Urban development in the context of European Cohesion Policy Santiago García-Patrón Rivas European Commission Directorate General Regional Policy Territorial Cohesion and Urban Actions Unit
Summary 1. How urban actions have been supported by Cohesion Policy Urban Policy in Europe The Political Dimension Urban actions in EU Regional Policy URBAN Community Initiative The Urban dimension in the EU 2007-2013 Programming period 3. Analysis of Operational Programmes co-financed by the European Regional (Working Paper: Fostering the urban dimension) 4. Future challenges for cities
Urban Policy in Europe The Political Dimension No Commission mandate for urban development in the Treaty Member States fully recognise and support the urban dimension of Community policies Member States have stressed the importance of urban development at Informal Ministerial Meetings FR: Lille 2000: Lille action Programme NL: Rotterdam 2004: Acquis URBAN UK: Bristol 2005: Sustainable Communities DE: Leipzig 2007: Leipzig Chart on Sustainable Cities FR : Marseilles 2008: Common Reference Framework
Urban actions in EU Regional Policy 1980ies: Need for coordination of European policies in certain territorial fields and need for new (innovative) solutions. 1989-94 Urban Pilot-Projects Phase I 1997-1999 Urban Pilot-Projects Phase II
Urban actions in EU Regional Policy 1994-1999 URBAN Community Initiative 2000-2006 URBAN II Community Initiative, including URBACT 2007-2013 Mainstreaming of urban actions
The URBAN Community Initiative: Main elements Regeneration of deprived neighbourhoods Targeted areas. High aid intensity per capita Integrated approach (Coordinated multiple solutions to tackle multiple problems) Focus on : Regeneration of public space and urban environement Combatting social exclusion Economic and cultural activities Strong local partnerships cities, private sector, civil society
Mainstreaming of urban actions 2007-2013 The Commission intends to reinforce urban issues in 2007-2013 programmes. This implies to valorise the URBAN acquis : to increase the added value of Structural Funds intervention promoting an integrated approach to sustainable urban development. to increase the involvement of local authorities, as a key element for facilitating a successful urban policy to promote exchange of experiences between cities
Building on the experience of the URBAN Community Initiative Building on the experience and strengths of the URBAN Community Initiative [ ], sustainable urban development should be reinforced by fully integrating measures in that field into the operational programmes co-financed by the ERDF, paying particular attention to local development and employment initiatives and their potential for innovation. (Recital 9, ERDF Regulation)
Urban methodology Integrated approach: targeting relatively small areas with a cross sectoral and holistic approach Strong local partnerships A systematic learning cycle
Fostering the urban dimension Analysis of Operational Programmes co-financed by the European Regional Analysis of all 316 Operational Programmes from the three Cohesion Policy Objectives 2007-2013. Main objectives: To assess how the main orientations arising from the common legal and thematic framework have been taken on-board in the programmes. To provide with good examples.
Analysis of Operational Programmes Scope : Three types of Actions «Urban-type Actions» Actions to tackle specific (sectoral) urban challenges Actions to promote polycentric development
The Working Document Scope: Three Governance and Implementation topics Involvement of cities and local authorities Strategic planning and the application of integrated approaches Financing of operations in cities
Analysis of Operational Programmes Main findings 1. Urban development is an important topic in many OPs 2. A dual picture, strong sectoral focus 3. Local involvement a major challenge
1. Urban development as an important topic in many OPs More than half of the ERDF programmes have an identifiable urban dimension, and address challenges in urban areas Wide scope of actions in cities All cities are potential beneficiaries of ERDF funding More money in Convergence regions, but higher allocation in relative terms to urban development in RCE regions
2. A dual picture, strong sectoral focus Less emphasis on integrated urban development in new Member States Urban development operations in new Member States show strong tendency towards sectoral investment The necessary capacity building and guidance, necessary for sufficient know-how and skills in integrated urban development, is foreseen in only a few cases, mainly in old Member States
3. Local involvement a major challenge Limited role for cities in the design and implementation of programmes, in programme-related decision making processes and in governing budgets for investment on their territory The possibility to delegate responsibilities to local authorities used in very few cases Limited information on concentration of funding to reach critical mass (i.e. minimum threshold of 5-10 million per operation in French and Czech OPs) Cities should be involved more strongly and more effectively in cooperation activities
The Working Document Follow-up : Important role of Member States Encourage their Managing Authorities to address the issues raised in this Working document and to consider better exploiting already existing possibilities Considering possible adjustments of the programming documents Filling optional provisions
Futures challenges for cities Regions 2020 An assessment of future challenges for EU regions Asymmetric impact on European territories. Almost all regions will need to find local tailored solutions to meet combinations of challenges. Urban centres and metropolitan areas should be relatively well placed to respond to the challenges linked to globalisation
The role of cities in the future: Engines of sustainable growth Anticipate and face the challenges in a successful and sustainable way STRATEGIC PLANNING SUSTAINABILITY MULTILEVEL GOVERNANCE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT APPROPRIATE FINANCING COOPERATION AND NETWORKING
Links: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/consultation/ terco/index_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/ docoffic/working/regions2020/index_en.htm