3CE335P4 O 3.3.5 Joint Strategies (vision) Work package Action Author 3 Identifying Rural Potentials 3.3 Definition of relevant criteria / indicators / strategy. External expert: West Pannon Regional and Economic Development Public Non profit Ltd. Contracted by: PP12 Office for National Economic Planning (ONEP) Version 27 August 2013 EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF
Index I INTRODUCTION... 3 II DEFINITION OF THE JOINT STRATEGY... 5 III STRATEGIES FOR THE PILOT REGIONS... 7 III.1 Ethnic minorities... 7 III.2 Poor Polish youth... 8 III.3 Ageing small villages... 9 III.4 Poor farmers... 10 III.5 Population attracting regions... 11 III.6 Wealthy elderly green Alpine... 11 III.7 Unattractive serious ageing... 12 EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF 2
I INTRODUCTION Starting point: The pilot regions participating in the realisation of the project, as well as the area categories defined in WP3 during the project possess heterogeneous characteristic features in several aspects. Thus the strategy has to be defined considering this fact. Structure: The strategy has been defined on two levels. The first one is an overall, common corestrategy, which is formulated based on the common features of all areas, at the same time, as a second level, there is the necessity of setting up micro-strategies that reflect the unique features of the pilot regions differentiated in WP 3. These two aspects form the main structural elements of the strategy, which are supplemented by a chart giving general overview regarding the core-strategy. Applied methods: Methodologically we have relied on the outputs of the present expert studies as well as on previous results of the project. Thus main findings of the benchmarking, the demographic and economic forecast, as well as related feedbacks obtained from project partners regarding the strategy have been used. Regarding micro-strategies, a several area categories have been assessed together in those cases where some initial framework conditions were highly similar, and it had an added value regarding the formulation of the strategy. The strategies will be discussed as follows: typology of rural regions Typology applied in the strategy Deprived Roma villagesy Deprived Roma children 1. Ethnic minorities Crisis regions Poor polish youth Ageing small villages Poor farmers Migration magnet Wealthy suburban Wealthy elderly green Alpine Unattractive serious ageing 2. Poor polish youth 3. Ageing small villages 4. Poor farmers 5. Population attracting areas 6. Wealthy elderly green Alpine 7. Unattractive serious ageing The following map shows the classification of regions (1-7) applied in this strategy. EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF 3
EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF 4
II DEFINITION OF THE JOINT STRATEGY During the definition of the common strategy common thematic fields have been identified that have relevance in connection with the CEU area (containing the pilot regions), and that represent the main challenges regarding the area as a whole: - In the social sphere: o Training and Education o Medical and social services - In the economic sphere: o Mobility o Available labour opportunities, local economy The specific sub-fields mentioned above form a complex unity, and deliver their joint effects in a highly interlinked manner in a given geographical area. The current strategy treats the above mentioned problem areas as focus points for intervention, since these are the thematic fields in which it is the most necessary (and possible) to define interventions. This is in conformity with the methodology used in the Benchmarking study, where several specific best practices have been assessed, following also the sequencing described above. Interventions described in the strategy compose the central element of the following matrix, and they can be realised on 2+1 levels: - Local level - National level + EU level Again, separation of level categories is only possible with transitions, moreover it can be stated that the possible impact of project partners decreases concerning the concrete actions approaching the EU level. As means of the common strategy the following tools have been identified: usage of local strategy (1); inclusion of the business sector (2); regulation and coordination (3); lobbying (4). The inclusion of two aspects is considered especially important into the common strategy: - Addressing the business sector. Considering the wide-spread effects that can be gained this way, and several connections can be found to innovation (3S) and to future industries, this tools can be important in several regions (e.g. Westliche Obersteiermark, Microregion Mór), and can be nowhere neglected. By the inclusion of the business sector, traditional branches (and crafts) can be transformed into 21st century industries, in a way taking into account also problems of rural CEU areas. - Regulation, coordination: It is in several aspects an underrated and underemphasized area, although it can have a significant impact when used in an appropriate way. Coming from the nature of this tool, it can be applied mainly on national / EU levels. Although by its application, more significant impacts can be gained than via financial interventions (subsidies), the tool is not applied widely enough currently. The next chart contains and summarizes the main elements of the joint strategy based on the above described aspects: EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF 5
