DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-087-0-0340

SUSTAINABILITY OF THE TERRITORIAL ECONOMY AND THE IMPACT OF EUROPEAN PROJECTS IN SMALL TOWNS IN ROMANIA: A CASE STUDY OF BALCEȘTI, VÂLCEA (ROMANIA)

Camelia Teodorescu¹, Ana-Irina Lequeux-Dinca¹, Diana Ionescu Anculete², Stefania Elena Calinoiu³, Florian Alin Butoi¹

¹ Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, Romania

² Faculty of Educational Sciences, Social Sciences and Psychology, University of Science and Technology Politehnica of Bucharest, Pitești University Center, Romania

³ Faculty of Letters, University of Bucharest, Department of Communication Sciences, 5 Edgar Quinet Str., Bucharest, Romania

Small towns in Romania face significant challenges in achieving sustainable territorial economies due to limited local resources, demographic decline, and economic restructuring. This article investigates the sustainability of the territorial economy in Balcești, Vâlcea, with a focus on the role of European Union-funded projects in supporting local development. The research methodology combines historical and statistical data analysis, field observations, and evaluation of the outcomes of EU-funded initiatives on the local economy, infrastructure, and social development. Findings indicate that European projects have contributed to improving public services, enhancing local infrastructure, and stimulating economic activities, while also promoting governance practices aligned with sustainable development principles. Nevertheless, structural challenges such as population decline, limited industrial diversification, and resource constraints persist. The study emphasizes that integrating European funding strategically can act as a catalyst for sustainable development, fostering local resilience, economic diversification, and social cohesion in small Romanian towns. The article concludes that EU-supported initiatives are instrumental in enhancing the sustainability of territorial economies, but their long-term impact requires complementary local strategies and community engagement.

Klíčová slova: Community engagement, Urban Regeneration, Public authority, Economic Resilience

stránky: 340-343, Publikováno: 2026, online: 2026