in tight connection with physical well-being and to reduce inequalities the implementation of such projects is necessary, which provides 21st century conditions.
Mr. Daniel Böjte expert on digitization highlighted the need to change the role of teachers and put the emphasis on learning, digital transformation of education without omitting the emotional component of this process with the aim of educating in the future.
As an example of good practice, Juraj Bilic Vice-CEO of the Croatian Academic and Research Network presented the pilot proiect of Croatia, implemented in two phases, his advice being to invest in robust and modern technologies which do not degrade over time. At the same time he concluded that digitization of education does not mean online education.
Mr. Endre Borsos expert on education digitization appreciated the contribution of Harghita County Council as an active partner in the implementation of several digital projects, such as 7 Smart Steps, Classy application, useful tools both for teachers and students for creating digital contents.
As a result of the event a Cooperation intent was signed between Harghita County Council, Teachers` House of Harghita County and Croatian Academic and Research Network, to find the means to implement the Local action plan for digital education, so that, as Mr. Csaba Borboly appreciated, to develop education in Harghita County in such way all children of all backgrounds to have equal changes to prepare for a digitalized future.
Miercurea Ciuc, 12th October 2022
Now is the time to speak up so that we can apply for important developments in the European Union from 2028 onwards!
A new report is being prepared in the European Committee of the Regions, which aims to target the development of rural regions in the EU. Rapporteur Csaba Borboly and expert László Csák discussed the two-stage consultation process related to this during the press confrence held on September 15.
The purpose of the report is to shape EU policies that promote the economic, social, and environmental development of rural areas by harnessing cultural diversity and creativity.
”It is crucial to keep in mind that the European Union always plans ahead. To access the resources we truly need in 2028, we must speak up now. We shouldn’t let others determine what is important for us. We should take into account the strength of our region and highlight our own tourist attractions based on our culture, traditions, and values,” said Csaba Borboly, who would contribute to facilitating social, economic, and environmental transformation through the consultation.
László Csák, a rural development expert, emphasized that this report focuses on culture-centric rural development based on local characteristics and values. It initiates a renewal grounded in traditions and also takes into account the interests of minorities, as rural life is often intertwined with them.
The comments and experiences received during the consultation will help shed light on the factors affecting rural development, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the promotion of sustainable practices, with a particular emphasis on biocultural areas.
The survey is of paramount importance in shaping rural areas that have an impact on rural communities. The input received can contribute to the development of more inclusive, diverse, and sustainable initiatives.
The survey will conclude on the 30th of September 2023. Further details will be communicated later.
You can access the questionnaire here:
Local Cultural Flavours
Local Cultural Flavours — Authentic tourism based on local cultural flavours.
Project financed by Interreg Europa programme.
Specific objective: 4.1. Improving natural and cultural heritage policies
The objective of the project is to improve supporting places unable to fully exploit their cultural legacies due to less-advantaged locations. The project will help partners to meet the challenges and identify the most effective ways to support their unique local sites with an innovative analysis toolkit and transfer knowledge between public and private stakeholders.
Lead Partner: Institute of Advanced Studies Hungary
Partners:
- Hertogenbosch Municipality, Netherlands
- Waterford City Council, Ireland
- Savonlinna Development Agency, Finland
- Vittora Vento Municipality, Italy
- Riga Planning Region, Latvia
- Institute of Tourism, Croatia
- University of Bologna, Italy
Budget: 1.777 873.00 EUR, of which the budget of Harghita County Council is: 135.467.00 EUR.
The duration of the project is 3 years (36 months, of which the first phase is 24 months, the second phase is 12 months).
Project related news
2022.03.17 – Activity report – project meeting
2022.03.18 – Activity report – project meeting
2022.04.28 – Activity report – project meeting
2022.05.11 – Activity report – project meeting
Our internationally presented “Youthmagnet” community space is waiting for you!
Within the European Year of Youth, the Hargita County Council representatives participated in another successful international partner meeting. The European project called Talent Magnet invited its partners to Slovenia, where local good examples and activities were also presented during the workshops and conference between November 7-10.
At the partner meeting, the Hargita County team was happy to report on the recently inaugurated Youth Magnet community space and the organized workshop, which provides young people with the opportunity to talk about their professions, encouraging the audience to follow their dreams.
The primary goal of the project is to support youth, reduce the emigration of talented young workers, and attract and retain talent at the local level. During the running time of the project, not only a county level action plan was completed, but there was also the opportunity to organize a community youth hackathon, ensuring that the young people formulate their needs and problems and find solutions to them together.
This is how the expectation arose to create a youth space that young people could take possession of.
Read more about the inauguration of the YouthMagnet here: https://www.facebook.com/borbolycsaba/videos/423118646496666/
The Hargita County Council welcomes interested parties, teachers, youth organizations, student councils, and associations who would like to use the youth space, a good opportunity to organize workshops, discussions, games, lectures and other programs.
If you are interested, you can apply at [email protected].
Csíkszereda, November 22, 2022.
The youth of Harghita County have a voice that needs to be heard at all levels of governance!
The Future of Talents – The actors of Europe’s Future! event, organized by the Harghita County Council within the European Week of Regions and Cities
The European Year of Youth gave even more voice to events that focused on the development and involvement of young people in formulating and making decisions that shape their future.
The priority of Harghita County Council is to give youth the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, at home, in Harghita County, and thus, the events organized by the institution have the role of identifying the problems and situations they face, but also to involve them in identifying and formulating solutions.
Mr. Borboly Csaba, the President of the County Council and Member of the European Committee of the Regions, together with young people and their representatives, during the workshop entitled Future of Talents – Actors of the Future of Europe, emphasized the importance of young people having a vision, to assume a role and actively participate in the formulation and decision-making process, so that their voice is heard at local, national and European level and that their ideas are included in laws and regulations.