Tools Handling social challenges Handling economic challenges Intervention level for Tool problem handling The focus points for intervention Training and Education Medical and social services Mobility Available labour opportunities, local economy Local level Application of local strategy with interventions on local level (EU financing) Coming Home local programmes focused on the young generations The development of the institutional system of the health and welfare of the ageing population Developments of the public transport in favour of the commuting to work. Innovative solutions in the area of mobility. (e.g. car sharing) Transport development (?) in the sensitive natural areas and touristic destinations Capitalizing local take-off points. e.g. RandD, innovation, strengthening traditional industries Local Smart Specialization strategy In case of touristic regions touristic action plan aiming at the preservation and the strengthening of the attractiveness. Tele-work, telework centres, smart work centres Inclusion of the business sector Company scholarships Intern/apprentice programmes Company kindergartens Building of social and health care institutions Silver economy Special offers of the service providers (e.g. for employees) Strengthening the local supply-chains, local economic interventions Local products National level EU level Regulation and coordination The consideration of demands of the companies during the creation of the training programmes Handling migration problems (in case it is relevant) Measures encouraging willingness to have children: - Taxation policy favouring families - The encouragement of part-time employment - Daytime childcare institutional system The preservation of the basic health and welfare services in rural areas Creating the cross-border commuting of employees in the regions align borders Encouraging entrepreneurship Special bank loan constructions for rural areas Lobbying For necessary infrastructural interventions Encouraging young farmers to stay in the rural areas. (Framework conditions of the CAP 2014-2020) EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF
III STRATEGIES FOR THE PILOT REGIONS In the following section, individual micro-strategies are defined regarding the area categories identified during WP3, taking their individual features into account, putting them into a common area category in two cases, as mentioned before. III.1 Ethnic minorities From the aspect of methodology, the first three area categories (Deprived Roma villages, Deprived Roma children, Crises region) have been grouped under the heading of ethnic minorities and handled as one unit, with regard to the fact that these regions face similar strategic problems, thus the strategic answers can also be similar, differences may only occur in the importance and weight of the individual tools. In these regions, it is not the demographic processes that constitute the main problem, as the agestructure can be regarded as favourable. (Despite the fact that outward migration is strong, it is compensated by the high fertility rate.) Simply formulated, the problems here are the low income and education levels, the lack of employment opportunities, the deterioration of community infrastructures and the resulting social tensions. The natural vegetation is present with a higher than average rate in these regions, while the proportion of agricultural usage is lower. The settlement structure is characterised by a high rate of small and scattered settlements. Due to the low GDP these settlements can fulfil less and less communal function, even the basic services are more and more missing. Main goal of the strategy: Stop the socio-economic depression of the Roma, support the catchingup process European Union level The handling of challenges resulting from the high rate of Roma population should be based on a complex approach considering both social and economic aspects simultaneously. The educational and cultural developments priority has to be assured long-term, and questions of educational organisation, organisation of practical trainings, developmental and close-up trainings designed for the special situation and needs of the Roma minority should have priorities compared to investments into infrastructure. National level In short and medium term the main task may be to map and exploit the opportunities for developing the local economy. This however, has to run parallel with changing social policies EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF
based on financial subsidies, so that by encouraging employment, working should become the secure source of living instead of the social system for the disadvantaged groups, too. During interventions on the field of economic development, special consideration has to be dedicated to the partly market-based activities or to social-based initiatives serving self-sufficiency, since career and other emergency opportunities of the unskilled Roma population are very low. Thus the different social land initiatives, programmes to foster self-sufficiency complemented by training programmes may be very important tools. The proper organisations have to be found or created to operate these programmes (it is reasonable to organise these based on the local municipalities or on the basis of non-profit companies founded for this purpose). Micro-credit loan programmes also have to be main elements of the interventions in economic development, since besides the lack of skills the lack of capital also hinders the foundation or strengthening of local enterprises. Local level In the small settlements the maintenance of public services should be organised on network basis, considering cost efficiency. III.2 Poor Polish youth The very favourable age structure even compared to European trends features the vast areas of Poland. These polish micro-regions and a few micro-regions in Slovakia and Hungary constitute the regions of area category poor polish youth. The natural dynamics of changes of the population is positive, which means that the number of births exceeds the number of deaths. The migration, however, even in these areas is often negative, basically due to the migration of the young and active population into the