On Friday, September 15, 2023, the submission of proposals for the Sustainable Urban Development Strategy – Integrated Territorial Investments (SUDS – ITI) was completed by the eligible municipalities of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
The company Lever – Development Consultants S.A., member of the Samaras & Partners Group, supported as Technical Consultant the Municipalities of Alexandroupoli and Orestiada in submitting their strategies, taking into account the specific characteristics and needs of each intervention area, which shape the priorities of each strategy.
For Alexandroupoli, the vision articulated is:
“Alexandroupoli as a central hub of culture, tourism, and sports.”
For Orestiada, the corresponding vision is:
“Creating a modern Orestiada with opportunities for young people.”
Key design features of both strategies include:
- Consultation with local stakeholders and the community.
- Reliable identification of local development needs through a participatory process, fostering partnerships and an integrated approach.
- Synergy and complementarity with other strategies such as Regional Spatial Plans, Traffic Studies, Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, sectoral strategies, and priorities.
- Formation of a dedicated governance team at the municipal level for their management.
Based on these characteristics, integrated interventions were proposed in the following areas:
- Infrastructure
- Climate Change
- Environmental Resilience
- Economic Development
- Circular Economy
- Social Inequalities
The strategies, at a critical time when Climate Change is an established reality, include special provisions to address environmental challenges and enhance urban resilience. Moreover, through the implementation of all proposed actions, they promote equal opportunities, non-discrimination on the basis of disability, and accessibility assurance.
The allocation of funds per Sustainable Urban Development Strategy amounts to €14,200,000 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and €900,000 from the European Social Fund (ESF). The total funding for interventions
