the Central Attractive and competitive redefining CENTRAL EUROPE the Central European

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1 four november 2011 the Central European the Central European Attractive and competitive redefining CENTRAL EUROPE Focus: The challenges of changing demographics Perspectives: The future of EU cohesion policy People: Smart urban development in Saxony and Vienna Feature: Migration and Central Europe s urban dictionary Regions: Being creatively and culturally competitive Projects: Changes in demography and geography Contact: Capitalisation as work in progress

2 content CENTRAL FOCUS CENTRAL PEOPLE central regions CENTRAL contacts The challenges of changing demographics...6 CENTRAL Perspectives Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional Policy: Future of cohesion policy Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Polish Minister of Regional Development: Future of EU cooperation beyond borders programmes 1 goal: Transnational cooperation for Europe Challenges of smart urban development New goals and approaches for urban development CENTRAL FEATURE Migration trends and challenges in Central Europe Toward a Central European urban vocabulary Pécs gets competitively cultural Taking a lead in e-government Cultural and creative industries: Slovene style CENTRAL PROJECTS Q-Ageing makes cities more senior-friendly ReSource helps rebuild former mining areas UrbSpace improves urban life Czech Republic on track for better quality of life in the regions Italian regions tackling important issues to become more attractive and competitive Capitalisation in the Central Europe Programme Facebook Photo Competition Imprint social change and by making the most of regional cultural resources. The following pages highlight examples of people, regions and projects working together in Central Europe to increase regional competitiveness and improve the life of their citizens. At the same time, we provide readers with first-hand insights into the debate about the future of regional policy beyond To this end, Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional Policy and Elzbieta Bienkowska,. Minister of Regional Development in Poland, provide us with their views about our core work: encouraging cooperation beyond borders in the EU. In this context, I would like to bring an interesting report to your attention. Under its new head, Luca Ferrarese, the Joint Technical Secretariat has recently analysed the Contributions of the Central Europe Programme to future transphoto: managing authority Dear Readers In recent years the concept of competitiveness has been given increasing importance on the regional level in Europe. Defined simply, a competitive region is one that can attract and keep successful companies and maintain or increase standards of living and employment levels for its citizens. It is assumed that skilled labour and investment gravitate away from uncompetitive regions and towards more competitive ones. But if we use a more sophisticated definition of a competitive region, it becomes clear that improvements in one re- gion s economic performance need not come at the expense of another s. In fact, economists and regional policy makers have come to understand that competitiveness and cooperation work well together. Through cooperation, people in different regions can learn from one another and help improve regional assets. Transnational cooperation on regional competitiveness issues makes sense because no one is put in a win-or-lose situation. A sophisticated understanding of regional competitiveness involves more than physical infrastructure it also includes other, soft or less tangible factors that help to attract businesses. This is where the Central Europe Programme plays an important role. The programme funds transnational project partnerships that help make cities and regions more attractive by developing polycentric settlement structures, by addressing the territorial effects of demographic and national cooperation The report found that nearly all projects already contribute to thematic goals set in both the European Union s Lisbon and Europe 2020 strategic frameworks. With the focus of these strategic frameworks being on growth and innovation this shows that the Central Europe Programme is on the right way helping the regions to become more competitive today and in the coming years. Sincerely Christiane Breznik, Managing Authority 2 the central european four November

3 The challenges of changing demographics Photo: istockphoto

4 CENTRAL focus Christophe Ebermann Lubor Jusko The challenges of changing demographics Problems like mono-centric urban development or ageing populations can be addressed by territorial cooperation aimed at boosting regional competitiveness, according to Christophe Ebermann and Lubor Jusko from the Central Europe Programme. When it comes to improving competitiveness of cities, Central Europe faces a variety of challenges, including challenges caused by demographic changes. One demographic change that affects many Central European countries is a tendency for a few large cities to grow and develop, sometimes too fast, while the majority of cities in the region, which are small or medium-sized, become less important and more isolated. Another problem is that of ageing populations as the ratio of older people compared to younger The type of settlement structures that exist in a territory has a direct impact on the development of local society, the competitiveness of the city, environmental sustainability and the quality of life of the citizens. people grows in many cities, the number of wage earners falls off at the same time that demands for improvement in social services and accessible infrastructure increase. European Union policies attempt to address these challenges on many fronts: One helpful approach is to leverage the historical and cultural value of an area; to emphasise the unique benefits of a region. The Central Europe Programme is helping by supporting efforts to make cities more competitive and attractive. These efforts touch many lives in Central Europe, where 73 percent of the population lives in cities or urban areas. What follows is an analysis of demographic problems facing the cities of Central Europe, as well as an overview of what can be done to address these problems. Polycentric development of the territory The development of Central Europe has been such that a few highly populated urban agglomerations exist alongside numerous small- and medium-sized towns. In the future, the concentration of the populace in a limited number of dense urban poles is likely to become more pronounced, es- Photo: Sculpies Dreamstime.com pecially in new EU member states, as a selective influx of foreign investment tends to further strengthen the position of the capital cities. The type of settlement structures that exist in a territory has a direct impact on the development of local society, the competitiveness of the city, environmental sustainability and the quality of life of the citizens. Services, jobs and economic wealth are often located in urban agglomerations, which is why cities are recognised as engines of economic growth (see also European Commission, State of European Cities Report 2007 ). Large cities attract people and resources from the surrounding areas; this includes people who live in the cities and others who commute to reach their jobs or get the services they need. In territories with a more mono-centric structure, the attraction of the larger cities is stronger and their sphere of influence is wider. This core agglomeration, e.g. a capital city, will concentrate infrastructure, services, competences and people in a relatively small area. These advantages generally help a capital city to be competitive, to attract new populations and to grow. At the same time, however, the greater number of inhabitants and daily commuters filling a larger urban agglomeration lead to a concentration of environmental pollution and nuisances in the city and its surroundings. Meanwhile regions without a major agglomeration are isolated from the centre, and are therefore more likely to have difficulties with economic and social development. In order to avoid such disparities in the concentration of the population, and the associated problems, European development policies strive to promote the establishment of balanced territorial organisations based on a European polycentric urban structure as EU member state ministers responsible for urban development wrote in the Leipzig Charter in This approach has long been at the heart of the EU s cohesion policy even the European Spatial Development Perspective of 1999 foresaw polycentric and balanced spatial development in the EU. In the future, this approach will continue to be an integral part of policies emphasised by the Territorial Agenda of the European Union 2020 which was agreed in the Informal Ministerial Meeting of Ministers responsible for spatial planning and territorial // development on 19th May 2011 in Gödöllo, Hungary. 6 the central european four November

5 Ageing and other demographic changes challenge society Regions facing difficulties in development are often negatively impacted by population loss, brain drain and, consequently, economic and social problems. These problems are caused by economic decline and structural changes, which can be triggered by the cessation of traditional industries, permanent changes in resources (natural, human, etc.) or bad political decisions. Such regions also see ageing of inhabitants as a consequence of a low birth rate and migration by young people to other regions, for economic or social reasons. Changes in the demographic structure have a significant impact on the proper functioning of cities and regions affecting the labour and housing market, social and technical infrastructure, transportation and public finances. Photo: istockphoto When a society ages, there is an increase in the ratio of older citizens within the overall population. This process can become a major determinant of the future of socio-economic development, and it has evolved into a preeminent issue in Central Europe. From an economic point of view, an ageing society can create a burden through the increased costs of pensions and healthcare. In an ageing society, a reduced number of economically active inhabitants must attain higher productivity in order to cover the higher costs of caring for retired citizens and to guarantee sustainable economic development. Social challenges of an ageing population are related to changes in the demand for specific social services and public service infrastructure. The migration of young people to urban industrial centres depletes their number in rural areas and has a negative impact on the living conditions of senior citizens, who face a reduction of traditional sources of social and economic support and, in some cases, physical deterioration of their homes. In many cases, seniors need external support to compensate for the loss of traditional assistance from their family members. Maintaining high living standards is also a challenge in urban areas where the infrastructure and services need to be upgraded in order to meet up-to-date standards, raise the city s attractiveness and counterbalance spatial segregation of citizens. Existing infrastructure and housing stock has to be adapted to the individual needs of specific population groups including seniors, the disabled and single households or integrated into urban and regional development policies. The impact of demographic change can be reduced through targeted measures aimed at increasing the economic potential of inhabitants with support for education measures and investments in research-and-development innovations. At the same time, the social system should be a motivating factor and should allow for later retirement of economically active individuals. In response to the challenges of an ageing society, the European Commission in 2006 published a policy paper with the title The demographic future of Europe From challenge to opportunity. This document called for support of demographic renewal, efforts to boost employment, efforts to raise productivity and economic performance, an open attitude to receiving and integrating migrants into Europe and measures to ensure sustainable public finances and guarantee adequate pensions and health care as five key policy responses for managing demographic change. The European Commission underlined the significance of the growth in the senior population by designating 2012 as the European Year for Active Ageing. The initiative strives to create better job opportunities and working conditions for the increasing number of older people in Europe, while helping them take an active role in society and encouraging healthy ageing. Cultural heritage as an asset In order to meet the challenges of the 21st century and remain competitive and attractive for their inhabitants as well as new residents and investors regions and cities have to identify their assets and work to increase the value of those assets. This is especially true of places that are not close to one of the major urban hubs in Central Europe, or those regions and cities challenged by the loss of their traditional economic base and confronted by the associated demographic challenges. One approach to enhancing attractiveness and competitiveness is to work on the specificities of each region, its traditions, history and people as these represent an asset to be preserved and valued. Tourism, especially cultural tourism, is growing, and in several Central European cities and regions it already represents a key economic sector. In order to further attract tourists, cities and regions try to improve their offerings through a variety of measures, for example by positioning themselves in a way that makes them attractive and distinctive, by offering combined tourism packages and by developing specific tour routes (i.e. cultural routes, biking routes, etc.). Cultural heritage and traditions can also make a difference when it comes to product and service development. For instance, in creative industries, added value is born of individual creativity, skill and talent. These factors can make a difference in product design, music, film development, etc. Cities and regions can support creative industries by, for example, facilitating the exchange of experience, providing space for people to meet and work, coordinating the approach of an industry, and setting up and managing clusters of creative business. The diversity of Central European cities and regions can therefore be perceived as competitive advantage in the globalised world an advantage to be preserved and put to use for the benefit of local society. The Central Europe Programme takes up these challenges Many European regions face structural, economic and social changes that can be efficiently addressed through the coordinated efforts of regional stakeholders working in transnational projects co-financed by territorial cooperation programmes. The problems that regions face are often not limited to a specific geographic area, and lessons learned from existing practices can be used elsewhere. Transnational measures facilitating, for example, the exchange of knowledge and joint development of tools and strategies, have proven to be an efficient way to meet these challenges. For this reason, the Central Europe Programme has dedicated more than 56 million ERDF funds to projects undertaking priority four enhancing the competitiveness and attractiveness of cities and regions. This overall goal is achieved through three areas of intervention, namely: l developing polycentric settlement structures and territorial cooperation; l addressing the territorial effects of demographic and social change on urban and regional development; l capitalising on cultural resources for more attractive cities and regions. Currently more than 83 percent of these funds have already been allocated to 24 projects, which are being implemented. Additional projects are expected to be approved in the framework of the fourth call for project proposals of the Central Europe Programme, which was launched in June and closed in October n 8 the central european four November

6 Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional Policy Future of cohesion policy Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Polish Minister of Regional Development Future of EU cooperation beyond borders 13 programmes 1 goal Transnational cooperation for Europe 2020 Photo: istockphoto