Mr. Farkas András, strategic director of the Pont Group Consulting organization, appreciated that Europe cannot exist without young people and that the way society will transform depends on how we create a future for young people, pointing out that the future of localities is organically linked to what is happening now with young people and as such it is very important that decisions are made with them and for them.
Mr. Fekete Örs, the Director of the Public Service of Mountain Rescue of Harghita County Council, presented to the youth his experience, both in political life, as a local councilor, but also as member of the network of Young Elected Politicians within the CoR, as well as in the activity professional, day-to-day life, encouraging them to push their limits, persevere and seek to increase their resilience by actively engaging in all activities.
Mr. Csala Dénes, data- researcher, discussed the role of artificial intelligence, digitization and the need for responsible behavior so that the place and role of young people in this evolutionary process is identified.
Mr. Bogos Ákos, president of CSTIT (Youth Organization of Ciuc Microregion of Harghita County), spoke about the programs that the organization he leads runs with the aim of reaching young people and supporting them in their personal and professional development, pointing out as important their support in purchasing their first home.
Mr. Cilip Àrpàd, the Director of the Harghita County Development Agency, emphasized the importance of professional training and skills development for young people and the fact that they began to give an increasing role to professional practice, mentioning the programs that the agency runs with the aim of developing young people’s careers.
The conclusion of the event is that the future of Harghita county and Europe will depend on how we all contribute to the well-being of the next generation with our current means and experience and how we invest in young talents.
Furthermore, the European Year of Skills of 2023 will need to take in consideration the challenges and talents of youth from local and regional level, especially those from less developed regions and who have less access to the European decision making forums. The EU needs to bet on the talent of its labour force, to prevent brain drain and to provide training in the right skills to citizens at all stages of their lives, no matter where they live. Without support, the current gap will be greater and we cannot afford to have huge disparities within the EU, therefore young people with no prospect in one country should be supported to not to be forced to move to another country. As local and regional authorities we must bring them closer to the EU institutions, as well as to represent their messages on such level, based on the principle of subsidiarity and of the bottom-up approach.
Young people must be encouraged, involved and supported. How? By providing the space for development, mentoring, and providing funds. Their future requires equal opportunities and equal access; this can be achieved through sustainable methods and preparation for a digital transformation.
Thus, local authorities must link regional development with youth development.
Miercurea Ciuc, 7th of November 2022.
The first round table discussion of the CAPactivities 2022 project took place on the 10th of November in the County Council building in Miercurea-Ciuc
CAPactivities 2022 roundtable discussion
The first roundtable discussion of the CAPactivities 2022 project took place on the 10th of November in the County Council building in Miercurea-Ciuc. The event was attended by small producers, farmers, cooperatives and local authorities.
The first discussion focused mainly on dairy processing, its potential and shortcomings. At the same time, participants discussed how it can bring economic and social benefits, with attention to biodiversity and nature.
Participants also had the opportunity to increase their knowledge of the aspects and measures of the Common Agricultural Policy, thus promoting this policy among farmers and raising their awareness of the potential of agriculture.
An integral part of the event was the exploration of mountain farms and their potential. A funding opportunity for mountain areas is current and provides assistance in three areas. An invitation is issued for the construction of mountain huts, milk collection centres and collection centres focusing on berries, mushrooms, herbs and spices. Dr. Róbert István from the Harghita Veterinary Health and Food Safety Directorate, Dr. Előd Vass from the Harghita County Public Health Directorate and Enikő Both from the Harghita Environmental Protection Agency provided guidance on the practical aspects of the application. At the same time, the competent authorities talked about the permitting process, how it works and possible pitfalls.
In addition, Antal Szabolcs Barabási, Secretary of State, Csaba Könczei, Member of Parliament, Zsolt Romfeld, Director of the Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Development, Csongor László, Director of the Intercommunity Rural Development Association of Harghita County Council, István Becze, President of the Association “Székely Gazdaszervezetek”, and Árpád Cilip, Director of theDevelopment Agency of Harghita County, added professionalism and improved the quality of the event.
Miercurea Ciuc, 10th of November 2022
#IMCAP #CAPactivities
Pilot projects – an integrated approach to education for inclusion
Digitalization of education does not mean online education
On 12th October, within the European Week of Regions and Cities, Harghita County Council organized the event entitled #LocalAction4Education – Pilot project for digital education.
The event was moderated by Gyula Winkler, Member of the European Parliament, with the participation of Ms. Margrethe Vestager Executive Vice President of the European Commission as keynote speaker, as well as with further panelists: Mr. Alpár Ferencz Salamon director of the Teacher`s House of Harghita County, Mr. László Csák expert in European policies, Mr. Daniel Böjte expert in digitalization, Mr. Endre Borsos expert on digitalization of education, and Mr. Juraj Bilic Vice-CEO of the Croatian Academic and Research Network (CARNET).
The purpose of the event was to bring together the good practices, experiences, challenges which contribute to supporting education in all learning environments in order to reduce the digital gap in the less developed regions.
“During the COVID 19 pandemic schools, teachers, students and parents faced a new situation in which the traditional way of education was no longer possible and every entity and family had to find new solutions. For some of them, challenges consisted in organizing education at home, but for many, especially in less developed regions, such as in Harghita County, challenges started with the lack of equipment and internet connection. Harghita County Council took the initiative and established a working group for the digitalization of the education in Harghita County, which is operating with relevant actors and highly rated experts from the field of digital education, aiming primarily at solving urgent requests related to online education.” – added Csaba Borboly, president of the county council.
