The Urban Dimension of Inclusive Growth

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2 The Urban Dimension of Inclusive Growth

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4 Session chair: Lieve Fransen Director, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

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6 Scene setter: Jan Vranken Professor, Centre on Inequality, Poverty, Social Exclusion and the City, University of Antwerp, BE

7 Inclusive growth? Why does growth need the adjective inclusive? Because economic growth usually results in more inequality, social exclusion and poverty As do rapid social changes and technological innovations Trickle-down effect is a myth. The adjective inclusive thus refers to the creation of a context which advances equal opportunities for participants during the process of economic growth, with built-in redistribution mechanisms to improve the position of marginalised groups. How this is to be realised, still is not very clear. Is the inclusive character not more than a mantra, repeated in introductions, forewords and solemn declarations? This in spite of..

8 In spite of? two flagship initiatives in EU2010 focusing on inclusion. Agenda for new skills and jobs for individuals: helping people acquire new skills, adapt to a changing labour market and make successful career shifts collectively: modernising labour markets to raise employment levels, reduce unemployment, raise labour productivity and ensuring the sustainability of our social models European platform against poverty ensuring economic, social and territorial cohesion guaranteeing respect for the fundamental rights of people experiencing poverty and social exclusion, and enabling them to live in dignity and take an active part in society mobilising support to help people integrate in the communities where they live, get training and help to find a job and have access to social benefits ( active inclusion strategy )

9 Is the city level relevant? The Janus face of the city The city as a dumping place of problems to be avoided The city as a bundle of opportunities to be fostered Paradigmatic shift in the last decades from the former to the latter But both features are essential to understand contemporary urban reality and to have an impact This is the baseline argument of the Issue Paper & Background together with the need for urban governance The question is: how to integrate both in a urban strategy? The 8th Progress Report on Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion, European Commission 2013 shows an inverse relation between the level of economic development of MS and the risk of poverty in their cities it is higher in cities than in towns and rural areas in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, UK, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, France and Sweden than in the other MS

10 The reality of inequality, exclusion, and poverty in (European) cities Homelessness Children in poverty Undocumented persons Deprived neighbourhoods & poor housing quality Polarisation (income, living standards, quality of services) Unemployment (urban labour market paradox) Social isolation Food banks Shelters

11 The importance of cohesion Social cohesion is important because it is the social dimension of sustainability, besides the better known economic & ecological dimensions The political dimension could then be forms of direct and indirect democracy The cultural dimension: cultural heritage The three dimensions of social cohesion relational dimension (social networks, social capital, social order and social control, social solidarity) cultural dimension (common value pattern and a civic culture) spatial dimension (not only place attachment but also the spatial dimension of social networks) What is has been overlooked in recent times is the relevance of (understanding) social conflicts

12 The darker side of social cohesion Cohesion may be supportive but also Constraining, oppressive Preventing social mobility and innovation Excluding Illustrations A strong degree of cohesion at the neighbourhood level (place attachment) or at the level of local communities might exclude people from opportunities in the larger world. Identification with smaller units often stands in the way of identification with a higher level of social life (cities instead of neighbourhoods, nation state instead of social classes).

13 Has solidarity collapsed? The weakening and even disappearance of traditional forms of solidarity, mostly bottom-up (division of labour!), of routines that used to function as mediators, of (informal) mechanisms of social control. Are they being replaced by top-down initiatives? These initiatives used to be rather protective (social protection, social services), but there is a shift to repressive ones Initiatives to policy the private and public sphere Social and physical control systems in order to promote safety: CCTV-controlled areas, private security services, the call for more police in the street. Mono-cultural discourses, legal and other mechanisms to prevent or to combat forms of deviant behaviour (including specific cultural behaviour). Integration debate: shift from reciprocal adaptation to adaptation ( adapt or leave ) Treatment of beggars, the homeless and other street folk is less lenient and this is an understatement Young offenders, considered as incorrigible, are put in special prisons with as prime function to protect society, no longer to re-educate.

14 Multiple foci? The enterprising city? The public city? The cohesive city? The diverse city? The built-up city? The participating city?

15 The public, participating and built-up city The public city refers to the presence of public places, meeting places in the broadest sense that provide opportunities for developing a feeling of belonging ( monuments ). Where to stand on the ladder of participation? As clients or as citizens? (Listening to the people s voice or giving voice to the people?). What if a middleclass minority acts as gatekeeper and dissenting or weaker voices (the less educated, single mothers, ethnic minorities, long-term unemployed) are silenced? The built structure may separate its residents or facilitate their interaction and communication. How do the users of the city perceive it? The built structure (streets, public places) comes alive through the ways people use it. A city needs marginal places ( transition zones ) that function as social laboratories for the arts, economic entrepreneurship, and social relationships sites of socialisation (places of integration) for newcomers who are not yet able to take part in all of the formal institutions of mainstream society

16 The diverse city Diversity refers to the fact that a multitude of different groups are living together in a city; groups with a different social, cultural & religious, political, and ethnic background. Diversity (superdiversity, hyperdiversity) can be seen as a threat or as a resource (a bundle of opportunities) Will urban diversity lead to increasing economic competitiveness? Hypothesis. Social and ethnic diversity foster creativity and dynamism in cities; through innovations, entrepreneurship, and spatial dynamism they contribute to economic competitiveness. And to more understanding between different social and ethnic groups? Or will greater diversity produce enhanced inequalities, misunderstandings, racism, intolerance and xenophobia between the different groups that make up the urban?

