Jiu Valley Integrated Territorial Development Association
Governing body for the Integrated Territorial Investment instrument
Website valeajiului.eu
Jiu Valley is one of the four micro-regions in Romania for which the Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) mechanism is foreseen, according to the 2021 - 2027 Partnership Agreement signed on Wednesday, 5 October 2022, in Alba Iulia. Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) is a financial instrument introduced by the European Commission (EC) in the 2014-2020 programming period to stimulate integrated territorial development. The Partnership Agreement 2021 - 2027 foresees the use of integrated territorial investments for the micro-regions of Danube Delta, Valea Jiului, Motii - Tara de Piatra and Tara Faragarsului.
The Just Transition Operational Programme (POTJ), with a total allocation of €2.5 billion, is a programme aimed at mitigating the socio-economic impact of the transition to climate neutrality in 6 counties in the country: Hunedoara (with an allocation of €510.65 million), Gorj, Galati, Mures, Prahova, Dolj.
Under this programme, the allocation for the Jiu Valley is €180.5 million, with funds available for the development of at least 1,200 new and existing businesses, including in the field of tourism service provision and the creation of 2,300 new jobs, qualification and retraining services for 6. 000 people, production of renewable energy and its transport to schools, hospitals, old people's homes, other buildings where public services accessible to all are provided, expansion of green public transport to bring disadvantaged communities out of isolation, support for productive investments in large enterprises producing green energy technologies, hydrogen and other products and services necessary for Romania's transition to climate neutrality.
This funding will benefit people directly affected by the transition process through job loss, those indirectly affected by the transition due to inadequate or insufficiently adapted skills in demand, young people up to 29 years of age, people over 55 years of age, women, single parents, members of ethnic minorities and people who fall into the categories of disadvantaged workers, extremely disadvantaged workers and disabled workers.
Moreover, under the other operational programmes, either there are separate allocations for integrated territorial investments (Education and Employment Operational Programme, Health Operational Programme, Western Regional Operational Programme, Inclusion and Social Dignity Operational Programme) or they will be given additional points in the selection process (Sustainable Development Operational Programme, Education and Employment Operational Programme on the education component).
The total funding earmarked for the Jiu Valley through these six operational programmes is approximately €290 million.
Its privileged position, the great tourism potential, and the sites for investments left behind by the closure of the mines offer great investment potential in areas such as tourism and hospitality, industry, urban regeneration, and not only. The Jiu Valley is in a full re-invention process, and the companies that will invest in the area will define its future post-mining identity.
Facts and figures
1 integrated territorial development association
1 county council | Hunedoara County Council
6 municipalities | Aninoasa, Lupeni, Petrila, Petrosani, Uricani, Vulcan
1 university | University of Petrosani
4 NGOs | VJS - Valea Jiului Development Society Project Association, ACIVJ - Comitetului de Initiativa Association, AAHH - Autism Helping Hands Association, ULVJ - Urban Lab Valea Jiului Association
€290 million dedicated to the Jiu Valley until 2030
Governing body
The governing body of the ITI instrument is the ADTIVJ - Integrated Territorial Development Association. The main purpose of the Association is to offer services in the field of initiation, development and promotion of local development skills and policies and implementation of the Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) mechanism within the area of competence of the member administrative territorial units in the Jiu Valley area, in close correlation with the initiatives carried out under the aegis of the just transition process. ADTIVJ communicates through the website valeajiului.eu.
The common objective pursued by the members through the establishment of this Association is the promotion of the general interest of the inhabitants of the administrative territorial units of the Jiu Valley area in order to improve their quality of life, through actions aimed at environmental protection, economic and social development as well as developing and ensuring the ability to attract funds for financing investments necessary for sustainable development in the Jiu Valley area.