7 CENTRAL perspectives Johannes Hahn Future of cohesion policy Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, is convinced that transnational cooperation will matter for reaching the EU 2020 goals. As Commissioner for Regional Policy, I am proud of what transnational co-operation has achieved so far. We need to build on the rich and valuable experience gathered through this co-operation. The 13 transnational programmes increase the visibility and the effectiveness of the use of Structural Funds while improving consistency and synergies among community policies. There is much evidence that a series of challenges cannot be tackled solely at the level of a single member state, or even at regional level, but only in a cross-border context. Important topics that are being addressed by the current transnational programmes and will be covered in the next generation of these programmes include: bottlenecks in We need to build on the rich and valuable experience gathered through this cooperation. My vision is to see transnational programmes increasing synergies with other EU policies. infrastructure, like transportation, missing energy links, navigation of rivers and energy interconnectors; environment-related problems, like river and sea pollution; the overall question of global competitiveness; and the upgrading of business locations. These issues are highly relevant for Europe 2020 goals. My vision is to see transnational programmes increasing synergies with other EU policies. Because transnational programmes include non-member states and potential candidate countries, they make a major contribution to building relations with the periphery of the European Union and facilitate inclusion of neighbourhood policy in transnational cooperation. This ability to reach beyond EU borders is one of the reasons why we have proposed a higher budget for transnational co-operation for the funding period. I would like to see future transnational programmes supporting the implementation of existing and future macroregional strategies. Transnational programmes of the next financial period should have a clear link to these strategies and should support their implementation. Alignment between programmes and strategies will be facilitated by: Photo: dreamstime l incorporating macro-regional strategies in the strategic architecture of cohesion policy; l determining how to adapt the geography of future transnational co-operation programmes to existing or potential future macro-regional strategies. Looking ahead, future transnational programmes should provide the possibility to introduce a specific priority that supports strategic work, especially the development of institutional capacity. While a strategy priority is particularly useful for programme areas covered by an existing macroregional strategy, like the ones we have for the Danube region and the Baltic Sea region, the option should be given to all programmes, as a way to anticipate possible future macro-regional strategies. This priority, which could also support the more global cohesion policy aim of reinforcing administrative capacities generally through exchange of good practice, would be clearly separate from the regular technical assistance that programmes already support. Simplification is another key element for the future of transnational programmes. Co-operation needs to be given a more tailor-made implementation frame that takes account of the multi-country context in which the programmes 12 the central european four November

8 operate, in order to reduce the administrative workload of programme and project managers. Finally, we must make all efforts to reduce further the administrative burden for implementing bodies and beneficiaries while ensuring effective and proper use of the EU budget. The Europe 2020 strategy sets out five headline targets, and member states need to translate these into national targets that reflect their different starting positions. Reaching these targets will require concerted action at the European, national, regional and local levels. Member states in partnership with regional and local actors will implement National Reform Programmes setting out how the priorities and targets of Europe 2020 will be reached. As EU Commissioner for Regional Policy, I believe that a modernised cohesion policy will make a significant contribution to the Europe 2020 strategy by translating its priorities into concrete development action on the ground, in the context of specific regional and local realities. There is a need to increase the effectiveness of the use of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for innovation, and a need to increase the consistency and complementarities among EU policies. Transnational programmes can make a significant contribution in both these areas. At the EU level, the Commission has put forward seven flagship initiatives in support of the priorities and headline targets of the Europe 2020 strategy. These concern, for example, an innovation union, a digital agenda for Europe and a resource-efficient Europe. Achieving the Europe 2020 goals will require active involvement across all regions of the EU. The success of corresponding policies will depend on their capacity to mobilise relevant stakeholders and civil society at the national, regional and local levels. The role of cohesion policy has, since its introduction, been to ensure that Europe s project of economic integration is for everybody. This integration, driven by the single market, can only work if all can contribute and all can benefit. Europe 2020 has been widely recognised as a genuine effort to streamline European policies and investments in order to establish the foundations for more durable and sustainable growth. European Territorial Co-operation and especially transnational co-operation is about working on streamlined policies in a cross-cutting way. Smart, sustainable and inclusive are not buzz words, they are fundamental concepts for our future, and Europe 2020 not only establishes these concepts, but also translates them into priority actions and measurable targets. We need to modernise cohesion policy so that we can deliver smarter investments in a more effective way. The Commission will therefore propose to engage in strong contractual partnerships with the member states countries and regions must provide a strong vision for their development, based on solid analysis, and they must demonstrate they can deliver that vision. Only then will we be able to meet the objectives of Europe Without smart investments, Europe will not recover and will Co-operation programmes will be aligned with the Europe 2020 Strategy, and the programmes have a clear focus on the achievement of the thematic objectives that derive from that strategy. lose its central position in a world economy that is increasingly based on global relationships. If we set our minds to it and make the necessary efforts, we can modernise European cohesion policy and turn it into the key tool to deliver these smart investments. The Commission, member states, regions, businesses, academics, social partners we all have a duty to embark on new ways of dealing with structural and cohesion funds and to turn Europe 2020 into reality. This is a key concern for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in particular. Of course there is a need to continue working on removing the obstacles to a competitive economy, and this means investing in better transport, energy or water infrastructure. European Territorial Co-operation programmes especially transnational programmes will provide an important contribution to the delivery of Europe 2020 objectives. Co-operation programmes provide a framework for the implementation of joint actions and policy exchanges between national, regional and local actors from different member states. This is all the more important given that the challenges faced by member states and regions increasingly cut across national/ regional boundaries and require joint, co-operative action at the appropriate territorial level. European Territorial Cooperation can thus also provide an important contribution to fostering the new Treaty objective of territorial cohesion. The importance of European Territorial Co-operation has been recognised in the Commission s proposals for the next multi-annual financial framework. These proposals foresee a significant, one-third increase of financial resources for European Territorial Co-operation. Transnational programmes can, in addition, play a role in complementing the new Connecting Europe Facility in the areas of: l high-speed internet access; l smart transport links; l and energy infrastructure. The challenge for the future is to ensure that European Territorial Co-operation is firmly embedded in the strategic framework at the European, national and regional levels, and that there is a strong link to other regional programmes operating in the same area. This will maximise synergies and increase overall impact. Co-operation programmes will be aligned with the Europe 2020 Strategy, and the programmes have a clear focus on the achievement of the thematic objectives that derive from that strategy. Equally important is clear and realistic target setting at the programme level, together with appropriate monitoring mechanisms to foster a better focus on results. Let me conclude by saying that Europe is sometimes too dependent on other parts of the world when it comes to innovation and putting brain power to good use. We need to change this: Smarter research and development, better support for innovative products and services, and investments in better infrastructure are all elements of a new, more competitive, sustainable process of development as outlined in Europe Cohesion policy should be at the forefront of this transformation and should act as a catalyst for change, underpinning a move towards more qualitative growth. I wish all readers, project coordinators and managing authorities of the Central Europe Programme all the best and much success in preparing for this challenge after n CENTRAL perspectives Transnational programmes best fulfill the idea of European cooperation and solidarity. Their experience and achievements constitute an important element in the process of developing the regions of the European Union. These programmes also contribute to the future of the EU in the area of Cohesion Policy and implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy. Thus it is very important to strengthen the territorial dimension of European funds in the subsequent EU budget. The future of European Territorial Cooperation, and the past effects of this cooperation, were discussed during the Joint Transnational Conference the most comprehensive event of its kind in the history of transnational cooperation of the European regions. I am glad that it took place during There should be more time devoted to the discussion of territorial cooperation in the political debate on cohesion policy after Future of EU cooperation beyond borders Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Minister of Regional Development in Poland, sees transnational programmes becoming more important in the future. the Polish Presidency in the EU Council, especially since one of the aims of the Polish Presidency within the scope of cohesion policy is to strengthen the territorial dimension of that policy and introduce the territorial aspect into the mainstream of the European debate. Cooperation of the regions Elżbieta Bieńkowska European Territorial Cooperation enables implementation of actions that are complementary to those funded under regional or sectoral programmes. European Territorial Cooperation programmes focus on priorities following from the assumptions of the Lisbon Strategy, the Gothenburg Strategy (on innovativeness, competitiveness and environmental care) and the Europe 2020 Strategy. Because they contribute to the integration of areas situated on different sides of state borders, and strengthen bonds between societies in integrated Europe, these programmes support cooperation of entities and institutions, primarily of public character, that can decide or co-decide on development policy. Such cooperation results in exchanges of experience, shared planning and 14 the central european four November

9 shared problem solving, and it can even foster joint projects of infrastructural character. Despite the fact that the allocation for European Territorial Cooperation is rather small as compared to the entire cohesion policy budget EUR 8.74 billion for the programmes supported with this amount fulfill an important role. They disseminate knowledge and allow for more extensive use of results that have already been achieved, making it possible to spend the large European funds in a more reasonable and efficient manner. I am therefore convinced that there should be more time devoted to the discussion of territorial cooperation in the political debate on cohesion policy after Significance of transnationality Photo: istockphoto CENTRAL perspectives 13 programmes 1 goal: Transnational cooperation for Europe 2020 A conference among the transnational programmes helped fire up efforts to work together in support of the EU s 2020 Strategy. The transnational component has a special place in European Territorial Cooperation. Transnationality means that a programme or project is implemented within a specific area covering the regions of several, sometimes more than a dozen, states. In practice, it enables collaboration of partners that are located even several thousand kilometers away from each other. Following the rule of subsidiarity, transnational programmes focus on challenges that cannot be faced in a satisfactory manner at the regional, local or national level. Examples of such challenges can include environmental pollution or climate change. While transnational programmes have a specific geographic focus, the objective and the planned results of this cooperation must have a wider supra-local and supra-regional significance. Thirteen programmes covering not only very distant, but also very different, areas fund identified priorities and support themes that can best be addressed through transnational partnership. These projects cover various areas transport, demographic changes, environmental management, innovation, energy and enlargement and cooperation with neighbours and their results are visible all across the European Union. The future of European Territorial Cooperation We are now entering the decisive stage of the debate on the future of cohesion policy under the EU budget for This debate will also determine the role and significance of transnational programmes. Poland, which currently presides over the European Union, attaches great significance to the territorial dimension. I believe that an integrated approach to development that aims to establish and strengthen the linkages between different support instruments will become a significant element of cohesion policy reform. The Communication on the Multiannual Financial Framework for , presented by the European Commission on 29 June, 2011, contains a number of proposals referring to cohesion policy, including a proposal to increase the resources for European Territorial Cooperation. However, the official negotiations have only begun with the presentation of the proposals for new regulations delivered in October 2011 by the European Commission. I trust that, in this context, the conclusions following from the Joint Transnational Conference can become an important part of the discussion on the role of European Territorial Cooperation as an excellent example of the integrated approach to development. The presentations on the real contribution of these programmes to the development of European regions inspire future project providers while also drawing the attention of decision-makers to this often-underestimated type of programme. In the course of the debate on instruments supporting the territorial dimension, it is important to discuss future mechanisms facilitating European Territorial Cooperation, including the role of the European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation and the macro-regional strategies. Another important concern is harmonisation of the cross-border cooperation programmes of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument with territorial cooperation programmes. In order to achieve this harmony, it is necessary to agree upon the implementing procedures of these instruments. Harmonisation of the rules will also have a positive impact on the implementation of transnational programmes involving non-community partners. Addressing enlargement and issues of cooperation with EU neighbours are among the general objectives of the Polish Presidency. To achieve these objectives it is important to have an awareness of mutual interrelations and interdependencies, as well as an understanding of the need to establish good relations in different spheres of life. European Territorial Cooperation, formerly handled through INTERREG initiatives, is based on the conviction that state borders should not pose a barrier to the development of regions, exchanges of experience or efforts to strengthen the bonds between people. To sum up, the benefits of participation in transnational cooperation are self-evident for persons involved therein. This cooperation fosters the establishment of good relations with partners from other states and regions, enriches knowledge and improves the methodological background of participants. The experience gained in the implementation of transnational projects makes it possible to efficiently use the funds of programmes supporting large-scale infrastructural projects. However, it is of key importance to further disseminate knowledge on those benefits and demonstrate its measurable effects. The future role of territorial cooperation depends on the result of the debate that is currently taking place in the European arena. I hope that territorial cooperation will gain more importance both in financial terms as well as in its impact on the quality of life in the European regions. n The European Union s 13 transnational programmes fired up their efforts to cooperate more closely on common goals and challenges at a September conference in Poland, and the results bode well for the Europe 2020 Strategy. Recent research by the German Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning and an internal analysis of project activities and results by the Joint Technical Secretariat of the Central Europe Programme in November show that, to-date, nearly all transnational projects in Central Europe contribute to the objectives and flagship initiatives of the 2020 Strategy. Encouraged by this trend, and taking advantage of the broad recognition that transnational territorial cooperation is important for the Europe 2020 growth targets, Central Europe and its 12 fellow transnational programmes from across the EU have started to work closer together than ever before. Through their joint efforts, the programmes hope to better inform people about the role of transnational cooperation in achieving smart, sustainable and inclusive growth on a regional level. The Joint Transnational Conference, organised in Katowice in September through the Polish EU Presidency, kickstarted cooperation among the transnational programmes and attracted around 500 participants from all over Europe. The event showcased current results and outcomes of all 13 transnational programmes through thematic workshops, on topics ranging from energy to enlargement, and through a hands-on exhibition area, with several booths related to workshop topics. In panel sessions, regional experts and high-profile speakers from the European Commission and the European Council, discussed future prospects for transnational cooperation in view of implementing the EU 2020 Strategy. From Katowice to Brussels Participants of the Joint Transnational Conference presented the outcomes of their debate to a smaller, more targeted audience from the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament, at a workshop in the Commission s Open Days in Brussels in October. There Normunds Popens, deputy director general of the European Commission s DG Regio, also introduced the Commission s proposal for the new package of regulations that will frame future EU Cohesion Policy for Popens answered questions on issues affecting transnational cooperation and emphasised that the simplification of procedures, one of the core elements of the new regulations, will require cooperation among all stakeholders involved. The proposed regulations focus on thematic concentration, along with strategic and more performance-based approaches. There is also a proposal to merge the certifying and managing authorities, as well as an effort to introduce a uniform rate for co-financing of 75 percent in all programmes. However, the regulation is still subject to negotiations and details might still change in the political process. Highlights from the Katowice conference and the Open Days workshop were also presented at the European Council s informal meeting of ministers responsible for regional development and cohesion policy in Poznan on November 25. n The Commission s proposal for the new regulation package can be found online here: proposals_2014_2020_en.cfm 16 the central european four November