In order to have a long-term impact, the working group concluded that a holistic, regional, comprehensive and strategic approach is needed and elaborated the DigEdu2030 – Action plan for digital education, which proposes the launch of a pilot project for education digitization in Harghita County.
Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice President of the European Commission, keynote speaker of the event, welcomed the initiative of the county council to implement a pilot project assuring their support in its implementation, at the same time appreciating that it is impossible to talk about inclusion without mentioning education and it is highly important to ensure access to learning and training for all in order to reduce gaps.
Digitalization of education and digitization in general has become a priority on European and national level, but financing sources/funding options for the implementation of comprehensive and multi-level pilot projects still lacks.
Mr. Alpár Ferencz Salamon director of Teacher`s House of Harghita County appreciated that the well-being of digitization is in tight connection with physical well-being and to reduce inequalities the implementation of such projects is necessary, which provides 21st century conditions.
Mr. Daniel Böjte expert on digitization highlighted the need to change the role of teachers and put the emphasis on learning, digital transformation of education without omitting the emotional component of this process with the aim of educating in the future.
As an example of good practice, Juraj Bilic Vice-CEO of the Croatian Academic and Research Network presented the pilot proiect of Croatia, implemented in two phases, his advice being to invest in robust and modern technologies which do not degrade over time. At the same time he concluded that digitization of education does not mean online education.
Mr. Endre Borsos expert on education digitization appreciated the contribution of Harghita County Council as an active partner in the implementation of several digital projects, such as 7 Smart Steps, Classy application, useful tools both for teachers and students for creating digital contents.
As a result of the event a Cooperation intent was signed between Harghita County Council, Teachers` House of Harghita County and Croatian Academic and Research Network, to find the means to implement the Local action plan for digital education, so that, as Mr. Csaba Borboly appreciated, to develop education in Harghita County in such way all children of all backgrounds to have equal changes to prepare for a digitalized future.
Miercurea Ciuc, 12th October 2022
Harghita County has officially become Romania’s first green destination
A new important milestone on the path of sustainable tourism: Harghita County has been awarded the internationally recognized Green Destinations Silver certification, becoming the first region in Romania to be included on the Green Destinations global map.
This prestigious recognition is the result of a comprehensive sustainability audit, during which Green Destinations experts assessed, among other aspects, destination management, the protection of cultural heritage, nature and landscape conservation, the well-being of local communities, and the sustainability efforts of tourism businesses.
During the audit, Harghita County achieved an average score of 7.5 across the six evaluated areas, meeting the requirements for the Silver Award level. The highest score, 9.2, was achieved in the field of culture and traditions. The expert evaluation highlighted the strong commitment to preserving both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, programs supporting local crafts and traditions, as well as the protection and promotion of gastronomic heritage. The audit also specifically praised the role of traditional culture in tourism. The Myrmidone (orange butterfly) program, which aims to identify and recognize traditional foods and the establishments that prepare them, was also cited as an important example in the evaluation. According to the experts, preserving and bringing local heritage to life is one of Harghita County’s greatest strengths.
An outstanding result was also achieved in the area of social well-being, where the county scored 8.6. The evaluation positively highlighted, among others, respect for residents’ rights, measures aimed at accessibility, and recent steps taken to involve local communities and monitor their satisfaction.
Harghita County also achieved a score of 7.1 in destination management, nature and landscape, as well as in business and communication. Experts emphasized the strategic role of the Harghita Community Development Association (Visit Harghita), the commitment to sustainable tourism, and initiatives supporting the sustainability of tourism enterprises.
Regarding the protection of nature and landscape, the audit specifically mentions the site-specific management of Lake Saint Anne and the Mohos peat bog, the information and behavioral guidelines provided to visitors, as well as initiatives involving schools and local organizations that contribute to forest conservation and tree planting.
Overall, Green Destinations experts gave a positive assessment of Harghita County’s sustainability efforts, highlighting that the destination has consistently worked in recent years to make sustainability a central element of tourism development. According to the audit, the commitment to sustainable tourism is evident among both destination staff and tourism stakeholders.
International recognition and new opportunities
The Green Destinations Award is an internationally recognized benchmark in the field of sustainable destination management. The program evaluates the sustainability performance of destinations based on the Green Destinations Standard and connects recognized regions into an international network where participants can share their experiences and best practices. By obtaining the Silver Award, Harghita County will be featured on Green Destinations’ international platforms, including the organization’s destination collection. The recognition also creates opportunities for Harghita County’s sustainability achievements to become more visible to an international tourism audience.
“The fact that Harghita County is the first in Romania to receive this international certification shows that we are at the forefront of sustainable tourism. In recent years, we have placed strong emphasis on green, slow tourism. It is particularly noteworthy that the expert group awarded the highest score, 9.2 out of 10, in the field of culture and traditions. This demonstrates that in Harghita County, the past is not a burden but can also be a competitive advantage. We are very pleased with this new international recognition and proud of the tourism stakeholders, our academic and business partners with whom we have worked together. I congratulate the Visit Harghita team, as our joint efforts have helped draw attention to Harghita County as the first in the country. I trust that this will also provide momentum for preparations for the 2027 gastronomic year,”
said Barna-Botond Bíró, President of the Harghita County Council.
The certification represents a particularly important milestone ahead of a year when Harghita County will hold the title of European Region of Gastronomy. The Green Destinations recognition also confirms and reinforces the work carried out in recent years by Visit Harghita and the county’s tourism stakeholders. The international recognition of sustainability and local gastronomic heritage are mutually reinforcing values that together create a strong foundation for further increasing Harghita County’s visibility, attractiveness, and competitiveness on both the domestic and international tourism markets.