17 Urban Governance? (More) competition, more (ethnic) diversity, (less) cohesion, more poverty & social exclusion and (more) spatial dynamics have increased challenges faced by urban governments. The need for a global urban policy framework in which an increasingly heterogeneous conglomerate of actors and agencies, with various backgrounds and competencies, define and deliver services independently from the boundaries of the traditional local government structure Urban governance is not only about multilevel governance, but needs an horizontal dimension as mentioned in the Issue paper - the multitude of actors (business, public administration, civil society, experts) the multitude of domains (departments, ministries) and introduce a new political culture & a flexible and responsive administration, structural participation of citizens/clients/users and a decentralised decisionmaking.

18 Some comments - 1 The items mentioned in the Issues paper under Inclusive Growth challenges are important. But there are questions from our viewpoint. Counter social/spatial segregation/polarisation; acting for urban deprived areas but also exclusion of the city by development of gated communities Reduce child poverty in urban areas concentration of ethnic minorities, need for a second democratisation wave in education Ensure a cultural & social & functional mix importance of role models Develop capacities for social and economic integration of newcomers, especially migrants and the socially disadvantaged transition zones Combat youth unemployment youth becoming a burden for society in stead of contributing to its wealth (see also child poverty) intra-eu mobility, transnational mobility, migration strategies as a solution to labour shortage but also intra-city mobility

19 Some comments - 2 Even more attention should be paid to the effects of other Cities of Tomorrow urban challenges on social exclusion and poverty in cities ( indirect policies ) Transition towards a knowledge society leaves many people behind (higher requirements); at the same time, it constitutes an opportunity to keep or reintegrate youngsters in education Develop local & social economy (one solution for the urban labour market paradox)? Building on community competencies without leaving poorer communities out? Public transport and shift to a more sustainable urban mobility not only linking the suburbs with the city centre but also deprived neighbourhoods Greater energy and resource efficiency increasing costs for people in poverty? Foster cities' attractiveness develop public open spaces; education, culture, sports, creativity and cultural/industrial heritage; safety and security no Disneylands! Ensure territorial coherence and cohesion e.g., cooperation between the metropolis and its hinterland and manage urban/rural linkage.

20 The Urban Agenda: Cities as machines for emancipation (Koolhaas 2012). Importance of transition zones: starting place for stepwise upward social mobility (inside and outside these zones) gradual process Superdiversity is important because it replaces the they/us opposition by diversity within diversity (cross-cutting different factors, such as ethnicity, language, religion, education, income level, housing status, living area, socioeconomic status), and thus smoothing the opposition. Social mix provides role models around the corner The slogan City air liberates ( city air makes free ) still is relevant. Escape from too cohesive neighbourhoods and communities within the city. Translate the European Social Model to the city level: The ESM is characterized in particular by systems that offer a high level of social protection, by the importance of the social dialogue and by services of general interest covering activities vital for social cohesion, is today based, beyond the diversity of the Member States social systems, on a common core of values.

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22 Panel: Milan Ftáčnik, Mayor of Bratislava, Member of the Committee of the Regions, SK Dagmar Mühlenfeld, Mayor of Mülheim, CEMR Executive President, DE Julien Van Geertsom, President, PPS Social Integration, Anti-Poverty Policy, Social Economy and Federal Urban Policy, BE Maria Iglesia Gomez, Head of Unit, European Commission, Directorate- General for Health and Consumers Michael Ralph, Adviser, European Commission Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy

23 Julien Van Geertsom President, PPS Social Integration, anti-poverty Policy, Social Economy and Federal Urban Policy, BE

24 Need for Urban Agenda to achieve objectives Europe 2020 strategy Concentration of poverty in deprived urban areas Integrated spatial approach Mid-term review Eur 2020: contribution of cities -> annual conference of European cities Multi-dimensional and multi-level approach of social inclusion Large set of urban challenges: housing, health care, education, employment, social services Different policy domains different governmental levels.

25 An Urban Agenda with vision and strategy Joint objectives National action plans -> collaboration between national, regional and local authorities Policy recommendations (national and European) Exchange of knowledge Urban dimension in sectorial policy areas of European Commission Different departments and services (employment, environment, research and innovation ) Coordination -> Inter-service group Eur. Commission

26 Urban Poverty : thematic Urban Agenda priority of Greek presidency Link with Europe 2020 objectives : lifting 20 mio people out of poverty Strong urban dimension : deprived urban areas Multi-dimensional character with clear need for multi-level approach Objective : at least one new or adopted action in each Member State Partnership with Belgium, the Netherlands and EUKN.

27 Panel: Milan Ftáčnik, Mayor of Bratislava, Member of the Committee of the Regions, SK Dagmar Mühlenfeld, Mayor of Mülheim, CEMR Executive President, DE Julien Van Geertsom, President, PPS Social Integration, Anti-Poverty Policy, Social Economy and Federal Urban Policy, BE Maria Iglesia Gomez, Head of Unit, European Commission, Directorate- General for Health and Consumers Michael Ralph, Adviser, European Commission Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy

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