10 Michael Häupl, Mayor of the City of Vienna Challenges of smart urban development Gisela Kallenbach, Member of the Saxon State Parliament New goals and approaches for urban development Photo: Thomas Aumann - Fotolia.com

11 CENTRAL people Michael Häupl Challenges of smart urban development The mayor of Vienna discusses the importance of metropolitan areas in Europe and the role his city will play in realising the EU Strategy for the Danube Region. CE: In Europe, metropolitan areas are becoming increasingly important centres of economic, political and cultural life. Their contribution to successful development cannot be ignored. Good governance is often recognised as a cornerstone for sustainable metropolitan growth. Would you agree with that statement? Michael Häupl: In our understanding, the role of cities and metropolitan regions is crucial for sustainable development, especially when we think about the challenges we are facing in terms of smart urban development, more efficient energy consumption, securing public transport and social services, and steady improvement of overall quality of life. Good I think that international recognition of Vienna as a good place for investment and living, especially as a place of high security within the public space, is a testimony to our efficient governance. governance is necessary to involve all relevant public and private stakeholders including civil society in the city and the region in order to incorporate them in problem-solving processes and to motivate them to contribute positively. CE: The term good governance does not possess a standard definition. However, elements such as involvement, transparency of decision-making, accountability and efficiency are integral parts of good governance. Do you agree these concepts are important and would you mention any other key elements? Michael Häupl: The City of Vienna already has a long tradition of involving people in planning and other decisionmaking processes. There are special initiatives to enhance inclusion, like AGENDA 21, the system of service centres in densely built areas and cooperation schemes in target areas for urban development. All our strategic development documents, like the Urban Development Plan or the Transport Masterplan, are elaborated in an inclusive way and published. I think that international recognition of Vienna as a Photo: Dreamstime good place for investment and living, especially as a place of high security within the public space, is a testimony to our efficient governance. CE: The City of Vienna, along with Slovenia, has been selected as a coordinator of one of the 11 priority areas of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region: Stepping up institutional capacity and cooperation. How can Vienna be considered a role model in this respect for other cities? Michael Häupl: Vienna is a city that has experience and good practice in both issues, but this is not the crucial point. More important for the Danube region is to understand the role of a priority coordinator as facilitating and supporting the members of the region in coping with the challenges of today and tomorrow through their own, appropriate initiatives. The sooner our partners overcome difficulties in encouraging an appropriate interface of public administration, the market and civil society and in handling any internal problems the better it is for a dynamic perspective of the Danube Region. Good governance is necessary to involve all relevant public and private stakeholders. CE: The City of Vienna has been proactively supporting the EU Strategy for the Danube Region. What positive impact do you expect from this initiative? Michael Häupl: The place-based and bottom-up macroregional approach, which is being practiced for the second time in Europe (the Baltic Sea region being the first) seems to be a visible step forward in recognising the important role of cities and regions in European regional development and also in cohesion policy. Especially in the now recently started implementation phase of the Danube Strategy, it will be proven that cities are the driving forces in all fields of development, especially in innovation and environment-related issues, but also in education, social security, standard of living and economic growth. n 20 the central european four November

12 CENTRAL people Gisela Kallenbach all over Europe have been set up within the Central Europe Programme. These projects build upon the endogenous potential of cities and include efforts aimed at adaptation to climate change and risk prevention two goals that are as important to urban development as creating new jobs in eco-innovation. Meanwhile, we have to pay attention that we continue to promote vital city centres and make use of existing tools that allow for smart land recycling. CE: The Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities, which was approved in 2007, states that the concept of a sustainable European city shall be integrated into national, regional and local development policies. What does sustainable city management mean in your opinion? What are the main challenges to be fulfilled in this respect? projects especially must be critically examined. Too often, their long-time running costs are underestimated. CE: The Leipzig Charter also puts emphasis on some of the challenges cities have to cope with, including demographic problems, social inequality, social exclusion of specific population groups, a lack of affordable and suitable housing and environmental problems. In your opinion, how can these problems be overcome? Gisela Kallenbach: Just as it is on the European level, social cohesion is an integrative aspect of sustainable urban development on the local level, and therefore the Leipzig Charter is pointing in the right direction. Yet we have to remember that there are limits to the decisions that can be New goals and approaches for urban development Gisela Kallenbach served as a Member of the European Parliament, where she worked with the Urban Intergroup, from 2004 to Since 2009, she has been a Member of the Saxon State Parliament. We spoke to her about the current direction of urban planning in Europe. CE: Your work in the European Parliament, and your work today as a Member of the State Saxon State Parliament, involves a focus on urban planning issues. What do you think are the most important steps that have to be taken in the future concerning urban planning? Gisela Kallenbach: We have a situation in Europe where more than 80 percent of the population lives in urban centres. Hence, urban management and development are critical issues for ensuring sustainable growth and a greener, more competitive economy, and they are key factors in social cohesion. We have to keep in mind that cities are the main domains that determine our quality of life. Therefore, The old paradigm that only growing cities are successful cities is coming of age. We need to reflect upon intelligent development, based on the principles of smart and green growth. to meet future challenges in urban development, it is important to pay attention to interdependence and to ensure sustainable development. Sound concerted development that uses a place-based approach has to follow principles that go beyond mere technical planning. The greatest successes I have witnessed and have been a part of over the past 15 years were achieved due to an inclusive and bottom-up approach of planning and implementation. There are outstanding examples of this approach working, such as the project URBAN II in the City of Leipzig. And projects recently approved as part of the Central Europe Programme have great potential to tackle essential urban challenges. Nonetheless, I would like to stress the fact that the great changes I currently observe lie in a new understanding of development goals. The old paradigm that only growing cities are successful cities is coming of age. We need to reflect upon intelligent development, based on the principles of smart and green growth. It is therefore an important step for the upcoming funding period that we support resource efficiency in all segments of urban life. Good examples from Photo: fotolia Gisela Kallenbach: Sustainability has become a word of great fashion, used in many different ways. Yet I proclaim a very practical approach for the use of sustainably: If decisions we make today can still be accounted for in 50 or 100 years, then we are on a right and sustainable track. These decisions must be made in a transparent and context-sensitive manner, and they must respect the principle of subsidiarity. It is essential that public participation is encouraged and that citizens are involved in urban development strategies and projects. Initiatives such as Agenda 21 unfortunately might be out of fashion, yet the approach remains valid: If we want to make change happen, we need everyone to contribute. The main challenge I envisage for the future is that we need to manage the shift to a green economy. Within the context of city management, this includes smart management of resources and a future-oriented funding policy. Great advances have been made in eco-friendly public transport systems and in clean-production. It is the responsibility of city officials to remain focused and give way to those innovations. At the same time, synergies and positive effects from cooperation should be used on a broad basis. Large infrastructure made on the local level. The framework and legal setting for social welfare assistance, labour policy and regulations for education are set by national bodies, while cities have to deal with the implementation. The fault lines are visible in daily life and observable in cities. This goes back to the principle of subsidiarity, that cities need greater influence and competences in decision making. In order to tackle problems of social segregation and polarisation of groups, cities need to be able to function with greater sovereignty. A starting point in this respect would be more participatory budgeting, which gives cities and the public the possibility to take a place-based approach. Parallel with the need for greater autonomy there is a need for social responsibility. This implies that we ensure affordable housing and preserve a social living standard that respects the individual. Privatisation of public buildings has to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, and economic incentives have to be counted against the responsibility we carry for those who are not as well-off as the average person. The solution to demographic change does not lie merely in perceiving elderly as consumers for new products; it s also nec- 22 the central european four November