For Harghita County, the green destination status is not just a title, but a long-term commitment: to develop tourism while preserving everything that makes the region unique.
Harghita County has officially become Romania’s first green destination
A new important milestone on the path of sustainable tourism: Harghita County has been awarded the internationally recognized Green Destinations Silver certification, becoming the first region in Romania to be included on the Green Destinations global map.
This prestigious recognition is the result of a comprehensive sustainability audit, during which Green Destinations experts assessed, among other aspects, destination management, the protection of cultural heritage, nature and landscape conservation, the well-being of local communities, and the sustainability efforts of tourism businesses.
During the audit, Harghita County achieved an average score of 7.5 across the six evaluated areas, meeting the requirements for the Silver Award level. The highest score, 9.2, was achieved in the field of culture and traditions. The expert evaluation highlighted the strong commitment to preserving both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, programs supporting local crafts and traditions, as well as the protection and promotion of gastronomic heritage. The audit also specifically praised the role of traditional culture in tourism. The Myrmidone (orange butterfly) program, which aims to identify and recognize traditional foods and the establishments that prepare them, was also cited as an important example in the evaluation. According to the experts, preserving and bringing local heritage to life is one of Harghita County’s greatest strengths.
An outstanding result was also achieved in the area of social well-being, where the county scored 8.6. The evaluation positively highlighted, among others, respect for residents’ rights, measures aimed at accessibility, and recent steps taken to involve local communities and monitor their satisfaction.
Harghita County also achieved a score of 7.1 in destination management, nature and landscape, as well as in business and communication. Experts emphasized the strategic role of the Harghita Community Development Association (Visit Harghita), the commitment to sustainable tourism, and initiatives supporting the sustainability of tourism enterprises.
Regarding the protection of nature and landscape, the audit specifically mentions the site-specific management of Lake Saint Anne and the Mohos peat bog, the information and behavioral guidelines provided to visitors, as well as initiatives involving schools and local organizations that contribute to forest conservation and tree planting.
Overall, Green Destinations experts gave a positive assessment of Harghita County’s sustainability efforts, highlighting that the destination has consistently worked in recent years to make sustainability a central element of tourism development. According to the audit, the commitment to sustainable tourism is evident among both destination staff and tourism stakeholders.
International recognition and new opportunities
The Green Destinations Award is an internationally recognized benchmark in the field of sustainable destination management. The program evaluates the sustainability performance of destinations based on the Green Destinations Standard and connects recognized regions into an international network where participants can share their experiences and best practices. By obtaining the Silver Award, Harghita County will be featured on Green Destinations’ international platforms, including the organization’s destination collection. The recognition also creates opportunities for Harghita County’s sustainability achievements to become more visible to an international tourism audience.
“The fact that Harghita County is the first in Romania to receive this international certification shows that we are at the forefront of sustainable tourism. In recent years, we have placed strong emphasis on green, slow tourism. It is particularly noteworthy that the expert group awarded the highest score, 9.2 out of 10, in the field of culture and traditions. This demonstrates that in Harghita County, the past is not a burden but can also be a competitive advantage. We are very pleased with this new international recognition and proud of the tourism stakeholders, our academic and business partners with whom we have worked together. I congratulate the Visit Harghita team, as our joint efforts have helped draw attention to Harghita County as the first in the country. I trust that this will also provide momentum for preparations for the 2027 gastronomic year,”
said Barna-Botond Bíró, President of the Harghita County Council.
The certification represents a particularly important milestone ahead of a year when Harghita County will hold the title of European Region of Gastronomy. The Green Destinations recognition also confirms and reinforces the work carried out in recent years by Visit Harghita and the county’s tourism stakeholders. The international recognition of sustainability and local gastronomic heritage are mutually reinforcing values that together create a strong foundation for further increasing Harghita County’s visibility, attractiveness, and competitiveness on both the domestic and international tourism markets.
For Harghita County, the green destination status is not just a title, but a long-term commitment: to develop tourism while preserving everything that makes the region unique.
Now is the time to speak up so that we can apply for important developments in the European Union from 2028 onwards!
A new report is being prepared in the European Committee of the Regions, which aims to target the development of rural regions in the EU. Rapporteur Csaba Borboly and expert László Csák discussed the two-stage consultation process related to this during the press confrence held on September 15.
The purpose of the report is to shape EU policies that promote the economic, social, and environmental development of rural areas by harnessing cultural diversity and creativity.
”It is crucial to keep in mind that the European Union always plans ahead. To access the resources we truly need in 2028, we must speak up now. We shouldn’t let others determine what is important for us. We should take into account the strength of our region and highlight our own tourist attractions based on our culture, traditions, and values,” said Csaba Borboly, who would contribute to facilitating social, economic, and environmental transformation through the consultation.
László Csák, a rural development expert, emphasized that this report focuses on culture-centric rural development based on local characteristics and values. It initiates a renewal grounded in traditions and also takes into account the interests of minorities, as rural life is often intertwined with them.
The comments and experiences received during the consultation will help shed light on the factors affecting rural development, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the promotion of sustainable practices, with a particular emphasis on biocultural areas.
The survey is of paramount importance in shaping rural areas that have an impact on rural communities. The input received can contribute to the development of more inclusive, diverse, and sustainable initiatives.
The survey will conclude on the 30th of September 2023. Further details will be communicated later.
You can access the questionnaire here:
Local Cultural Flavours
Local Cultural Flavours — Authentic tourism based on local cultural flavours.
Project financed by Interreg Europa programme.
Specific objective: 4.1. Improving natural and cultural heritage policies
The objective of the project is to improve supporting places unable to fully exploit their cultural legacies due to less-advantaged locations. The project will help partners to meet the challenges and identify the most effective ways to support their unique local sites with an innovative analysis toolkit and transfer knowledge between public and private stakeholders.
