The Future of Mountain Areas: Policies and Legislation. An Integrated Approach to Sustainable Development and Resilience

Romania’s mountain areas constitute a territory with distinct geographical, economic, social, and environmental characteristics that have, over time, led to the development of specific policies and regulations. The evolution of the legislative framework has sought to compensate for natural constraints and support communities, economic activities, and the services required to sustain life in mountain areas. In this context, Mountain Law No. 197/2018 occupies a central position because of the breadth of the policy fields it brings together and the way in which it defines the mountain area as a territory of national interest. This paper examines the evolution of legislation and the institutional framework, the legal delineations used for mountain areas, the relationship between mountain policy and funding instruments, and the governance mechanisms applicable to this territory. Relevant European experiences are also considered, selected according to the ways in which different states organize coordination, programming, and support for mountain areas. The analysis therefore focuses on the relationship between legislation, institutions, and sectoral policies that influence the sustainable development and resilience of Romania’s mountain communities, while exploring the possibility of developing an integrated framework for articulating these dimensions at the territorial level.