13 Photo: Adrian Hillman - Fotolia essary to respect their situation and to adapt planning mechanisms to their needs. Going back to the point mentioned earlier on, I see great potential for participative pragmatism when it comes to overcoming current problems of social inequality and demographic change. ever, the Structural Funds have to be used in order to boost the shift to a resource-efficient, environmentally friendly and socially cohesive Europe. CE: In which way may a better and stronger exchange between cities help to tackle the challenges cities face today? Gisela Kallenbach: I am a great supporter of the INTER- REG and URBACT approach, as I know of many examples where an exchange between cities has been the cornerstone for a successful urban development process. It is essential to learn from the experiences of others, to tackle problems on a joint basis and to mutually develop new approaches to addressing challenges. This can be observed with the recent projects in creative industries. The City of Leipzig is lead partner in the Central Europe project Creative Cities and it is constantly exchanging information and experiences with the other partners. One can clearly see how this cooperation has initiated a dynamic development process, and local activities have reached a new dimension in quality. There is still potential for an even stronger exchange, both in the field of engaging in joint development goals and in working together to solve common problems. CE: What are from your perspective the main topics Saxony should focus on within the coming years regarding urban planning? Photo: Artmann-witte Dreamstime.com CE: Structural Funds and a better network of cities within Europe are described as some of the key tools for cities seeking to strengthen territorial cohesion. Do you think that Structural Funds play an important role in improving cities relevance to cohesion policy? If so, why? Gisela Kallenbach: Both in my past work as Member of the European Parliament and now, in the Saxon State Parliament, I am under the strong impression that Structural Funds and European regional policy have increased the quality of policy making. The principle of solidarity among member states is of unsurpassed value. The integrated aspects of strategic planning and an open consultation process have increased the impact of projects and programmes. The project selection process followed in transnational cooperation programmes has enabled the funding of high quality projects. This is an example that should also be used on the regional and local level. The operational programmes that are used for planning and implementation are a sound tool for regional policy. Nevertheless, I would like to see greater emphasis on specific targets that promote green and inclusive growth. The Structural Funds are to be used to enhance future-oriented competitiveness and should not be mistaken for plugs to close gaps in state budgets. The current debate on conditionality is therefore to be taken very seriously. Especially in an urban development context, one should be aware of the great leverage the Structural Funds have: With 1 Euro in funding up to 8 in private investments can be triggered. Therefore, now more than Especially in an urban development context, one should be aware of the great leverage the Structural Funds have. Gisela Kallenbach: We have made great progress in Saxony and I am always very pleased to see how much we have achieved over the past 21 years. With regard to the next five years, there are crucial steps to take in order to remain competitive and to manage the shift to a green economy. At the forefront I see the end of large infrastructure projects and a better understanding of successful urban development. It is not the amount of concrete that determines the success of a project, but the knowledge and innovations involved. This is especially true because Saxony, like other regions, is dealing with dramatic demographic changes. The future of urban planning therefore lies in a participative approach that respects our natural and cultural heritage. CE: Can you mention any good practice examples you have come across in the field of urban planning and explain why they are good? Gisela Kallenbach: The successes I mentioned earlier have been achieved through space-based implementation combined with cross-cutting strategic planning. In the City of Leipzig, a sound balance between these elements is visible in projects such as Second Chance, which focuses on brownfield revitalisation. Another good example of a project that preserves our natural and cultural heritage is RE- URIS, which deals with urban river-space management. These projects are outstanding examples, as they integrated participation of those inhabitants who are directly impacted by the project while enriching implementation with a transnational added value. Taking those examples, the lesson that should be learned for future projects is to find a balance between the many different aims and objects that are present in an urban context and to invest time in ensuring broad participation of the public. n 24 the central european four November

14 Migration trends and challenges in Central Europe Toward a Central European urban vocabulary Photo: istockphoto

15 CENTRAL feature Migration trends and challenges in Central Europe Andreas Halbach Labour mobility will become more important to this region, as local populations shrink and people come from outside the EU seeking work. The director of the International Organization for Migration in Vienna, Andreas Halbach, looks at the impact on policy and regionwide cooperation. ic centres will have an impact on the growth of our cities. Effective management of urbanization is necessary so that communities can spur development in a way that does not degrade the environment or the quality of life of residents. In an age where global city status is coveted and policymakers often seek to turn their hometowns into the kind of financial centres that exist in other capitals and mega-cities, the pursuit of wealth and approbation can lead to myopic and unrealistic strategies to promote growth. Even wellintentioned planners can be caught unaware by growth that leads to urban sprawl, which may cause environmental overheating and increased pollution through, for instance, longer commute times and the construction of cheap, environmentally inefficient buildings. Moreover, the ineffective use of land, caused by decisions to construct new buildings instead of renovating existing properties, can also quickly become costly. Because mobility is increasing for people living within Central Europe, and even for those in countries outside of the EU, like Ukraine, effective urban planning and, more broadly, comprehensive regional planning, is needed to address the challenge. Plans and policies must be designed to facilitate development and accommodate migrants when they arrive while also meeting environmental and lifestyle goals. Economic factors encourage migration Economic factors often drive people to leave their hometowns for bigger cities, or their countries of origin for new opportunities abroad. Because of the immense wage differentials between EU states and non-members, these movements are primarily unidirectional. Migrants are attracted to the bigger economies where it is believed that there are more opportunities especially Europe s northwestern cities. EU accession brought about some economic changes for new members in Central Europe, such as Hungary and the Czech Republic, but they have a long way to go before they can become competitive with traditional destination countries like Germany. Nonetheless, EU enlargement should allow for skill transfers to needed regions. Instead, EU enlargement can sometimes encourage brain drain, as skilled migrants are drawn to countries where they will be more highly remunerated. These skilled labourers often work in healthcare, or have other types of specialties that are badly needed for the well-being and development of the society that the immigrants left behind. Encouraging brain circulation and facilitating pathways for migrating workers to remit their pay, savings and investment back to their home country could result in benefits for both origin and destination countries. The economic growth trends in Central Europe, and hence the demand for migrant workers, were tempered to varying degrees during the recent financial crisis. In the Czech Republic, the crisis dramatically diminished opportunities for foreigners, and the growth of immigration in the preceding years saw an almost equivalent decline. In Slovakia, the recession inflicted a steep decline in economic productivity after a decade of increasing growth that peaked at 10 percent in In Poland, the recent upward trends of both emigration and immigration fluctuated. Industries like construction were hit especially hard, staunching the flow of low-skilled workers from all over the region into Poland. However, analysts are optimistic that these are temporary barriers for Central Europe. While the effects of the crisis have been severe and many countries have to manage finances more effectively, it is more important than ever to stimulate labor mobility that fosters a favourable environment for economic growth. The above-mentioned considerations are just some of the immigration-related issues that Central Europe will face in the coming decades. With policy support and planning, these phenomena can serve, rather than stall, economic growth and development in the region. If immigration policies are to be effective, they require international collaboration and coordination, to ensure consistency and a positive environment for mobility and growth in all of the Central European countries. n 1 Platonova, Anna and Giuliana Urso, eds. Migration, Employment, and the outcomes of Labour Market Integration Policies in the EU. Part One: Migration and the Labour Markets in the European Union ( ). IOM, 2010; see also Czech Statistical Office. 2 Ibid 3 Platonova Central Europe is a dynamic region of the continent where demographic changes and population movements will engender many challenges and opportunities in the coming decades: The countries of the region have ageing populations, their cities require effective urban planning to accommodate new or current immigrants, and economic disparities among different countries cause problems of uneven skills transfer and brain drain. Meanwhile, the lingering after effects of the recent economic crisis have disturbed the trends in the labour market. Effective management of immigration in a way that encourages labour mobility will be essential to the prosperity of countries in Central Europe, as well as the non-eu countries that can provide immigrants. But the variety of institutional forms and capacities means there are also variations in the ability of different countries to create employment opportunities, attract immigrants and sustain economic growth. It is important that countries and policymakers in the region work together and learn from one another as they seek to address the broad range of issues involved in dealing with immigration. Migration needed in Central Europe The face of Europe will continue its transformation over the coming decades. In light of expected demographic changes for the countries of Central Europe, in particular projections of ageing over the course of the next 15 years, Europe s population will require robust labor forces from abroad. Indeed, there are many countries like Italy, Austria and Germany where this has happened already. 1 Slovakia and Hungary are seeing severe declines in their populations, and a significant decrease is expected over the next four decades. In the Czech Republic, before the recent financial crisis, growth from net migration had been increasing while the local population declined. 2 In these countries, as in many other parts of Europe, immigration will continue to be an essential means for stemming population decline. This situation calls for continuous policy development and exchange of good practices for effective migration management. Countries further afield, where the populations are younger, will increasingly need to fill the labour shortages of Europe. But the resulting influx of young workers to econom- Photo: Jokerproproduction Dreamstime.com 28 the central european

16 CENTRAL feature Yvette Vašourková Igor Kovačević Toward a Central European urban vocabulary The cities of our region share many common traits, including a history of good use of common space. Rather than continuing to retool Central European cities for the sake of cars, we need an approach that exploits the full potential of public spaces, find our authors from the Czech Centre for Central European Architecture. sive prefabricated housing development after the Second World War, based on the doctrine of modernistic planning to separate work, living and leisure space. This doctrine reigned over all of Central Europe except Austria until the end of the 1980s, and combined with the influence of communist dictatorships, it gave the region s cities their unique nature. Medium-sized cities If we look for a common denominator among Central European cities today, we will quickly identify one thing Central European cities are not. Central European cities are not global cities 1 ; they are not a seat of any strategic global transnational institution, except for OPEC in Vienna, nor do they meet Wikipedia s definition: an important node point in the global economic system. 2 Central Europe was not the centre of European events at the time when important Greek and Roman cultures insured Mediterranean primacy, nor did it join Western Europe in colonising and conquering the rest of the world. With regard to geographical proximity to the centres of European and world economy and culture, Central Europe does not in fact seem to hold a position of global leadership. On the contrary, it provides appropriate surroundings and environmental determinants for cities of medium size. The quality of life in medium-sized cities can be less dependent on the size of the population or the economy and more dependent on the quality of a city s urban space. The number of residents in a medium-sized city ranges from 80,000 to 3 million. Fundamental then is not the size as such; it is public space. Public space is not about individual squares, but rather about the overall system and its connections, which means that, if public space is interconnected mostly by roads and motorways, it cannot be considered urban. A relatively good interconnection of public space is typical of Central European cities, and this represents great potential. We can see typical traits of permanent public space of medium-sized European cities in Vienna and Budapest. Central Europe s division of cities into a living room, en- trance hall and bedroom is characteristic of a tendency toward centrist, core values that are typical of the region. These values do not imply being in the political centre, but rather they describe the ability to keep society away from extreme solutions. And they also imply an appreciation of common public space a place where various users are in harmony, in a shared space with the same rights and a mutual relationship based on respect. For example, the space could be a street or square where pedestrians, cars and bikers are not isolated forcibly, where all users adapt their moves based on respect for others. Non-car-centric public space Public space has wrongly been ignored in favour of the idea that cars are the culmination of an individualistic society because they ensure both mobility and privacy at the same time. Central European cities need to stop putting cars above all other means of transport and to return to good use of interconnected common public spaces. At present most cities do not deal with this issue in any sophisticated way. As the responsibilities of governing cities become more fragmented, there is an ineffective disconnection between individual areas: urban planning, traffic police, hygiene, environmental agencies and a number of other special institutions. The lack of coordination among these areas means the potential of public space a unique quality of Central European cities has been fading. Few cities in the region have made a concerted effort to look at the traffic from some perspective besides that of the driver: Vienna and Berlin are the only two central European cities out of the seven monitored with a pedestrian traffic plan. Other capitals in Central Europe also need to address the sophisticated interconnection of public spaces in order to fully take advantage of their unique situation as carefully conceived middle-sized cities. n 1 Saskia Sassen: The Global City: New York, London, Tokyo, 1991, Princeton University Press 2 Three kinds of buildings put the stamp of Central Europe on a city: railway stations that serve as new-age city gates, theatres signifying culture and school buildings representing education. In almost every Central European city, these types of structures share similar architecture, dating back to the end of the 19th century and referring to a renaissance style. These cities also share similarities on the larger level of planning and development: A generous amount of common space is part of the basic urban vocabulary of Central Europe, and it can be used to improve the quality of life. Rather than attempting to become world cities, the region s urban centres need to focus on what they are: medium-sized cities that are well placed to take advantage of their public spaces. It helps to understand how similarities in development among the region s cities have created similar public spaces. Central European cities need to stop putting cars above all other means of transport. When the walls came down One common development that many Central European cities have undergone is the decision to tear down city walls and replace them with a ring road. The example set by Ringstrasse in Vienna has been repeated in many central European cities Graz, Brno, Hradec Králové, Krakow, etc. The second unifying feature of Central European cities is modernism. The foundations of social architecture were laid as early as Austrian architect Otto Wagner s idea of the Großstadt. After the fashion of Wiesenhof in Stuttgart (1927), exhibitions of contemporary living followed in Brno, with the Nowy Dom development (1928); in Wroclaw, where Werkbund architects created a development in 1929; and in Bata s project in Zlín. The common goal of these projects was to establish affordable, modern-quality living. A similar effort was seen in Red Vienna, the period from , when Social Democrats ruled the city and oversaw the addition of tens of thousands of affordable housing units. The third shared feature of Central European cities is mas- Photo: Dreamstime 30 the central european four November

