International partners of the CCIC project – Complex Challenges, Innovative Cities – took part in the project meeting held in Genoa (Italy) on 18th of September. Harghita County Council was represented on the conference by Mr. Csaba Borboly, president and Mrs. Emőke Kovács, responsible for communication. They have presented the Sekler Product Movement as best practice, which caught the attention of specialists from 12 countries from Europe.
Regarding the project, 13 partners from 10 countries participate in it, including Bulgaria, Great-Britain, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Holland, Spain, Estonia, Poland and Romania. The project aims to improve regional policies, strengthen innovation in public sphere and to increase cooperation between local and regional authorities, national organizations and other interested parties from partner regions.
At the meeting held in Italy, besides the project’s summary, the partners got familiar with participating region’s reports and studies aiming the innovation of public sphere. Gathering the Romanian best practices, the representatives of Harghita County Council have provided a presentation on the Sekler Product Movement. This program initiated by Harghita County Council is nowadays a well-known successful programme and is the example of how a public institution is able to take role in providing help and support for local producers in promoting and selling their traditional and local products.
Mr. Csaba Borboly declared that ‘there are significant feedbacks and interests on behalf of foreign partners regarding this initiative since specialists from 12 European countries are curious about the Sekler Product Movement. Harghita County Council has offered great attention towards the need of public demands when making decisions. The CCIC project offers a good opportunity for up-to-date opinion-sharing as well as the recognition and implementation of public consultation.
He added that ‘Harghita County Council aims, with the implementation of several other European projects, to strengthen the effectiveness of local administration. We consider important to ease the administration in more isolated regions, as well as to provide opportunities for local people to voice out their opinions and visions. We hope that our efforts’ positive effect will be felt by the local community in the near future’.
Until now, similar meetings within the project were organized in Great-Britain, Sweden and Finland.
Miercurea Ciuc, 18th of September 2013
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