Enhanced Spatial Planning as a Precondition for Sustainable Urban Development

This report provides an analysis of the
spatial planning system in Romania and suggests ways in
which it can be improved. Romania has recently experienced a
proliferation of plans, strategies, and policies developed
at all administrative levels. Adding to this, the analysis
of territorial and urban development in Romania reveals
important dynamics and challenges, such as uncontrolled
expansion of built perimeters, increased pressures on
transport infrastructure and utilities, and aggressive urban
interventions causing disruptions and redundancies in the
urban fabric. Such dynamics require new system architecture,
including the design and implementation of new instruments,
enhancing and mainstreaming existing ones, as well as
building capacity. This report provides recommendations for:
1) the correlation and harmonization of different types of
plans; 2) the simplification of the framework of planning in
Romania; and 3) the development of a planning system that
will better integrate national and European Union
(EU)-funded initiatives.