17 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Sachsen-Anhalt Thüringen DEUTSCHLAND Bayern Brandenburg Berlin Sachsen Severozápad Praha Střední Čechy Jihozápad Zachodniopomorskie Lubuskie Severovýchod Pomorskie Wielkopolskie Česko Jihovýchod Dolnośląskie Kujawsko- Pomorskie Opolskie Moravskoslezko Střední Morava Západné Slovensko Warmińsko-Mazurskie Łódzkie Śląskie Polska Mazowieckie Świętokrzyskie Małopolskie Slovensko Stredné Slovensko Podlaskie Lubelskie Podkarpackie Východné Slovensko CENTRAL EUROPE covers eight EU Member States and more than 60 regions. About 148 million citizens or 28 percent of the EU population live in this area. It is an area with high economic disparities and great opportunities. It is also an area that is growing Volyn closer, where transnational cooperation helps to overcome borders Lviv that have been defining in the past. Ukrajina Zakarpattia Ivano-Frankivsk Chernivtsi Baden-Württemberg Vorarlberg Tirol Salzburg Oberösterreich ÖSTERREICH Steiermark Wien Bratislavský Burgenland Niederösterreich Nyugat- Dunántúl Közép-Dunántúl Észak- Magyarország Közép- Magyarország Magyarország Dél-Alföld Észak-Alföld Trento Bolzano Friuli- Venezia Giulia Kärnten Slovenija Dél-Dunántúl This issue covers the following regions: Valle d Aosta Piemonte Lombardia ITALIA Veneto Dél-Dunántúl Region Slovenija Region Veneto Region Liguria Emilia-Romagna

18 CENTRAL regions As a European Capital of Culture, this mid-sized Hungarian city increased economic activity while becoming more attractive. Pécs gets competitively cultural P écs is a truly European city. Home to the oldest university in Hungary, it also has museums with valuable collections by world-renowned artists, such as Pécs-born op-art genius Victor Vasarely. Pécs was also the birthplace of famous masters of the Bauhaus movement and a part of the city centre is on UNESCO s World Heritage list. The city s rich multicultural past has blessed it with a diverse architectural heritage, including Turkish mosques and beautiful examples of art nouveau and Bauhaus buildings. Located in southwestern Hungary, this middle-sized city was one of three awarded the title of European Capital of Culture (ECoC) in Pécs sought the ECoC title because it wanted to become better known in Europe and it hoped to share its genuine treasures with the world. ECoC designation also supported infrastructural improvements that will benefit the city for years to come. Through development of a new cultural quarter in a historic complex, the creation of new venues and renovation of public spaces, Pécs has done a lot in the last few years to become a more attractive and therefore more competitive cultural destination. It is an excellent example of a city improving itself along 35

19 the lines of priority four of the Central Europe Programme. The Pécs 2010 ECoC programme brought vivid cultural life to Pécs. Some 650 initiatives were realised in Since most of them consisted of more individual programmes and events, they added to the overall number of cultural programmes that Pécs hosted as a ECoC a total of 4,675 in all. The cultural programme series was very diverse, with events in all genres of the arts targeting different age groups and audiences of different interests. The increase in the number of both domestic and foreign tourists in Pécs was significant compared to previous years. The general growth in comparison with 2009 was more than 27 percent, while the number of those visiting the city from abroad was 71 percent higher in 2010 as compared to the previous year. Pécs s underlying objective for seeking the ECoC title was to create a strong foundation for long-term, sustainable, culture-based development. This work included establishing the necessary infrastructure for this development, and the urban development projects that were carried out as part of this process also created new jobs. In the framework of this city development programme, the Kodály Conference and Concert Centre and a modern Library and Knowledge Centre were built; Museum Row, the city s street full of museums, was renewed, as were several public squares and parks; and the Zsolnay Quarter, a grand-scale cultural district, is being developed as a centre for the city s cultural life. Going international The year 2010 also provided a great opportunity for building international co-operation. Because of its fortuitous location between Western Europe and the cities of Southeast Europe, Pécs was able to promote itself as the Gateway to the Balkans in its application for the ECoC title. The city has a multicultural nature, including 10 different minority self-governments, which is why Pécs sought to play a central role in presenting the diverse cultural experiences of a borderline region that is part of a cultural zone extending from Trieste through Tuzla to Timisoara in Romania. The ECoC project has underlying objectives and long-term effects that last more than 12 months, and the beneficiaries are not just the title-holding cities but practically the entire European continent. Along with providing local communities quality spare-time activities via a year-long festival, such Pan-European projects benefit people around Europe by generating international co-operation and networking in a host of related industries. The ECoC project is especially beneficial for smaller cities, such as Pécs, which would have difficulty finding other ways to show themselves to the world. From the very beginning, ECoC organisers in Pécs sought to achieve something sustainable, and to use this year as a kind of spring-board to strengthen the culture-based industry in the region. Pécs began to use the new infrastructural facilities as a means of promoting local cultural institutions well before its reign as a Capital of Culture ended. The first half of 2011 was also spent on putting everything in place at the level of management, organisational structure and programme planning, in order to elaborate practices to ensure smooth future development of culture in Pécs. The main goal of the infrastructure investment projects was to provide the city with an adequate number of cultural and From the very beginning, ECoC organisers in Pécs sought to achieve something sustainable, and to use this year as a kind of spring-board to strengthen the culture-based industry in the region. artistic spaces of appropriate size and quality. Four out of the five key city development projects have already been handed over and opened to the public. The Zsolnay Porcelain Factory - the largest renovation project in Central Europe One project is still partly under construction: The reconstruction of the porcelain factory and conversion of part of the factory site into a cultural quarter. The Zsolnay Porcelain Factory was founded some 150 years ago and gained world fame in the late 1800s at the world expos. It is still in operation of course, but the factory lies on a huge property, where generations of the Zsolnay family used to live in the old days. This area is being renewed and turned into a cultural quarter. It is probably the largest-scale renovation of a building complex of historic value in Central Europe. Some sections of the project have already been completed and opened, including a valuable Zsolnay exhibition as well as the puppet theatre and a couple of art galleries. The Zsolnay collection has just returned back home from the United States and was partly donated to the city by the collector László Gyugyi. The peculiar Zsolnay Mausoleum has also been renovated and was opened for visitors in July. The Zsolnay Quarter will basically be the core of the city s cultural life in the future and is expected to be finished at the end of this year. First large Zsolnay festival is planned for spring of The management of the Zsolnay Quarter is also responsible for the management of the new Kodály Conference and Concert Centre nearby, as well as the early Christian burial chambers; the UNESCO World Heritage sites in the city centre and the House of Arts and Literature. The Kodály Centre was opened early December last year, and since its opening already hosted 107 concerts. World renowned musicians like Krzysztof Penderecki, Maxim Vengerov, Zoltán Kocsis, Jan Garbarek, Trilok Gurtu and The King s Singers have given performances there. They all praised the atmosphere, beauty and fantastic acoustics of the new building. For this year alone there are already about 170 events booked for the Kodály Centre, including conferences. Experience, as well as feedback, indicates that the venue is perfectly suitable for hosting both concerts and conferences of different types and sizes. Pécs has achieved a great deal in a few years time, and the people of the city are glad to show the results to all those paying a visit. With its historical heritage, live performances, museums and exhibitions, concerts and surrounding green hills, Pécs is an attractive cultural destination. The former European Capital of Culture will definitely remain a true city of culture, following the path its people set for themselves in n Beáta Seres International Relations and Communications, City of Pécs 36 the central european four November

20 CENTRAL regions Since 2003, the Veneto region has launched creative initiatives to improve governance with modern technology. Andrea Boer describes some good practices that others may want to follow. Photo: Zimmytws Dreamstime.com Taking a lead in e-government Photo: W.kaveney Dreamstime.com Photo: istockphoto E -government the use of computers and the internet to facilitate communication and access to data improves interaction between various government administrations and citizens. It can improve efficiency and transparency while saving money and natural resources. The Veneto region has demonstrated a strong commitment to e-government since 2003, the year that a regional department for information society and e-government was established as a new regional structure. Many of the initiatives the Veneto region has taken to develop e-government can also be replicated by other regions that are looking to achieve efficiency and to bring their systems up-to-date. Veneto s information society and e-government department acts as a reference point at the regional level, coordinating e-government related initiatives and promoting the diffusion of standards and information. It also maintains strong ties with the national level and other regions, in order to cooperate with other bodies to encourage the growth and dissemination of improved and updated services for citizens and enterprises. 39

