ALEA starts coaching sessions on harmonising SEAPs & SUMPs

In the framework of the SIMPLA project, ALEA representatives with selected experts started coaching sessions, the second phase of a larger capacity building concept for local authorities involved in the previous SIMPLA training sessions.

The first coaching work session was held in Alba Iulia at the end of January, where dedicated experts assisted the first step of the actual harmonization work of 2 municipalities namely, Alba Iulia and Sebes. Further three such sessions were held at the beginning of February where the other 3 selected municipalities namely, Baia Mare, Oradea and Târgu Mureș started being ”coached” in the actual harmonization of their energy and mobility plans.

The five local authorities, selected as beneficiaries of the coaching activities actually had moved on to the coaching phase pursuing the harmonization of their SEAPs and SUMPs, a process that ultimately brings about benefits in terms of increasing energy efficiency and achieving greater results through a cumulative impact. Although SEAPs and SUMPs both pursue the goal of reducing the emissions of pollutants, promote sustainable urban development, increase cities’ attractiveness and quality of life, they are bound to influence each other and possibly overlap when it comes to their implementation. Their adoption, therefore, calls for a coordinated approach, capable of maximizing synergies and complementarities through harmonized planning.

The main purpose of the first coaching interactive work meetings were to initially evaluate the specific documents and other issues related to sustainable planning, as well as the national legislation in the field, in order to make an inventory of the useful information to be integrated into the pilot actions proposed by the municipalities.