Lead Partner: Institute of Advanced Studies Hungary
Partners:
- Hertogenbosch Municipality, Netherlands
- Waterford City Council, Ireland
- Savonlinna Development Agency, Finland
- Vittora Vento Municipality, Italy
- Riga Planning Region, Latvia
- Institute of Tourism, Croatia
- University of Bologna, Italy
Budget: 1.777 873.00 EUR, of which the budget of Harghita County Council is: 135.467.00 EUR.
The duration of the project is 3 years (36 months, of which the first phase is 24 months, the second phase is 12 months).
Project related news
2022.03.17 – Activity report – project meeting
2022.03.18 – Activity report – project meeting
2022.04.28 – Activity report – project meeting
2022.05.11 – Activity report – project meeting
Our internationally presented “Youthmagnet” community space is waiting for you!
Within the European Year of Youth, the Hargita County Council representatives participated in another successful international partner meeting. The European project called Talent Magnet invited its partners to Slovenia, where local good examples and activities were also presented during the workshops and conference between November 7-10.
At the partner meeting, the Hargita County team was happy to report on the recently inaugurated Youth Magnet community space and the organized workshop, which provides young people with the opportunity to talk about their professions, encouraging the audience to follow their dreams.
The primary goal of the project is to support youth, reduce the emigration of talented young workers, and attract and retain talent at the local level. During the running time of the project, not only a county level action plan was completed, but there was also the opportunity to organize a community youth hackathon, ensuring that the young people formulate their needs and problems and find solutions to them together.
This is how the expectation arose to create a youth space that young people could take possession of.
Read more about the inauguration of the YouthMagnet here: https://www.facebook.com/borbolycsaba/videos/423118646496666/
The Hargita County Council welcomes interested parties, teachers, youth organizations, student councils, and associations who would like to use the youth space, a good opportunity to organize workshops, discussions, games, lectures and other programs.
If you are interested, you can apply at [email protected].
Csíkszereda, November 22, 2022.
The youth of Harghita County have a voice that needs to be heard at all levels of governance!
The Future of Talents – The actors of Europe’s Future! event, organized by the Harghita County Council within the European Week of Regions and Cities
The European Year of Youth gave even more voice to events that focused on the development and involvement of young people in formulating and making decisions that shape their future.
The priority of Harghita County Council is to give youth the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, at home, in Harghita County, and thus, the events organized by the institution have the role of identifying the problems and situations they face, but also to involve them in identifying and formulating solutions.
Mr. Borboly Csaba, the President of the County Council and Member of the European Committee of the Regions, together with young people and their representatives, during the workshop entitled Future of Talents – Actors of the Future of Europe, emphasized the importance of young people having a vision, to assume a role and actively participate in the formulation and decision-making process, so that their voice is heard at local, national and European level and that their ideas are included in laws and regulations.
Mr. Farkas András, strategic director of the Pont Group Consulting organization, appreciated that Europe cannot exist without young people and that the way society will transform depends on how we create a future for young people, pointing out that the future of localities is organically linked to what is happening now with young people and as such it is very important that decisions are made with them and for them.
Mr. Fekete Örs, the Director of the Public Service of Mountain Rescue of Harghita County Council, presented to the youth his experience, both in political life, as a local councilor, but also as member of the network of Young Elected Politicians within the CoR, as well as in the activity professional, day-to-day life, encouraging them to push their limits, persevere and seek to increase their resilience by actively engaging in all activities.
Mr. Csala Dénes, data- researcher, discussed the role of artificial intelligence, digitization and the need for responsible behavior so that the place and role of young people in this evolutionary process is identified.
Mr. Bogos Ákos, president of CSTIT (Youth Organization of Ciuc Microregion of Harghita County), spoke about the programs that the organization he leads runs with the aim of reaching young people and supporting them in their personal and professional development, pointing out as important their support in purchasing their first home.
Mr. Cilip Àrpàd, the Director of the Harghita County Development Agency, emphasized the importance of professional training and skills development for young people and the fact that they began to give an increasing role to professional practice, mentioning the programs that the agency runs with the aim of developing young people’s careers.
The conclusion of the event is that the future of Harghita county and Europe will depend on how we all contribute to the well-being of the next generation with our current means and experience and how we invest in young talents.
Furthermore, the European Year of Skills of 2023 will need to take in consideration the challenges and talents of youth from local and regional level, especially those from less developed regions and who have less access to the European decision making forums. The EU needs to bet on the talent of its labour force, to prevent brain drain and to provide training in the right skills to citizens at all stages of their lives, no matter where they live. Without support, the current gap will be greater and we cannot afford to have huge disparities within the EU, therefore young people with no prospect in one country should be supported to not to be forced to move to another country. As local and regional authorities we must bring them closer to the EU institutions, as well as to represent their messages on such level, based on the principle of subsidiarity and of the bottom-up approach.
Young people must be encouraged, involved and supported. How? By providing the space for development, mentoring, and providing funds. Their future requires equal opportunities and equal access; this can be achieved through sustainable methods and preparation for a digital transformation.
Thus, local authorities must link regional development with youth development.
Miercurea Ciuc, 7th of November 2022.
The first round table discussion of the CAPactivities 2022 project took place on the 10th of November in the County Council building in Miercurea-Ciuc
CAPactivities 2022 roundtable discussion
The first roundtable discussion of the CAPactivities 2022 project took place on the 10th of November in the County Council building in Miercurea-Ciuc. The event was attended by small producers, farmers, cooperatives and local authorities.
The first discussion focused mainly on dairy processing, its potential and shortcomings. At the same time, participants discussed how it can bring economic and social benefits, with attention to biodiversity and nature.
