“Roşia Montană Should Become a Model of Sustainable Development in Europe”
Between the 16th and the 19th of June 2014, representatives of the Europa Nostra organization and the European Investment Bank Institute came to Romania for a four-day mission at Roşia Montană, on the occasion of the inclusion of Roşia Montană site in “The 7 Most Endangered” programme, following its nomination by Pro Patrimonio Foundation. Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute have collaborated since 2012 in the development of “The 7 Most Endangered” programme, aiming to select those historical monuments of great cultural value that are currently in a state of decay.
The European delegation had several meetings with representatives of the academic community, civil society, and the local community in Cluj, Bucharest and Roşia Montană in order to better perceive the reality in the field and to find solutions for the sustainable development of this locality by preserving and promoting its natural and cultural heritage.
In the press conference Roşia Montană Should Become a Model of Sustainable Development in Europe held in Bucharest on the 19 of June 2014, Mr Costa Carras, Vice-President of Europa Nostra, insisted on the importance of cultural heritage in the history of a nation and the need of the present generation to valorise the legacy of our ancestors. In Cluj-Napoca, he mission held a series of important meetings with members of the academic community and civil society, at the Centre for Regional Geography, and also with the President of the Romanian Chamber of Architects.
John SELL, Executive Vice President of Europa Nostra (UK), Costa CARRAS, Vice President of Europa Nostra (Greece), Guy CLAUSSE, Dean of the European Investment Bank Institute (Luxembourg), Ştefan BÂLICI, Council member of Europa Nostra and Vice President of ARA Association (Romania), Maria BERZA, former Council member of Europa Nostra and former Executive Vice President of Pro Patrimonio, member of the 7 Most Endangered Advisory Panel (Romania), Mihai GOŢIU, Cornel VÎLCU, Dina VÎLCU, Luminiţa DEJEU, Dragoş OLĂRESCU, members of the “Save Roşia Montană” campaign (Romania) are among the participants at the meeting held on the 16th of June 2014, at the headquarters of the Centre for Regional Geography.
The work visit was focused on the following issues:
- the importance of “The 7 Most Endangered” programme launched by Europa Nostra and the inclusion of Roşia Montană on the 2013 List, with emphasis on the delicate state of this site;
- presentation of the scientific studies already achieved by Babeş-Bolyai University, especially the international conference and the volume Roşia Montană in Universal History (2012), elaborated at Professor Cocean’s initiative;
- the need for a viable development strategy for the whole area, namely for the Land of the Moţi, starting from the premise that an economic development cannot be achieved if the area is excluded from its regional territorial context;
- the need for alternative development solutions for Roşia Montană site opposed to the exploitations proposed by the Canadian company Roşia Montană Gold Corporation (RMGC), with examples of viable development models from Greece and Italy given by the members of the European delegation;
- possible sources of funding to ensure the achievement of the development strategy for Roşia Montană.
More:
Roşia Montană Mining Landscape in Transylvania, Romania
Roşia Montană Should Become a Model of Sustainable Development in Europe
Europe’s 7 Most Endangered Monuments and Sites Announced (2014) (YouTube)