cities, as well as to the Western European countries. Main goal of the strategy: Tackling challenges caused by outward migration National level From the aspect of demography the development strategies of these areas have to react mainly to the challenges caused by migration. Strategic measures can be: programmes for young people encouraging them to become entrepreneurs; further developing smart specialization, and local infrastructure; investments to keep the population in the area human public services, recreational possibilities, developments of the public community spaces to create an attractive rural environment thus the positive expectations towards the life in cities can be satisfied in the rural areas as well. Since agriculture plays an important role in the system of the local economy in these areas, subsidies to young agricultural entrepreneurs (farmers) and support for handover of farms, have to be important elements of the development strategies of these areas. EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF 8
Local level Since the density of the population is low in these areas, all these measures have to be accompanied by the development of transport and accessibility of the regional centres (via innovative solutions e.g. car sharing), to reduce the isolation feeling of people living in these rural areas. Keeping qualified workforce at place shall be a special point of focus since migration of young and well qualified persons to central settlements is one of the main challenges. In order to stop / mitigate this process, the local SME sector needs to be strengthened (e.g. with supporting subsupplier networks to multinational companies) and innovative forms of employment have to be applied. In the development of the public services the younger age structure demands the development of day-care services and special emphasis has to be dedicated to interventions to develop public education in order assure the sufficient human capacities. III.3 Ageing small villages The age structure of the Czech areas characterised with small settlement system features an ageing population. The settlement system and the demographic structure create a special situation, and thus they demand special interventions. In these areas the migration is not such a big problem, as e.g. in the rural Polish regions, the net migration is even positive in some areas however it means that it is the natural decrease of the population that causes the unfavourable age structure. Main goal of the strategy: Tackling challenges caused by ageing population National level Theoretically the high GDP enables an increased attention to the development of basic infrastructures and the provision of public services in these areas characterised by scattered settlement structure. The challenges caused by ageing have to be handled on the one hand by solving short-term problems (e.g. the increasing capacities of elderly homes, developing home aid services, programmes regarding active ageing, etc.), on the other hand by slowing down the trend of the ageing that is to elaborate and launch programmes motivating the increase of child births. National level regulation issues are important elements of the latter, e.g. the taxation policy favouring families, creation of opportunities for part-time work in the rural areas, or the development of the child day-care services in these regions. The fertility rate can be effectively improved by helping the reintegration of women in fecundity age into the labour market, since the main cause for postponing pregnancy is that career aspects have become increasingly predominant. EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF 9
Local level On the one hand the small and scattered settlement structure can serve as a touristic potential if it is complemented by natural and cultural attractions, on the other hand it demands new solutions in the organisation of public services. Thus for example by the network-based solutions of the health, social and education services accompanied by intelligent transport organisation possibilities, the quality of life in these areas can close up to the level in cities. III.4 Poor farmers In case of this area type, the agricultural potential is significantly higher than the Central European average. The GDP is lower than the average, due to the lower added value of the agricultural activities, which can be explained by the low capital level and the lack of necessary developments in the sector. Main goal of the strategy: Social: Tackling challenges caused by ageing population Economic: Develop branches of high added value National (and partly local) level The potentials of the agriculture and the industries built on it (processing industry, different services) are much higher than the current level. One of the main elements of the development strategies of these regions can be to build on and strengthen this potential. The capability of the agriculture to keep the population in the area shows strong correlation with the capitalization level of agri-businesses and with the structure of landownership. The landownership policy based on family small-holdings, small and medium lands, as well as cooperatives are a crucial regulatory factor in the development of these rural areas. However, the ageing structure, together with the above mentioned factors requires similar interventions as in case of the other areas with these kinds of demographic problems. Thus, challenges caused by ageing have to be tackled on the one hand by solving short-term problems (e.g. the increasing capacities of elderly homes, developing home aid services, programmes regarding active ageing, etc.), on the other hand by slowing down the trend of the ageing that is to elaborate and launch programmes motivating the increase of child births. National level regulation issues are important elements of the latter, e.g. the taxation policy favouring families, creation of opportunities for part-time work in the rural areas, or the development of the child day-care services in these regions. The fertility rate can be effectively improved by helping the reintegration of women in fecundity age into the labour market, since the main cause for postponing pregnancy is that career aspects have become increasingly predominant. EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF 10