21 Steps the department has taken so far include: l preparation and dissemination of regional guidelines for the information society; l development of updated services for citizens and enterprises, such as websites/portals for public administrations; l preparation and dissemination of standards, best practices and solutions for interoperability, in order to ensure a mutual exchange of information among public administrations; l dissemination of broadband in disadvantaged areas. Regional officers working in the department have a solid background in modern technology and relevant experience in project management. They say that government and citizens currently do not have the technical knowledge necessary to exploit technologies at their best. The lessons learnt from past experience make it clear that, if we want to obtain high-level results, it is fundamental to consider issues that are not immediately connected to technology, such as: the diffusion of culture; the creation of a common language; the If we want to obtain high-level results, it is fundamental to consider issues that are not immediately connected to technology. definition of standards and best practices; and the integration of services as an alternative to the creation of new ones. To ensure we take advantage of these lessons, the starting point for new initiatives involving the regional department is capitalisation on past experiences, with the diffusion of knowledge and the sharing of past achievements. Technical boards and working groups, which also represent local administrations, were created, in order to allow for the definition of common standards and the dissemination of the work done in the territory. The following are specific initiatives undertaken by the Veneto region to facilitate e-government. CReSCI - Regional centre for cooperation and interoperability services The term interoperability refers to the capacity to allow sharing and exchange of data and information in a transparent way for the benefit of citizens. The main advantages of the introduction of interoperability in public administrations are: l reduction of duration and costs for services by speeding up data searches and communication; l phased-in elimination of errors in data communication in both transmission and reception; l availability of quality data, thanks to the possibility to access data sources; l data exchange security, thanks to controlled access. Photo: Dreamstime The organisation called CReSCI is the reference point at the regional level for interoperability in the Veneto region. The region is aware that, in order to spread good practices around Veneto, an evolution concerning interoperability planning is needed. For this reason CReSCI was set up as a space for sharing ideas on interoperability and application cooperation among public bodies, institutions and software houses at the regional level. In particular CReSCI: l offers an infrastructure for interoperability practices, in line with national standards; l offers a set of application services; l promotes and stimulates discussion of interoperability and coordinates the according needs emerging in the territory. One example of good practice made possible thanks to the solutions and standards provided by CReSCI is an effort to target illegal workers, as part of a wider initiative for safety promoted by the Veneto region. Through this effort, all law enforcement bodies are given access to the data bank of health agencies, so that they are able to verify at any time if construction companies working in those sites are compliant with immigration and safety laws. The CReSCI project will ensure the effectiveness of controls and enhance work sites safety while helping save the resources of public administrators, because certificates and documents will be available on-line. The same technology has been used for a long time for compulsory communications (for instance, regarding hirings and dismissals) from enterprises reporting to Veneto Lavoro, a regional body dealing with job policies. Thanks to that system, more than one million communications are no longer sent by fax or paper letter anymore. This means important savings in terms of: l higher data quality and a reduction in human errors due to data entry, because information is sent automatically via the computer system; l a reduction in time spent by administrative staff on handling communications; l a reduction in costs, as communications via fax are rarely sent. Piave - Integrated portal for agriculture in Veneto Region This Veneto region initiative, with a name taken from one of the region s main rivers, the Piave, is an example of advanced services offered to enterprises and people working in the field of agriculture. The Piave portal can be accessed by professionals, who can now consult documents that were previously released by several different public bodies, meaning that agricultural entrepreneurs will be guided by the portal to the sections of the website where the needed information is stored. Users do not need any password or username in order to access the portal, as it is able to recognize them using the access data released by the public body for which they work. Thanks to a sophisticated mechanism of interoperability, users can access information stored in different public bodies from within the same portal. DOGE project for dematerialisation In recent years, due to the evolution of technology and administrative law, public administrations have begun making use of dematerialization of documents and administrative processes. Dematerialization is the process of preparing documents entirely in electronic form from the draft stage to archiving and storage. The process effects laws, administrative and economic acts and other government documents. Several initiatives in the Veneto Region allow for the diffusion of dematerialization and digital signature within public administration. For instance, since 2005, the regional government completely dematerialized its payment acts. Today the Veneto Region Informative System (SIRV) has its own document management system, which integrates digital signature technology, certified electronic mail and storage of documents. In particular, certified electronic mail is considered a key tool for facilitating the dialogue between citizens, enterprises and the public administration. The Veneto region supports the diffusion of e-government through an information technology development plan and pilot actions. Also, since 2006, the region provides all public bodies willing to improve information society related structures with a free kit for digital signature and certified electronic mail. All the above-mentioned experiences enhance awareness of the fact that such instruments have to be adopted in harmony with one another. The path to dematerialization has to be taken gradually, but in integrated way and new technologies should be introduced together with an evolution of internal processes. n Andrea Boer Head of Unit for E-Government and Information Society, Veneto Region Photo: Edbockstock Dreamstime.com four November

22 CENTRAL regions Slovenia brings together different economic sectors with creativity. Cultural and Creative Industries: Slovene Style A great deal is said about the cultural and creative industries, but little is known. Even in Brussels, where this concept has more than once appeared on the agendas of cultural ministers, it seems to exist more as an object of desire that idles in documents rather than something that happens in life. But the common denominator is nevertheless that: we all see the cultural and creative industries as an opportunity for culture to seep into every pore in society that can be opened up by innovation, the creative spirit, and the kind of thinking that does not draw boundaries between the different spheres of life. In the expression cultural and creative industries, the most misleading word is in fact industries, a word our minds always associate with the conveyor belt of mass production. So as not to keep juggling cultural and creative industries on paper, I turned to simple things to find answers to the question: How, in today s Slovenia, can we bring culture into other fields, and how do we enrich other fields with creativity? There is no simpler and more obvious question than that which is posed by the anxiety of the economic crisis. We have all wondered: 43

23 Do we Slovenes really not possess the creative potential to improve the fashion designs produced by Mura or Labod? Or the products from our wood, paper, and glass industries? Are Slovene products well presented, publicized, designed, and offered to the consumer in an appealing way? Do our museums do enough to attract visitors, or are they too easily content with visits by the school buses? Are we able to browse through museum shops that offer the replicas and other kinds of sale items we know from galleries and museum shops in other countries? Why did Rex, one of the finest chairs in the history of Slovene design, make it into the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and into many Slovene homes? Could it be perhaps because the Stol factory in Kamnik established an institute where designers could think about and not only plan products? The same was also true in the Tomos, Meblo, Ciciban, and other factories, where, regardless of the socialist system, companies really knew how to manage things, and not merely self-manage. Why does healthy food get no farther than ghettoized, out-of-reach shelves, as if in a pharmacy? And why are recycled things hidden away behind the boutique items? Why do so many young people store up their energy without knowing how, or being able, to unleash their potential with the right partners and in suitable business niches? And why it is that most of us are not very familiar with the beauties of our cultural heritage or our cultural offering as a whole? Why is it that, day after day, people in commercial-propaganda messages shout at us about bathroom cleansers, laundry detergent, and chocolate, whilst most of what we truly desire is overlooked? I found myself pondering more and more of these questions from night to night. But the good thing was that, from day to day, there were also more answers. At the Ministry of Culture we threw ourselves into examining and verifying ideas, and essentially we started doing what should be the essence of our work: we started tugging on the sleeves of other governmental sectors and connecting with each other. Culture, after all, cannot be divided up into alternative, elite, amateur, official, dead, live, classic, youth, and so on; creativity is, to put it simply, the basis of all the processes that surround us. n Majda Širca Former Minister of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia

24 Q-Ageing Photo: Dreamstime ReSource UrbSpace

25 CENTRAL projects Szilvia Herceg Q-Ageing makes cities more senior-friendly By helping improve the quality of urban life for our older citizens, Q-Ageing is enhancing the cities of the region, says Szilvia Herceg. Q-Ageing has tested multiple means for improving the quality of life of senior citizens in several Central European cities. The project partners are starting the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012 with a toolbox to address the challenges posed by aging demographics and the need to preserve solidarity between generations. The toolbox, a guide on urban solutions and community services, includes well-tested practices to protect seniors from isolation, to help them stay longer on the labour market under healthy conditions, and to allow them The humanity of our society is also rated in how people depending on support are handled. Dealing with very old people is therefore one of the cultural challenges facing Europe. Thomas Klie, Centre for Developments in Civil Society to live an active and autonomous life long after retirement. The province of Treviso in northern Italy provides training for active seniors, so they can learn how to communicate and share their experiences and skills within the local community. This was accomplished with the establishment of a Bank of Competences, which functions as a recruitment centre for elderly volunteers, at the province s headquarters. The training courses aim to give a group of seniors the ability to train their peers in how to share their experiences and use their skills within the local community. A CV database is available for local institutions and associations seeking potential volunteers for their activities. The Senior Recreation Park of Maribor, Slovenia, the first newly developed seniorfriendly park in Central Europe, required only a small-scale investment of 34,000 to become a high-visibility example of the importance of active and healthy ageing in an urban environment. The special equipment is designed to provide gentle stimulation to ageing bodies, and is supported by a specially developed training programme and tutors who can accompany the seniors. The facilities include easy-to-read instructions and recommendations for exercises. Q-Ageing s pilot activities vary and reflect different aspects of community development. In Budapest s Ujbuda District, a pilot established a 60+ Card for special discounts and a Favour Bank to help strengthen community building through the inclusion of seniors. In Genoa, a pilot was used to develop a community website, the Lifestyle Coach Sen- ior Platform. The Urban Barrier Map (UBM) developed by the Polish town of Sopot is a strategic approach to map out barriers to movement in the city. The information on barriers can be taken into consideration during the development of future infrastructure plans. Functioning as a digital database, the UBM displays information about the positioning of barriers around the city or specific areas. Including satellite views of the barriers. The UBM is made from easily extendable and adaptable software. Through these and other activities, Q-Ageing has proven that there are vast possibilities for making the life of elderly in our cities better. n Partnership: 9 project partners from Hungary (LP), Germany, Italy, Poland and Slovenia Duration: December January 2012 (38 months) Total budget: ,00 ERDF contribution: ,50 Website: 48 the central european

26 CENTRAL projects Roman Rozina ReSource helps rebuild former mining areas Eight regions are struggling with similar problems as their mining activity winds down. Project partner Roman Rozina explains how this initiative can help them. A cold, deserted, damaged, sometimes frightening and pitiful landscape, overrun by dust and weeds, riddled with corroded old buildings and no people anywhere. It could be a scene from a futuristic movie, where set designers realise their apocalyptic visions. Or it could be a description of real conditions in an abandoned, un-rehabilitated mining area. Mining areas remain problematic even long after mining activity has stopped. In many places, sections of hollowed-out ground are collapsing under the weight of heavy mounds of unwanted tailings, which have a high concentration of toxic and dangerous substances. Abandoned buildings are Mining activities can leave behind a useable heritage. Former mining surfaces can become the site of biomass production and ground water source of geothermal energy. Powerful mining equipment can be converted into tourist attractions. often left to forces of deterioration, while work facilities are neglected. Modern legislation requires that the mine owners undertake basic revitalisation, but that does not imply restoration of the natural balance and it certainly does not require owners to create attractive conditions for new economic activity and a better quality of life for locals. Any actions to address the quality of life of those living near the mine are mostly dependent on various public policies and the level of their effectiveness. The price of a comprehensive rehabilitation of a former mining area is very high, so this work is usually not a priority. The shock that hits a community after the closure of a mine is usually quite serious because these were often important centres for employment, providing jobs to many people from the mining regions as well as neighbouring regions. The end of mining operations brings a major change to this type of area: they quickly become unattractive and with limited future prospects. Workers knowledge and skills, which once meant employment, becomes unusable; destroyed areas and environmental concerns exacerbate the problems of now unemployed residents. The area that was once the Photo: Lovro Rozina centre for the local region s development and way of life is suddenly just a huge hole. ReSource to the rescue The ReSource initiative grew out of the recognition that many areas in Central Europe are facing similar problems with the legacy of past mining operations. The project seeks to help these regions by applying the knowledge that every problem is a challenge that offers many new opportunities. Redevelopment of former mining industry sites can represent the cornerstones for development strategies. Former mining surfaces can become the site of biomass production and ground water source of geothermal energy. Powerful mining equipment can be converted into tourist attractions. Mining activities can leave behind a useable heritage that is both material and intangible. Turning problems into opportunities requires extraordinary efforts, creative ideas and development strategies that are workable and effective. It can mean giving support to newly created energy-producing facilities being built in old mining centres or finding other ways to make use of the treasures of these areas. Eight regions share similarities The ReSource project brings together eight European regions where mining operations have already closed or are about to end the process of closing. Six of these regions were formerly home to coal mining: Zwickau-Lugau-Oelsnitz and Lusatian Lake district in Germany, the Zasavje region in Slovenia, Sokolov East in Czech Republic, Salgótarján in Hungary and Wałbrzych in Poland. The two other regions involved are Germany s Mansfeld-Südharz, site of a former copper mine and Austria s Steirische Eisenstrasse, where there was an iron mine. The affected areas are home to approximately 750,000 people. The project also includes universities and institutes, from all participating countries, to provide scientific and research support. Former mining areas in Central Europe share a similar fate and options. Between them there are also significant differences in: geographic location and the size of area involved; 50 the central european four November

