STRATEGY AND PRIORITIES

These documents present the long-term vision and development priorities of Hargita County across key sectors, including economic growth, social inclusion, culture, youth, and environmental sustainability. Developed in alignment with national and European frameworks, they provide a coherent and integrated policy foundation for the county’s development. Each document reflects a commitment to evidence-based planning, stakeholder engagement, and the efficient use of local resources.
Together, they serve as practical tools for decision-makers, institutions, and partners, supporting coordinated action and measurable impact. The strategies aim to enhance the quality of life for residents, strengthen community resilience, and promote sustainable and inclusive growth. By ensuring continuity and strategic direction, they contribute to positioning Hargita County as a competitive and forward-looking region at both national and European levels.

1. Hargita County Sports Strategy 2024–2028

Hargita County will become a healthy, active county with a sports culture and achievements recognized at both national and international levels, a place where athletes serve as role models for future generations. Sport and physical activity will form a significant part of citizens’ lives, will be an integral part of the educational system, and will become an indicator of quality of life.

All actors in the local sports life work together to ensure that children and adults can participate successfully in any area of sport in the county (leisure sports, school sports, competitive sports), while placing particular emphasis on the creation and utilization of sustainable and cost-effective sports facilities.

• Vision for school sports: Physical education and other extracurricular activities led by physical education teachers with modern sports equipment and new knowledge will not only improve students’ fitness but also teach them to enjoy movement and the pleasure of sport.
• Vision for all residents: Every resident of the county is aware that appropriate physical activities are available to effectively improve their health and well-being.
• Vision for competitive sports: In the sports highlighted by the National Sports Strategy and in sports with a long tradition in the county, an environment will be created that allows athletes to achieve the best possible results.

The strategy document in Romanian can be viewed HERE.

2. The Hargita County Roma Social Inclusion Strategy – 2023–2027

The social inclusion strategy for the 2022–2027 period, developed by the National Roma Agency (ANR), was enacted by Government Decision no. 560/28.04.2022. At the request of the County Council, the Hargita County Roma Social Inclusion Strategy (briefly: Hargita County Roma Strategy) was prepared based on this document. In our work, wherever possible, we aligned with the national guidelines to strengthen the synergy between national and county-level planning.

The strategy can be viewed HERE.

3. Hargita County Youth Strategy 2023–2030

The main directions of Hargita County’s 2015–2020 youth strategy were guided by the Europe 2020 strategy. In contrast, the present document is based on the 11 European youth objectives outlined in the EU strategy for the 2019–2027 period. The strategic goals and actions were formulated, among other things, along these objectives.

At the same time, Hargita County’s new youth strategy aims to provide the strategic framework for creating a Hargita County that is attractive, livable, and continuously developing according to the needs of young people. It is important to establish and lay down foundations that ensure and support the continuous development of youth, not only for today’s young people but also for future generations.

Hargita County Youth Strategy 2023–2030 can be viewed HERE.

4. Hargita County Roma Social Integration Strategy 2023–2027

The main goal of the Hargita County Roma Strategy is to develop non-discriminatory public policies and, in this regard, to change both the functioning of various institutions and the allocation of resources at the local level.

In drafting the strategy, on-the-ground realities are taken into account, and based on these, pragmatic, institutionally and politically sustainable courses of action are formulated, which can effectively improve the situation of Roma communities.

The full document in Romanian can be read HERE.

5. Hargita County Spatial Development Strategy 2015 – 2020 – 2025

The County Spatial Plan is of a guiding nature and represents the spatial expression of the county’s socio-economic development program in the short, medium, and long term. The spatial development strategy covers a 15-year period, presenting short- and medium-term (5 years), medium- and long-term (10 years), as well as a 15-year perspective, accompanied by proposed recommendations and actions.

Part One

Part Two

6. Hargita County Cultural Strategy 2021–2030

The renewal of Hargita County’s cultural strategy was developed in line with the county’s development directions, in the context of “people-centered development,” with the fullest professional-institutional participation and broad social involvement. In this context, the strategy does not represent the interests of individual institutions, but rather aims to outline a pluralistic, open, innovative, experience- and culture-consumption-oriented set of actions which, if implemented, can contribute to the general objective of the strategy:

In Hargita County, cultural policy will henceforth have strategic importance, and by 2030, high-quality, safe, modern cultural infrastructure will be available, serving as a foundation to meet the diverse cultural needs of the county’s residents, while also providing opportunities to strengthen cultural tourism based on festivals, events, and heritage.

