dr alexander ferstl - small towns
TRANSCRIPT
REGIONAL POLICY
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
REGIONAL POLICY
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Dr. Alexander FERSTLDirectorate for Policy Development
4th International Symposium on Small Towns, Grieskirchen, Austria - 24 April 2009
Small towns from a European perspectiveRemarks on the role of small cities and towns in EU Regional Policy
REGIONAL POLICY
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
1. Cities and Europe – Why cities matter?
• Economic and social cohesion – elimination of disparities (article 158 EC Treaty)
• (Re-newed) Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs, Gothemburg Agenda
• Future challenges – demography, climate change, immigration, energy supply etc.
REGIONAL POLICY
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
2. Cities, small towns and EU Regional Policy
1. Integrated local development – participative, holistic, reflecting real needs of local communities1. URBAN Community
Initiative2. LEADER method
QualificationEducation
Good governanceParticipation
Exchange ofexperience Networking Financing
urban renewal
EnvironmentalIssues
Urban Mobility
Social inclusion
Economic development
Urban PlanningPhysical
regeneration
URBANAcquis
Programme (Management)Integrated urban development plan
REGIONAL POLICY
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
2. Cities, small towns and EU Regional Policy
2. Investment through Operational Programmes (European Regional Development Fund)
REGIONAL POLICY
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
2. Cities, small towns and EU Regional Policy
3. Networking and cooperation amongst stakeholders, cities and regions• Territorial Cooperation Programmes• URBACT II Programme (www.urbact.eu) – Creative
Clusters network
REGIONAL POLICY
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
3. Some remarks on the role of small cities and towns in Europe
• Quality of life
• Natural environment
• Economic importance
• Polycentric settlement structures
• Admininstrative capacities?
• Lobby?
REGIONAL POLICY
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
4. Small towns and territorial cohesion
• Turning territorial diversity into strength
• Targeting social and economic cohesion from a territorial perspective
• « 3 Cs »– Concentration– Connection– Cooperation
• Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion: «Turning territorial diversity into strength» Communication from the Commission, COM(2008) 616 final, Brussels, 6.10.2008
REGIONAL POLICY
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
REGIONAL POLICY
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/