27 Photo: Jim W. Parkin Dreamstime the ability of the local authority to solve problems of mining areas and the willingness to cooperate within the region; ownership of the land; and the availability of knowledge and human resources. Another big difference between these regions is that some still had active mining while others did not. In general, it is considered that the situation is worse in former mining areas than in areas, where mining was never present. This conclusion is supported by comprehensive analysis from academic partners under the leadership of the Leibnitz Institute of Ecological and Regional Development. All these former mining areas involved in ReSource face serious demographic problems, including: a rapidly aging population, brain drain and a high unemployment rate. More specific problems that may affect individual areas include: landslides, intrusions, cracks, impoverishment of the vegetation and soil and water pollution. One common characteristic of all the regions is a poor image and bad public perception, based on the above-mentioned problems. A belief in cooperation The ReSource project partners entered the project with different knowledge, experiences and ideas and the belief that together they can find effective ways to make their regions more attractive and competitive, while also figuring out how to live in harmony with former or still existing mining. Their analysis summarizes the main barriers of restructuring The partners want the project to be a place for sharing solutions and joint development of new approaches. and is available on the project web site: eu/uploads/scientific/regional%20profile%20report.pdf. There are bigger problems in those regions that lack research institutes, universities or other infrastructure necessary to promote regional development. A very important element is availability of financial resources to eliminate problems, because lack of money for regional development projects reduces the willingness of people and institutions to solve problems, and without funding good ideas are only theoretical concepts. Some areas are also at a disadvantage due to specific programmes that are inadequately integrated into development strategies, or due to weak networking among stakeholders. Former mining areas receive modest attention in development strategies: planners usually see them as areas for business zone construction or reconstruction of mining infrastructure. Less attention is paid to other approaches, including: increasing competitiveness of these areas; increasing the attractiveness for tourists; improving urban infrastructure; promoting energy efficiency; renovating mining houses; improving living quality standards; reducing social and development differences with other areas; and establishing and upgrading social and physical infrastructure. Biomass and geothermal energy ReSource project partners are examining the natural and cultural potential provided by a former mining environment. When it comes to natural potential, the partners focused on opportunities provided by cultivating surface mines to produce biomass and the possibility to use geothermal energy from pit mines. Studies have shown the viability of planting wood mass in the city of Freiberg; in Lusatia, experiments with planting of robinia and poplar clones have been running for several years. In the economically depressed Zasavje region, they have already established a company for biomass production. They are also considering the organisation of a collection centre for wood biomass, which could substitute for coal in Zasavje s Trbovlje thermal energy plant. When it comes to exploiting geothermal energy, the Re- Source project partners conducted research in several different regions. A study on the suitability of water for heating industrial zones has been carried out in the city of Aue in Germany. An exploratory borehole will be made to investigate the extraction of energy from abandoned mine systems in Zwickau, and the Wettelrode mine in Mansfed-Südharz is expecting to start a pilot geothermal station. The first thorough study into extraction has been prepared in the Czech Sokolov East region. In the Zasavje region, an initial project of hot water extraction has been completed, and another project is foreseen for the year In the field of culture, the main challenges in the former mining areas included creating good development strategies for using mining heritage and preparation of tourist routes that take advantage of the mining heritage. Much attention was also given to a comprehensive approach for dealing with problems of former mining cities. The biggest challenge for these cities is creating an effective link to connect different potential areas for development. Many plans and studies were written in this area, and some of them are available on the web site: Experience shows that identifying potential strengths is more difficult than actually using them in practice. Practical projects include the transformation and renovation of some mining settlements; public events, like the Mining Eisenerz Music Festival; planning of thematic tourist routes and use of mining railways, as is planned in Salgótarján; and an exploration of mining uniforms in Central Europe, an approach taken by the Czech partners. A comprehensive database with descriptions of the tangible and intangible natural and cultural heritage of mining is being prepared. It also describes the extent to which every potential benefit is used: whether we can transfer knowledge and experience to other stakeholders and also if the latter is needed for project plans to become reality. A place to share solutions In the ReSource initiative, the importance of cooperation is constantly being underlined, as the partners want the project to be a place for sharing solutions and joint development of new approaches. The 2009 Summer School was one such mutual undertaking, which saw students from Slovenia, Germany and Hungary research new opportunities in different areas. Regional activities Aue explores geothermal potential In an abandoned mine near the town of Aue there is a high potential of geothermal energy in the mine water. For 20 years now, many cubic metres of water with a warmth of 25 o C run off in the river Mulde unused. Still, we have more favourable conditions than most comparable areas as we found out in a transnational workshop in the beginning of Our main problem is that the closest industrial area is still a bit off this source. With the ReSource study, we not only found out about the heat demand of the local enterprises but we were also able to thoroughly investigate a technical solution. The valuable results from the study will be considered locally, in the current extension plans for this development zone, and also disseminated in our partnership. Regardless of whether or not framework conditions allow eventual implementation, we are thankful to have gained not only reliable data, but also like-minded exchange partners. Jörg Hilbig, Deputy Mayor of the City of Aue The analysis of EU initiatives is in the testing phase it represents more than half of the projects based on good practices and the input of 23 centres of knowledge. The information gleaned from this work provides an excellent source of the experience and knowledge needed to address specific problems in mining areas. There is no single prescription for development policies, because each region must find a specific way to most effectively address its concrete situation. But the experience and knowledge of those who have already achieved specific progress may be the best possible signpost for all of us. This approach is based on companionship and solidarity, traditionally the miners core values. n Wood biomass to fuel Slovene power plant Partnership: 10 project partners from Germany (LP), Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovenia Duration: January July 2012 (43 months) Total budget: ,44 ERDF contribution: ,69 Website: The total annual potential of wood biomass in Slovenia is, based on conservative estimates, 600,000 tonnes of dry matter. This is five times more than we expect to be used in Trbovlje thermal power plant after the planned reconstruction of the boiler is done in That s why the company called Vitales RTH has been established (by two companies, IGES and RTH). Its aim is to set up a regional centre for the collection and processing of biomass, which would also service the future needs of the Trbovlje power plant. Biomass is currently more expensive than carbon technology, but its use is economically justified due to CO2 emission coupons and subsidies for the future cogeneration plant. Among the less well-known additional advantages of biomass I would like to mention that it requires one third the amount of gray energy (transport, processing power etc.) that fuel oil requires. Matej Požun, Project Manager IGES 52 the central european four November

28 CENTRAL projects act as important carriers of meaning and values for a wideranging and varied group of people. Getting local inhabitants involved in the planning process brings in new ideas about the meaning of these places. Local inhabitants know best what they need and how they would like to use their public space. The involvement of local inhabitants in a project also creates new relationships and brings in new experience. Furthermore, local people give more weight to a public space when they participate in its implementation. CE: Open spaces like parks play a vital role in urban areas. How does your project contribute to improving these spaces? Zuzana Hudeková: The project addresses the issue of the improvement of environmental quality in urban centres. The challenge to be met in creating good urban open spaces lies in meeting the needs of the environment and the various user groups and ensuring a well-structured and participatory planning process. Most importantly, these must not be just anonymous spaces, but rather living places, with their own particular identity. They must not be just functional areas, but also carriers of meaning that are reflective of the values of all groups of users. The UrbSpace project realised several activities focused on improving public spaces. For example, participating countries conducted state-of-the-art analyses of the principles of sustainable urban development, as well as planning and benchmarking. In another activity, participants undertook to define relevant criteria and principles for public space design in urban areas, with a focus on all aspects of sustainable development environmental, social and economic. Zuzana Hudeková UrbSpace improves urban life Zuzana Hudeková, from lead partner organisation of the project UrbSpace talks about getting local communities involved in efforts to improve their open urban spaces. Participants have also developed a joint strategy and a methodology/action plan for sustainable urban spaces. This work included the involvement of relevant stakeholders, to ensure that accessibility for all was considered in the planning process. Development and realisation of pilot actions in different central urban spaces urban, coastal and cross-border was achieved through a participatory process involving local communities. The pilot actions provided an opportunity to implement and examine the tools produced by the abovementioned activities. The results have also been disseminated, as the project communication plan, throughout the project lifetime at different levels (from local to European) and targeting different actors. CE: Why do you think it is important to strengthen local spirit through careful urban planning? Zuzana Hudeková: Urban spaces play a vital role in creating a sense of identity within our towns and cities. They CE: Your project seeks to address the issue of urban planning by focussing specifically on urban landscapes and open spaces in smaller towns. What kind of activities do you carry out there? Zuzana Hudeková: The project has focused on a strategic approach to the promotion of active and informed involvement of a range of stakeholders: Local authorities, urban planning experts and local businesses and others share in the process of shaping and revitalising urban open spaces that are important for the public life of communities. By seeking inclusiveness from the beginning of the process, UrbSpace has been able to address the prevention of socio-pathogenic phenomena and crime issues in urban open spaces. Experience has shown that there is a need to pay particular attention to planning and design aspects affecting the interests of certain user groups that have often been neglected in the past. Gender sensitive design requires a systematic approach to ensuring that the needs of women and men are given equal consideration. The process also tries to take into account the expectations of all minority groups in the design process. In the frame of the UrbSpace project, there are 13 pilot projects testing the criteria of different aspects of successful open spaces. These pilot efforts range from planning and design to concrete investment and physical improvement of these open urban spaces. These pilot projects are located in Milan, Italy; Nagykallo, Hungary; Sopot, Poland; Presov, Banská Bystrica, Bátovce, Borinka, Hrušov and Volkovce, all in Slovakia; and Novy Liskovec, Prague, Jesenik nad Odrou, Charvaty, Nové Mesto na Morave and Vlašim in the Czech Republic. More than citizens have already been positively affected through these pilot projects, and this number will increase after the accomplishment of further work. CE: From the very beginning you involved local communities in your pilot activities. Could you give us an example of cooperation that significantly changed and shaped further actions taken? Zuzana Hudeková: The participation of the public is a key part of planning, as all stakeholders who will be affected by a planning and design project should also have the opportunity to become actors in the associated process. Four main stages of the process are identified and outlined in detail. These are preparation, design, implementation and, finally, maintenance and monitoring. It is important that local people and other users, as well as other stakeholders, should be involved in the process from the beginning of the first stage. We have many interesting examples of getting the local community involved in activities, such as the pilot project conducted by the Ekopolis foundation, a project partner. Called Small park Place for everybody, the pilot was realised in the village of Volkovce in central Slovakia. The impetus to reconstruct the village s public space came from a group of seniors who were active in the community. The open space in Volkovce is situated in the centre of the village and was constructed 40 years ago. Before the pilot project was conducted, this open space was in bad condition, with old benches surrounded by a neglected environment. The planning phase was realised in accordance with joint strategy principles. This meant focusing on solving problems with accessibility of open space for all groups of users (e.g. seniors, mothers with small children) and enhancing the safety of the area, while also preserving the environmental value of the space. On the basis of enquiry and public meetings, the architect prepared three proposals for Volkovce s public space. The common points in each proposal were: increasing safety by allowing visual control, improving accessibility and simplification of movement across the space. The final proposal has been partially realised already. The space is divided into three well-linked areas one for small children, one for relaxing and a central green area. The accessibility of the space will be secured by the construction of a new bridge over the brook, work that is to be realised in the near future. The area is already frequently visited by local residents. This was one of the project s aims to persuade the local people to better appreciate this open space in our village, said one of the initiators of public reconstruction in Volkovce. This could only happen when local people are involved in the project from the beginning and take an active role during the design process, and during physical reconstruction work, he added. Greater participation made the improvements in Volkovce possible, and it is also the key to the overall success of the UrbSpace project. n Partnership: 13 project partners from Slovakia (LP), Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy and Slovenia Duration: November December 2011 (38 months) Total budget: ,00 ERDF contribution: ,50 Website: 54 the central european four November

29 Czech Republic on track for better quality of life in the regions Photo: istockphoto Italian regions tackling important issues to become more attractive and competitive Capitalisation in the Central Europe Programme

