development, but sustainability means very different things for peoples in different positions of
society and in different societies like Romania and Finland. It crucial to make those values visible,
because in that way we can better understand, why certain choices are made and what are beliefs
behind them. The project cycle management is useful method for programme oriented regional
developing. It offers us a way to serve needs of citizens and strengthen bottom up oriented
development. When the PCM works as it is meant to work, it serves the sustainable development
and represents strong visions of sustainability.
If we consider economic sustainability, we can talk about financial policy sustainability and
financial project sustainability. Both have in common the principles that programmes or projects in
programmes should not generate debts or should not lose money. The use of resources should have
at least some permanent impacts. Policy sustainability means that we have to make sure that those
things which have started in the developing programme will also continue in one way or another
after the programme has closed. Programmes have to have long lasting impacts, especially their
positive features, while this should not be the case with the possible negative impacts of the
programme. Financial sustainability of projects means that processes started in projects should go
on after the projects end, at least some of them, or in the case of infrastructure projects, some
permanent results should be maintained after the end of the project. If some of these conditions are
not followed, problems with financial sustainability will be encountered. PCM may contribute as
well to the financial sustainability. When we follow the needs of citizens and regions, that are
targets groups and stake holders, we can make sure that everything we do serve the needs our works
should serve.
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