Participants also had the opportunity to increase their knowledge of the aspects and measures of the Common Agricultural Policy, thus promoting this policy among farmers and raising their awareness of the potential of agriculture.
An integral part of the event was the exploration of mountain farms and their potential. A funding opportunity for mountain areas is current and provides assistance in three areas. An invitation is issued for the construction of mountain huts, milk collection centres and collection centres focusing on berries, mushrooms, herbs and spices. Dr. Róbert István from the Harghita Veterinary Health and Food Safety Directorate, Dr. Előd Vass from the Harghita County Public Health Directorate and Enikő Both from the Harghita Environmental Protection Agency provided guidance on the practical aspects of the application. At the same time, the competent authorities talked about the permitting process, how it works and possible pitfalls.
In addition, Antal Szabolcs Barabási, Secretary of State, Csaba Könczei, Member of Parliament, Zsolt Romfeld, Director of the Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Development, Csongor László, Director of the Intercommunity Rural Development Association of Harghita County Council, István Becze, President of the Association “Székely Gazdaszervezetek”, and Árpád Cilip, Director of theDevelopment Agency of Harghita County, added professionalism and improved the quality of the event.
Miercurea Ciuc, 10th of November 2022
#IMCAP #CAPactivities
Pilot projects – an integrated approach to education for inclusion
Digitalization of education does not mean online education
On 12th October, within the European Week of Regions and Cities, Harghita County Council organized the event entitled #LocalAction4Education – Pilot project for digital education.
The event was moderated by Gyula Winkler, Member of the European Parliament, with the participation of Ms. Margrethe Vestager Executive Vice President of the European Commission as keynote speaker, as well as with further panelists: Mr. Alpár Ferencz Salamon director of the Teacher`s House of Harghita County, Mr. László Csák expert in European policies, Mr. Daniel Böjte expert in digitalization, Mr. Endre Borsos expert on digitalization of education, and Mr. Juraj Bilic Vice-CEO of the Croatian Academic and Research Network (CARNET).
The purpose of the event was to bring together the good practices, experiences, challenges which contribute to supporting education in all learning environments in order to reduce the digital gap in the less developed regions.
“During the COVID 19 pandemic schools, teachers, students and parents faced a new situation in which the traditional way of education was no longer possible and every entity and family had to find new solutions. For some of them, challenges consisted in organizing education at home, but for many, especially in less developed regions, such as in Harghita County, challenges started with the lack of equipment and internet connection. Harghita County Council took the initiative and established a working group for the digitalization of the education in Harghita County, which is operating with relevant actors and highly rated experts from the field of digital education, aiming primarily at solving urgent requests related to online education.” – added Csaba Borboly, president of the county council.
In order to have a long-term impact, the working group concluded that a holistic, regional, comprehensive and strategic approach is needed and elaborated the DigEdu2030 – Action plan for digital education, which proposes the launch of a pilot project for education digitization in Harghita County.
Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice President of the European Commission, keynote speaker of the event, welcomed the initiative of the county council to implement a pilot project assuring their support in its implementation, at the same time appreciating that it is impossible to talk about inclusion without mentioning education and it is highly important to ensure access to learning and training for all in order to reduce gaps.
Digitalization of education and digitization in general has become a priority on European and national level, but financing sources/funding options for the implementation of comprehensive and multi-level pilot projects still lacks.
Mr. Alpár Ferencz Salamon director of Teacher`s House of Harghita County appreciated that the well-being of digitization is in tight connection with physical well-being and to reduce inequalities the implementation of such projects is necessary, which provides 21st century conditions.
Mr. Daniel Böjte expert on digitization highlighted the need to change the role of teachers and put the emphasis on learning, digital transformation of education without omitting the emotional component of this process with the aim of educating in the future.
As an example of good practice, Juraj Bilic Vice-CEO of the Croatian Academic and Research Network presented the pilot proiect of Croatia, implemented in two phases, his advice being to invest in robust and modern technologies which do not degrade over time. At the same time he concluded that digitization of education does not mean online education.
Mr. Endre Borsos expert on education digitization appreciated the contribution of Harghita County Council as an active partner in the implementation of several digital projects, such as 7 Smart Steps, Classy application, useful tools both for teachers and students for creating digital contents.
As a result of the event a Cooperation intent was signed between Harghita County Council, Teachers` House of Harghita County and Croatian Academic and Research Network, to find the means to implement the Local action plan for digital education, so that, as Mr. Csaba Borboly appreciated, to develop education in Harghita County in such way all children of all backgrounds to have equal changes to prepare for a digitalized future.
Miercurea Ciuc, 12th October 2022
Now is the time to speak up so that we can apply for important developments in the European Union from 2028 onwards!
A new report is being prepared in the European Committee of the Regions, which aims to target the development of rural regions in the EU. Rapporteur Csaba Borboly and expert László Csák discussed the two-stage consultation process related to this during the press confrence held on September 15.
The purpose of the report is to shape EU policies that promote the economic, social, and environmental development of rural areas by harnessing cultural diversity and creativity.
”It is crucial to keep in mind that the European Union always plans ahead. To access the resources we truly need in 2028, we must speak up now. We shouldn’t let others determine what is important for us. We should take into account the strength of our region and highlight our own tourist attractions based on our culture, traditions, and values,” said Csaba Borboly, who would contribute to facilitating social, economic, and environmental transformation through the consultation.
László Csák, a rural development expert, emphasized that this report focuses on culture-centric rural development based on local characteristics and values. It initiates a renewal grounded in traditions and also takes into account the interests of minorities, as rural life is often intertwined with them.
