Ministry for Regional Development of the Czech Republic MEETING OF DIRECTORS GENERAL “Territorial Cohesion” The Implementation of Action 1.1a (Urban –

Ministry for Regional Developmentof the Czech Republic

MEETING OF DIRECTORS GENERALMEETING OF DIRECTORS GENERAL““Territorial Cohesion”Territorial Cohesion”

The Implementation of Action 1.1a

(Urban – Rural Relations)(Urban – Rural Relations)

Top Hotel Prague, 18 May 2009


CONTENTS OF THE PRESENTATION

Putting Urban-Rural Relations into Context

Procedure of Work and Method Used by the Implementation of Action 1.1a

Current Status and Outputs

Next Steps and Future Outputs within the Implementation


PERCEIVED CONNECTION

Fragmented settlement of the CR

Close connection rate

Certain proposal for coordination is missing

Based on the EU (OECD) methodology – Czech space is mostly defined as rural areas

Process of sub-urbanization (increasing need for public investments, infrastructure, etc.)

Prevent from declining regions

Consider a diversification of the European space

Fragmentation of territorial and urban development


THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIVITY 1.1a

(URBAN – RURAL RELATIONS) The Mf.RD assumed the responsibility for the implementation of action 1.1a (during the Slovenian Presidency)

2008-2010 timeframe

The objective is to create and promote guidelines and policy measures in order to support the coordination between both urban and territorial development (titled Urban-Rural Relations)

The working group has been established

(partners: Austria, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and representatives of the EC (DG Regio), CEMR, AEBR and University of Economics in Prague, and the Union of Towns and Municipalities of the CR)


CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND OF THE URBAN – RURAL RELATION

The Territorial Agenda of the EU = ESDP (European Spatial Development Perspective) + Lisbon Strategy + new territorial challenges

Development of balanced and polycentric urban system, and new urban – rural partnership, etc.

First Action Programme for the Implementation of the TA of the EU (1AP)

1 AP 2007-2011

Close connection with the Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities



(URBAN – RURAL REALATIONS) – working group (WG) “need to elaborate a contribution to support the polycentric development and innovation through the networking of regions and city regions”

To answer the strategic questions

To assess the current status of the urban-rural relations and

To find the possible solutions (proposals)

To result from the Slovenian conclusions (based on 1.1)

On 13 October 2008 – first meeting of WG

On 3 March 2009 – second meeting of WG



(URBAN – RURAL REALATIONS) – working group

STRATEGIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED

How is the urban-rural relations issue solved at both the European and national level?

What are the key topics of the linkages (relations) between urban and rural spaces, and their future perspective?

What kinds of tools are available to ensure the optimization of the linkages between urban and rural space, and their future perspective?

What are the existing tools for solution of key differences between urban and rural space?

What kind of potential obstacles could we face by dealing with this issue, and finding the proposals for solving the given issue?


METHOD USED AND PHASES OF WORKING

INTERIM REPORT

Reflection of current documents and studies at both the European and national level

Desk research of available relevant 103 documents

Selected criteria for the documents assessment (relevance; focus; document type; coverage; document pattern/nature)

Synthetic analysis of case studies dealing with this issue (provided by partners – Norway, Cyprus and Finland + UK)

Synthesis of results and proposed framework solution

two meeting of working group took place in Prague


CRITICAL ISSUES FOR URBAN-RURAL RELATIONS

Difference between old and new EU MS in the context of urban-rural issue and its implementation

Challenge to use best-practices in new EU Member states with regard to specific conditions (confrontation with bad practices as well)

Stimulation of bottom-up approach

Binding force versus ways of implementation

Need to understand the issue as complex topic

wide scope focus based

Lack of data at regional and local level


INTERIM REPORT / current outputsProposed framework of further direction of urban-rural relations

o Result from the Slovenian conclusions of 1.1o Reflect the results from the provided case studies, and answers to strategic questions

o Conceived based on individual levels o European, o national and o regional/local level)


INTERIM REPORT

Proposed framework of further direction of urban-rural relations

European level

More systematic reflection of urban-rural issues in programming documents

Practical application of new concepts

Modification of European policies


INTERIM REPORT – RECOMMENDATIONSThe level of EU Member States

To promote tools for integration of cities and their rural surrounding by means of:

Establishment of transport systems supplying transport services in the city and its surroundings (work and services)

Tourism, recreational and leisure time activities

To strengthen urban-rural partnership

To promote the preparation of key strategic infrastructural, educational and other projects

To promote common exploitation of renewable sources in the territory

To ensure a database for the assessment of urban-rural relations and to promote research of these issues


INTERIM REPORT – RECOMMENDATIONSThe Regional/local level

partnerships, cooperation and complementarity of urban-rural

To use the potential of small and medium/sized towns to the polycentric development

Fostering public services

Utilization of the educational potential

Prevention of risks and coordination of their solution, etc.

to deepen coordination of available instruments focused on territorial development (experience with the operation of financial engineering instruments….)

To improve the functioning of public administration, etc.


GENERAL CONCLUDING REMARKS

Reflection of the urban-rural issue in programming documents

Application of the strategic and complex approach to the territory

coherence and hierarchy implemented policies (principle of subsidiarity) and programmes (EU, national…) and regular evaluation of impacts


FUTURE STEPS AND UPCOMING WORKING PROCESS

To complete the Interim report informing on the fulfillment situation of the action 1.1a of the 1.AP

Respond to commentsThird meeting of WG

To prepare the final report of Action 1.1a (date is not yet scheduled)


URBAN – RURAL LINKAGES

Close co-operation with the European Commission – DG REGIO

(Activities on urban-rural linkages carried-out by the EC)


THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTIONTHANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION..

PAVEL NOVOTNÝ[email protected]

Documents

Ministry for Regional Development of the Czech Republic MEETING OF DIRECTORS GENERAL “Territorial Cohesion” The Implementation of Action 1.1a (Urban –