III.5 Population attracting regions Due to the similarities regarding several basic aspects such as the positive net migration the area types identified with the names of Migration magnet and Wealthy suburban are discussed together during WP3. The main characteristic feature of these areas is the ability to attract population, thus their problems are different compared to the CEU rural average. The positive migration is basically in connection with the agglomeration cycles (agglomeration suburbanisation desurbanisation reurbanisation). In the cases of the two evaluated area categories these processes encourage the increase of population in these rural areas situated close to cities. Main goal of the strategy: The slogan The city of the countryside, the countryside of the city summarises the main thought of the strategy well: it is necessary for these areas to use the advantages of their situation close to the cities, and parallel to this, to provide the cities with the appropriate hinterland. Moreover it is also necessary to preserve those rural features that make them attractive, and to build on positive trends, (such as the fashionable country life in the phase of desurbanization). National and local level During the elaboration of the local strategies, medical and social services, mobility should have high emphasis, while the issues of the local labour opportunities, and the training and education appear as not significantly underpinned issues. (More precisely, the solutions of these problems are offered by the nearby cities that provide the background for these rural areas). Thus the creation of (sustainable) transport connections, as well as the establishment of the necessary local institutional system (that should be aimed to solve problems primarily caused by positive migration) may be the main focus points. III.6 Wealthy elderly green Alpine Regarding migration, these areas possess positive indicators similarly to the regions evaluated in the previous section (Migration magnet and Wealthy suburban). However, it is absolutely justified to evaluate them separately in terms of strategy, since the dominant natural vegetation land cover, and the touristic industry built on the attractive natural environment are their unique features. Main goal of the strategy: Social: Tackling challenges caused by ageing population Economy: Renewal of traditional industries EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF 11
National (partly EU level) Methods aimed at tackling issues of the ageing society described above, mainly in the section of Ageing small villages regions (e.g. the increasing capacities of elderly homes, developing home aid services, programmes regarding active ageing, etc.) can be applied. Their adaptation on the necessary scale can be significantly supported by the high level GDP per capita of these regions. In long-term it is important to focus on the application of regulatory tools (national and EU level) to decrease ageing trends. Local level In the strategies of these areas it is important to build on local labour opportunities. On the one hand, the main direction can be the development of present touristic offers, on the other hand the traditional industries (e.g. wood industry) should be preserved and developed by dovetailing them with the demands of the 21st century first of all in the Austrian regions are already numerous positive examples for that. The issue of the soft mobility is strongly related to this, since it is important for both the population living in the areas, and the tourists visiting the regions. III.7 Unattractive serious ageing The main characteristics of these regions are first of all the growing proportion of old population; old age structure; negative net migration; high GDP; low proportion of small settlements. There is serious outward migration from these areas, which results in the ageing of the population this is a highly challenging issue concerning the public services, which have to react to the gradually changing demands. Main goal of the strategy: Mitigate (stop) the trend of ageing population National (partly EU level) Local level During the flexible adjustment process of the local institutional system, the increased fulfilment of needs of the elderly population it is an important aspect to strengthen the health industry and the silver economy. At the end of the day, the main goal is to decrease (stop) the trend of ageing, to increase the number of births. During dealing with this complex challenge, there is a need for regulatory interventions at national (and EU) level as well as changes of approach and attitudes. Considering the trends described above, strengthening of the local economies in the 21st century, innovative transformation of local industries is an important strategic direction (as it has been described in the cases of the Wealthy elderly green Alpine regions). This way, the trend of EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF 12
negative migration can be decreased, the young and qualified population can be kept in the area, and moreover as it has been described in the cases of the Wealthy elderly green Alpine regions the high GDP of these regions can also be kept. Some forms of telework can also be applied concrete best practices have been presented in the benchmarking study. (See e.g. Micropol project.) EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF 13