The comments and experiences received during the consultation will help shed light on the factors affecting rural development, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the promotion of sustainable practices, with a particular emphasis on biocultural areas.
The survey is of paramount importance in shaping rural areas that have an impact on rural communities. The input received can contribute to the development of more inclusive, diverse, and sustainable initiatives.
The survey will conclude on the 30th of September 2023. Further details will be communicated later.
You can access the questionnaire here:
Local Cultural Flavours
Local Cultural Flavours — Authentic tourism based on local cultural flavours.
Project financed by Interreg Europa programme.
Specific objective: 4.1. Improving natural and cultural heritage policies
The objective of the project is to improve supporting places unable to fully exploit their cultural legacies due to less-advantaged locations. The project will help partners to meet the challenges and identify the most effective ways to support their unique local sites with an innovative analysis toolkit and transfer knowledge between public and private stakeholders.
Lead Partner: Institute of Advanced Studies Hungary
Partners:
- Hertogenbosch Municipality, Netherlands
- Waterford City Council, Ireland
- Savonlinna Development Agency, Finland
- Vittora Vento Municipality, Italy
- Riga Planning Region, Latvia
- Institute of Tourism, Croatia
- University of Bologna, Italy
Budget: 1.777 873.00 EUR, of which the budget of Harghita County Council is: 135.467.00 EUR.
The duration of the project is 3 years (36 months, of which the first phase is 24 months, the second phase is 12 months).
Project related news
2022.03.17 – Activity report – project meeting
2022.03.18 – Activity report – project meeting
2022.04.28 – Activity report – project meeting
2022.05.11 – Activity report – project meeting
Our internationally presented “Youthmagnet” community space is waiting for you!
Within the European Year of Youth, the Hargita County Council representatives participated in another successful international partner meeting. The European project called Talent Magnet invited its partners to Slovenia, where local good examples and activities were also presented during the workshops and conference between November 7-10.
At the partner meeting, the Hargita County team was happy to report on the recently inaugurated Youth Magnet community space and the organized workshop, which provides young people with the opportunity to talk about their professions, encouraging the audience to follow their dreams.
The primary goal of the project is to support youth, reduce the emigration of talented young workers, and attract and retain talent at the local level. During the running time of the project, not only a county level action plan was completed, but there was also the opportunity to organize a community youth hackathon, ensuring that the young people formulate their needs and problems and find solutions to them together.
This is how the expectation arose to create a youth space that young people could take possession of.
Read more about the inauguration of the YouthMagnet here: https://www.facebook.com/borbolycsaba/videos/423118646496666/
The Hargita County Council welcomes interested parties, teachers, youth organizations, student councils, and associations who would like to use the youth space, a good opportunity to organize workshops, discussions, games, lectures and other programs.
If you are interested, you can apply at [email protected].
Csíkszereda, November 22, 2022.
The youth of Harghita County have a voice that needs to be heard at all levels of governance!
The Future of Talents – The actors of Europe’s Future! event, organized by the Harghita County Council within the European Week of Regions and Cities
The European Year of Youth gave even more voice to events that focused on the development and involvement of young people in formulating and making decisions that shape their future.
The priority of Harghita County Council is to give youth the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, at home, in Harghita County, and thus, the events organized by the institution have the role of identifying the problems and situations they face, but also to involve them in identifying and formulating solutions.
Mr. Borboly Csaba, the President of the County Council and Member of the European Committee of the Regions, together with young people and their representatives, during the workshop entitled Future of Talents – Actors of the Future of Europe, emphasized the importance of young people having a vision, to assume a role and actively participate in the formulation and decision-making process, so that their voice is heard at local, national and European level and that their ideas are included in laws and regulations.
Mr. Farkas András, strategic director of the Pont Group Consulting organization, appreciated that Europe cannot exist without young people and that the way society will transform depends on how we create a future for young people, pointing out that the future of localities is organically linked to what is happening now with young people and as such it is very important that decisions are made with them and for them.
Mr. Fekete Örs, the Director of the Public Service of Mountain Rescue of Harghita County Council, presented to the youth his experience, both in political life, as a local councilor, but also as member of the network of Young Elected Politicians within the CoR, as well as in the activity professional, day-to-day life, encouraging them to push their limits, persevere and seek to increase their resilience by actively engaging in all activities.
Mr. Csala Dénes, data- researcher, discussed the role of artificial intelligence, digitization and the need for responsible behavior so that the place and role of young people in this evolutionary process is identified.
Mr. Bogos Ákos, president of CSTIT (Youth Organization of Ciuc Microregion of Harghita County), spoke about the programs that the organization he leads runs with the aim of reaching young people and supporting them in their personal and professional development, pointing out as important their support in purchasing their first home.
Mr. Cilip Àrpàd, the Director of the Harghita County Development Agency, emphasized the importance of professional training and skills development for young people and the fact that they began to give an increasing role to professional practice, mentioning the programs that the agency runs with the aim of developing young people’s careers.
The conclusion of the event is that the future of Harghita county and Europe will depend on how we all contribute to the well-being of the next generation with our current means and experience and how we invest in young talents.
Furthermore, the European Year of Skills of 2023 will need to take in consideration the challenges and talents of youth from local and regional level, especially those from less developed regions and who have less access to the European decision making forums. The EU needs to bet on the talent of its labour force, to prevent brain drain and to provide training in the right skills to citizens at all stages of their lives, no matter where they live. Without support, the current gap will be greater and we cannot afford to have huge disparities within the EU, therefore young people with no prospect in one country should be supported to not to be forced to move to another country. As local and regional authorities we must bring them closer to the EU institutions, as well as to represent their messages on such level, based on the principle of subsidiarity and of the bottom-up approach.