The full document in Romanian can be read HERE. The Romanian-language summary and informative material about the strategy is available HERE.

7. Hargita County Rural Development Strategy 2021–2030

The main advantage—and at the same time challenge—of Hargita County’s rural areas lies in the fact that decades ago, major investments and developments, which took place in the West, were largely absent here. Today, the mindset has changed: it has been recognized that mass production and intensive livestock farming are not ideal. Hargita County possesses all the natural and cultural assets to guide development in a sustainable direction. What was once experienced as a disadvantage can now become a value.

The strategy aims to turn this disadvantage into an advantage by improving the quality of life in rural areas and enhancing the entrepreneurial environment, making rural living attractive.

Hargita County Rural Development Strategy 2021–2030 in Romanian

Romanian-language summary and informative material about the strategy available HERE.

Hargita County priorities and strategic measures aligned with the FRiDGE project action plan for supporting the development of local food-processing enterprises – Enhancing the competitiveness of food-processing SMEs for better growth opportunities – in Romanian

Report prepared by the Hargita County Development Agency available HERE

8. Hargita County Tourism Strategy 2020–2027

The tourism development strategy structures the county’s tourism policies and presents the current situation of the county’s tourism development conditions. The strategy serves as a conceptual framework and provides guidance. For tourism development in Hargita County to be effective, the need for sustainable development must also be taken into account, which forms the basis for the economic and social growth planned in tourism strategies. The long-term vision for tourism development in Hargita County focuses on developing the region as a competitive tourist destination at both national and international levels, based on the efficient use of resources.

Hargita County Tourism Strategy 2020–2027 in Romanian

Hargita County Tourism Strategy 2020–2027 in English

Romanian-language summary and informative material about the strategy available HERE.

9. Hargita County Economic Development Strategy – Hargita 2030

Hargita County’s economic development strategy is designed to serve as a working tool for decision-makers and economic stakeholders involved in the county’s development during the 2021–2030 period. This document presents the vision of the individual as a PERSON in Hargita County—whether a simple citizen, student, employee, employer, entrepreneur, or representative of a decision-making institution—and aims to cover all economic sectors in the county. Therefore, the methodology for developing this strategy focuses on the PERSON, the key factor in the county’s development.

Document link: Hargita County Economic Development Strategy 2030

Romanian-language summary and informative material about the strategy available HERE

10. Hargita County Waste Management Strategy 2019–2030

The Hargita County Waste Management Strategy 2019–2030 sets out a long‑term, integrated approach to developing and operating waste collection, sorting, treatment, and disposal services across the county.

The strategy aims to create a modern, unified waste management system that complies with EU principles and supports sustainable development. It focuses on improving selective waste collection, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill, increasing recycling and composting, and promoting the concept of “zero waste”, where waste is treated as a resource to be reused and recovered rather than disposed of. The strategy supports transitioning from linear waste practices to a circular economy model, significantly reducing landfill dependency by 2030 and aligning with broader national and EU waste policy objectives.

Document link: Hargita County Waste Management Strategy 2019–2030

11. Hargita County Social Development Strategy 2019–2028

The Hargita County Social Development Strategy 2019–2028 sets out a comprehensive framework for improving social services and social inclusion across the county over a 10‑year period.

It aims to develop and coordinate social services to better protect the rights and well‑being of vulnerable groups including children, families at risk, people with disabilities, adults in difficult circumstances, and the elderly. The strategy focuses on strengthening service provision at the local level, reducing risks such as child abandonment and social exclusion, enhancing community‑based care, and expanding services for rehabilitation, counseling, and social integration. It also promotes cooperation between public institutions, NGOs, and providers of social services to ensure effective support systems and improved quality of life for all residents.

The strategy document in Romanian can be viewed HERE.

The Romanian-language summary and informative material about the strategy is available HERE.