- the organisation of stakeholder consultations for the preparation of programming documents and for the implementation of programmes through stakeholder consultations; - the establishment of a platform for dialogue with interested parties (different stakeholders and more widely); the up-to-date publication of press releases, the communication of projects of strategic importance (this will enable ECP to reach as wide a range of people as possible and thereby increase the possibility of a multi-stakeholder dialogue); - a mechanism for identifying the needs of relevant stakeholders; - an open channel for proposals, opinions and criticisms; and - regular monitoring of the implementation of the partnership principle (e.g. at events, through surveys, etc.). In future, technical assistance resources will, where relevant, be engaged in the form of a flat rate and will focus primarily on the education and training of entities performing management and control tasks, entities and other actors to which the performance and control bodies have delegated tasks, and other entities involved in the implementation of European cohesion policy with a view to effective and efficient implementation, monitoring and management. Technical assistance funds will also be used to ensure adequate administrative capacity in both cohesion regions and among other entities so that they are better able to absorb funds at regional and local level, and to provide external expertise (area-specific experts for better project preparation and implementation).

## 10. An integrated approach to address the demographic challenges and/or specific needs of regions and areas (where appropriate)

With due regard to Chapter II of the Common Provisions Regulation for 2021–2027, we expect to support integrated territorial development in the following ways: 1. for sustainable urban development — Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI); 2. for local development — Community-Led Local Development (CLLD); and 3. for regional development – Agreements for the Development of Regions (ADR). Integrated territorial approaches are expected to be implemented across all policy objectives in pursuit of the objectives of linking urban and rural areas under the Territorial Agenda 2030 and the Long-Term Vision for the EU’s Rural Areas up to 2040. The ITI approach is envisaged for Policy Objectives 2 and 5, the CLLD approach for Policy Objective 5 and the regional development approach for Policy Objectives 1 to 4. All three approaches, which complement each other, are based on the territorial and local development strategies that have been drafted. The demarcation between them is ensured through prior coordination, the strategies themselves being approved by the authorities or bodies responsible for them. In order to ensure the involvement of the relevant territorial authorities or bodies in the implementation of territorial strategies, these authorities or bodies will be involved in selecting the operations to be supported in the context of the implementation of territorial approaches. 1. Sustainable Urban Development (ITI) Sustainable urban development that addresses economic, environmental, climate, demographic and social challenges will be supported through territorial strategies, with urban municipalities to the fore. Particular attention will be paid to resolving environmental and climate challenges, in particular the transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2050, the unlocking of the innovation potential of digital