30 CENTRAL contacts Czech Republic on track for better quality of life in the regions Priority four of the Central Europe Programme is growing in importance. Stella Horváthová and Tereza Tkadlečková explain trends in projects with Czech partners and how the National Contact Point supports them. most important project activities are centred on drafting a new scheme for governance of these territories, testing this model through the use of pilot projects and capitalising on the results and output achieved. One of the partners, the Bohemian Switzerland public service organisation of Ceské Švýcarsko, supports the environmental development of their region through the protection of natural and cultural values and economic development based on environmentally friendly tourism. Another partner, the regional authority of Ústí nad Labem, is hoping to help their region face problems with transformation and adapting to new conditions. Cobraman The Cobraman project aims to improve the quality of life and environment of urban areas. It seeks to do this by addressing the challenge of efficiently managing the process of revitalisation. The Cobraman project is intended to contribute to developing a better quality of urban environment in declining industrial districts by coaching local communities on how to manage the redevelopment of brownfield sites. The project provides trainees with the techniques they need in order to develop such areas in a more rapid and effective way. The main goal is to establish and operate courses for different levels of study and train students for a new profession brownfield management. The former open-cast mine in Most will be the beneficiary of a pilot project on regeneration investment plans. The NCP assists projects These and other projects involving Czech partners, receive assistance from the Czech National Contact Point (NCP), which is integrated into the Ministry for Regional Development of the Czech Republic. The NCP acts as programme coordinator and an advisory body for potential applicants in Czech Republic. It organises targeted trainings to help applicants respond to calls for projects and seeks to assist partners with challenges faced during project preparation and the overall project life-time. NCP also performs various day-to-day activities to ensure proper communication with partners. To help the NCP maintain a better view of project implementation, the operational programme Central Europe has founded a national platform composed of representatives of the regional authorities. Another tool that NCP uses to follow projects in process is the publication of our own catalogue. The current catalogue of projects implemented within the programming period is completed up to the first and second call, and because we included some of the partners views in the catalogue, we can highlight some of their opinions: One advantage mentioned by all interviewees is the ability to establish foreign contacts and to have an overview of the state of common problems and level of knowledge in neighbouring countries. Some of the projects outputs are presented in a database and are used by a broad range of stakeholders, including investors, students and the public and are a source for future deliberation at different levels of public administration. In the current programming period, the Czech Republic is giving special importance to integrated territorial development, which means that reciprocal relations will play a significant role in future initiatives in the country. For the next programming period, beginning in 2014, the country will concentrate efforts on an other important national topic: The main aim will then be to ensure balanced development and a reduction in regional differences to allow the full use of local potential. n In the current programming period, the Czech Republic is giving special importance to integrated territorial development, which means that reciprocal relations will play a significant role in future initiatives in the country. The importance of increasing the competitiveness and attractiveness of cities and regions is well understood in the Czech Republic, and growing numbers of Czech partners are becoming involved in this area through the Central Europe Programme. In terms of funding, transnational cooperation in Central Europe represents the second-most important branch of European territorial cooperation in the Czech Republic. There is increasing interest among Czech partners in being able to prepare and implement transnational projects. This interest has been helped along by the delimitation of the Central Europe Programme area. The Czech Republic is located in the centre of the programme region, a situation that intensifies the potential to generate good partnerships and successful projects. The country s participation in the programme is so intense that at least one Czech partner occurs in 78 of the 101 projects. 32 partners are involved in priority four alone. Projects under Central Europe s priority four, which is about enhancing competitiveness and attractiveness of cities and regions, are thus becoming progressively important for Czech regions. A large number of Czech institutions interested in joining the Central Europe Programme demonstrated interest in priority four. This is especially true of candidates from smaller cities making first contact, and of regional authorities. Priority four is typified by a more dense appearance of pilot activities. Pilot actions seem to be favoured especially in specific types of regions, for example in border regions affected by the impact of industrial activity in the past. The following are two interesting projects with Czech participation that suggest worthwhile practices which others may want to follow. Listen to the Voice of Villages This is a project focusing on the competitiveness and attractiveness of a countryside area where several negative factors exist including such demographic challenges as depopulation and an ageing population, as well as deficiencies in local policy. The aim of the project is to promote competitiveness of rural villages, improve their economic activities and enhance their cultural and local craft resources. The 58 the central european

31 CENTRAL contacts Italian regions tackling important issues to become more attractive and competitive Close to 30 partners from Italy are focusing on priority four of the Central Europe Programme. Benedetta Pricolo and Rita Bertocco look at why this theme is so important and how some projects are trying to address it. The fourth thematic priority of the Central Europe Programme, focussing on competitiveness and attractiveness of cities and regions, offers the opportunity to improve urban co-operation, to promote more sustainable use of cultural resources and heritage, and to tackle demographic and social change. These are all important issues in Italy, which is why, after three calls for proposals, almost 30 Italian partners are part of successful project consortia implementing activities for this priority. Their work benefits their territories as well as the entire programme area and the Central European community. Through these projects, a significant number of Italian public and private institutions have the possibility to contribute to a better quality of life and the preservation of cultural resources in the programme area. The most active Italian project partners in priority four are public authorities and regional development agencies located in northern Italy, but national agencies are involved too. These partners cooperate on new approaches and strategies to reach more balanced territorial development and to make our cities and regions more competitive and attractive. We briefly highlight two interesting projects one encouraging the potential represented by senior citizens through improvement of social integration and one dealing with the revitalisation of industrial sites through cultural activities. Q-Ageing Partners from the Veneto and Liguria regions (Province of Treviso, the National Medicine Academy of Genova and the Municipality of Genova) joined the Q-Ageing project, which is being lead by the local government of Ujbuda in Hungary. The project aims to promote a quality lifestyle for the aged in an urban environment by focussing on public services and the creation of attractive living and working conditions. Pilot actions were implemented in the province of Treviso. These included giving older people living in remote villages the chance to experience such innovative public services as the TVbus, on-demand minibuses, and ELDbycicle, electric vehicles. The pilots also included training courses for volunteers dealing with elderly people with the trainers themselves older than 65 years. This last intervention is the application of an innovative methodol- ogy that addresses social exclusion and seeks to exploit the potential of ageing, inactive people. In the Liguria region, where one out of every three people will be more than 65 years old in 20 years, the Municipality of Genova and the National Medicine Academy implemented three important actions through Q-Ageing Project: the realisation of a memory garden to help prevent senile dementia; the development of a web portal addressing caregivers and senior citizens; and actions to sustain citizens networks helping older people. Second Chance Another example of how our territories are benefitting from the Central Europe Programme is the realisation of pilot actions in Venice thanks to the Second Chance project, which is lead by the City of Nuremberg. Through the project, five European cities are working together to transform unused industrial sites into cultural and creative spaces that are attractive for investors. The Venice Arsenal a monumental complex of 480,000 square metres now hosts art exhibitions and dance, live music and theatre festivals. The pilot action promoted by the Second Chance Project concerned the Torre di Porta Nuova, which was built in 1809 and is now open to the public after restoration. The tower is divided in three spaces, and Second Chance Project has funded the creation of a second-floor exhibition centre, which will become a cultural space available for exhibitions, cultural initiatives and artists who want to experience this unique location. The NCP offers assistance The Italian Contact Point is assisting Italian partners through participation in kick-off events and technical meetings, through the dissemination of project results and through technical assistance when partners face management-related problems. After almost four years of activities, we can say that Italian partners, both public and private, regard the Central Europe Programme as a concrete funding opportunity meeting the needs of the territory and favouring co-operation with other regions in the programme area, in order to find joint solutions to shared problems. n 60 the central european four November

32 CENTRAL contacts Capitalisation in the Central Europe Programme By building on the results of past projects, we can ensure that their work continues and their solutions endure. In the Central Europe Programme, capitalisation means taking advantage of project results that have already been achieved to facilitate the planning and implementation of future activities for the benefit of the regions covered by the programme. The Joint Technical Secretariat (JTS) is currently involved in the process of capitalisation. In many cases, transnational projects are a starting point for tackling regional and transnational challenges, and it is rare for a single project to completely solve any given problem. Strategies, concepts, tools and pilot investments that are developed through transnational partnerships need to be sustained, which means capitalising on the past work of projects by identifying follow-up opportunities and opening up doors, to ensure that results influence or become a part of policies, larger investments and business and development opportunities. The role of the Central Europe Programme in the capitalisation process is two-fold: It aims to further strengthen the result-based approach of projects by supporting the delivery of high-quality outputs, and it must also demonstrate the thematic achievements of the Programme to stakeholders in the regions, member states and EU institutions. To achieve the latter goal, capitalisation must be based on a solid and comprehensive analysis of thematic results from Central Europe-supported projects. As a starting point the JTS in October 2011 carried out an internal report on the Contribution of the Central Europe Programme to the future transnational cooperation 2014+, which will be continued throughout The JTS kicks off capitalisation The report was presented to the member states and the European Commission, providing them with an overview of facts and figures on programme implementation thus far, and highlighting achievements that actively contribute to territorial cohesion as well as the Europe 2020 Strategy. The report presents data on 101 projects approved for funding between 2007 and 2011 involving more than 1,000 partners from public and private organisations, including businesses, research institutions and NGOs. On average, Central Europe projects involve 11 partners from six out of eight participating countries. If we look at the regional and local levels, the analysis covers projects involving 179 NUTS 3 areas belonging to 71 out of 74 Central Europe Programme regions. Thematic maps in the report show that cooperation networks are mostly spread along the south-north and east-west axes, with capital cities and urban areas playing a prominent role. The report illustrates that all projects bear thematic linkages, so that there are no stand-alone projects a situation that suggests there is a high potential for crosssectoral synergies within the programme area. The report also shows that the territorial effects of Central Europe projects at the transnational level are clearly linked to the macro-regions that are touched by the programme. It also becomes clear, however, that the effects and impacts of projects often go beyond a single macro-regional level. The report therefore indicates that the cooperation area covered by the Central Europe Programme is a distinctive functional area, with common challenges addressed by intensive cooperation networks. Looking more concretely at the contributions of the Central Europe Programme to the Europe 2020 Strategy, the report finds that objectives and achievements of the projects are well in line with the priorities and flagship initiatives of the bigger strategic framework. There is an especially high correlation between the programme results and the strategic goals of smart and sustainable growth, as well as positive effects on the goal of inclusive growth. n Enter the CENTRAL EUROPE Photo Competition 2012: Take a Closer Look at Central Europe Can you tell the story of your project in a single picture? Then send us your compelling-high quality photos that will grab our attention. We are looking for pictures that most appropriately capture the essence of your Central Europe project. Be creative, don t just think of the obvious when choosing a perspective! The competition is open to all Central Europe projects from 1 November 2011 until 30 April All entries must be received through Facebook or (info@central2013.eu) by the closing date. Voting by Facebook users will start as soon as the photos have been posted on our wall. The last day of voting will be on 30 April The Top 12 entries will be considered for the Central Europe 2013 Wall Calendar that will be distributed to high-level stakeholders on regional, national and European level and thus increase your project s visibility. The Top 3 entries will be awarded a prize at the Central Europe Annual Event For further details please visit Central-Europe-Programme/ Head of Secretariat: Editor: Editorial support: Copy editor: Art director: Print: Luca Ferrarese Frank Schneider Katarína Hanzelová, Christophe Ebermann, Lubor Jusko Tom Popper Hermann Kienesberger / Reklamebureau Print-Sport, Leobersdorf The information contained in this publication does not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme or any of its programme bodies. The CENTRAL EUROPE Programme cannot be held liable for any use that may be made of the information contained herein. Contact: CENTRAL EUROPE Programme Museumsstrasse 3/A/III, A-1070 Vienna Phone: Fax: info@central2013.eu 62 the central european four November