Young people must be encouraged, involved and supported. How? By providing the space for development, mentoring, and providing funds. Their future requires equal opportunities and equal access; this can be achieved through sustainable methods and preparation for a digital transformation.
Thus, local authorities must link regional development with youth development.
Miercurea Ciuc, 7th of November 2022.
The first round table discussion of the CAPactivities 2022 project took place on the 10th of November in the County Council building in Miercurea-Ciuc
CAPactivities 2022 roundtable discussion
The first roundtable discussion of the CAPactivities 2022 project took place on the 10th of November in the County Council building in Miercurea-Ciuc. The event was attended by small producers, farmers, cooperatives and local authorities.
The first discussion focused mainly on dairy processing, its potential and shortcomings. At the same time, participants discussed how it can bring economic and social benefits, with attention to biodiversity and nature.
Participants also had the opportunity to increase their knowledge of the aspects and measures of the Common Agricultural Policy, thus promoting this policy among farmers and raising their awareness of the potential of agriculture.
An integral part of the event was the exploration of mountain farms and their potential. A funding opportunity for mountain areas is current and provides assistance in three areas. An invitation is issued for the construction of mountain huts, milk collection centres and collection centres focusing on berries, mushrooms, herbs and spices. Dr. Róbert István from the Harghita Veterinary Health and Food Safety Directorate, Dr. Előd Vass from the Harghita County Public Health Directorate and Enikő Both from the Harghita Environmental Protection Agency provided guidance on the practical aspects of the application. At the same time, the competent authorities talked about the permitting process, how it works and possible pitfalls.
In addition, Antal Szabolcs Barabási, Secretary of State, Csaba Könczei, Member of Parliament, Zsolt Romfeld, Director of the Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Development, Csongor László, Director of the Intercommunity Rural Development Association of Harghita County Council, István Becze, President of the Association “Székely Gazdaszervezetek”, and Árpád Cilip, Director of theDevelopment Agency of Harghita County, added professionalism and improved the quality of the event.
Miercurea Ciuc, 10th of November 2022
#IMCAP #CAPactivities
Pilot projects – an integrated approach to education for inclusion
Digitalization of education does not mean online education
On 12th October, within the European Week of Regions and Cities, Harghita County Council organized the event entitled #LocalAction4Education – Pilot project for digital education.
The event was moderated by Gyula Winkler, Member of the European Parliament, with the participation of Ms. Margrethe Vestager Executive Vice President of the European Commission as keynote speaker, as well as with further panelists: Mr. Alpár Ferencz Salamon director of the Teacher`s House of Harghita County, Mr. László Csák expert in European policies, Mr. Daniel Böjte expert in digitalization, Mr. Endre Borsos expert on digitalization of education, and Mr. Juraj Bilic Vice-CEO of the Croatian Academic and Research Network (CARNET).
The purpose of the event was to bring together the good practices, experiences, challenges which contribute to supporting education in all learning environments in order to reduce the digital gap in the less developed regions.
“During the COVID 19 pandemic schools, teachers, students and parents faced a new situation in which the traditional way of education was no longer possible and every entity and family had to find new solutions. For some of them, challenges consisted in organizing education at home, but for many, especially in less developed regions, such as in Harghita County, challenges started with the lack of equipment and internet connection. Harghita County Council took the initiative and established a working group for the digitalization of the education in Harghita County, which is operating with relevant actors and highly rated experts from the field of digital education, aiming primarily at solving urgent requests related to online education.” – added Csaba Borboly, president of the county council.
In order to have a long-term impact, the working group concluded that a holistic, regional, comprehensive and strategic approach is needed and elaborated the DigEdu2030 – Action plan for digital education, which proposes the launch of a pilot project for education digitization in Harghita County.
Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice President of the European Commission, keynote speaker of the event, welcomed the initiative of the county council to implement a pilot project assuring their support in its implementation, at the same time appreciating that it is impossible to talk about inclusion without mentioning education and it is highly important to ensure access to learning and training for all in order to reduce gaps.
Digitalization of education and digitization in general has become a priority on European and national level, but financing sources/funding options for the implementation of comprehensive and multi-level pilot projects still lacks.
Mr. Alpár Ferencz Salamon director of Teacher`s House of Harghita County appreciated that the well-being of digitization is in tight connection with physical well-being and to reduce inequalities the implementation of such projects is necessary, which provides 21st century conditions.
Mr. Daniel Böjte expert on digitization highlighted the need to change the role of teachers and put the emphasis on learning, digital transformation of education without omitting the emotional component of this process with the aim of educating in the future.
As an example of good practice, Juraj Bilic Vice-CEO of the Croatian Academic and Research Network presented the pilot proiect of Croatia, implemented in two phases, his advice being to invest in robust and modern technologies which do not degrade over time. At the same time he concluded that digitization of education does not mean online education.
Mr. Endre Borsos expert on education digitization appreciated the contribution of Harghita County Council as an active partner in the implementation of several digital projects, such as 7 Smart Steps, Classy application, useful tools both for teachers and students for creating digital contents.
As a result of the event a Cooperation intent was signed between Harghita County Council, Teachers` House of Harghita County and Croatian Academic and Research Network, to find the means to implement the Local action plan for digital education, so that, as Mr. Csaba Borboly appreciated, to develop education in Harghita County in such way all children of all backgrounds to have equal changes to prepare for a digitalized future.
Miercurea Ciuc, 12th October 2022
4. “DISPOZIŢIILE AUTORITĂŢII EXECUTIVE”
5. “DOCUMENTE ŞI INFORMAŢII FINANCIARE”
- Situația funcțiilor din cadrul Consiliului Județean Harghita
6. “ALTE DOCUMENTE”
