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Urban networking and urban-rural initiatives Urban networking and urban-rural initiatives in the Baltic Sea regionin the Baltic Sea region

The screening report by Wiktor SzydarowskiThe screening report by Wiktor Szydarowski

VASAB WG1 meeting, Jurmala, 3 September 2008VASAB WG1 meeting, Jurmala, 3 September 2008

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To make a result overview of INTERREG III B projects and strategic efforts of pan-Baltic organisations in the field of urban networking and urban-rural partnership

To show the overall BSR picture

To propose input to WG 1 recommendations

The purposeThe purpose

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Analysis completed in June 2008

Information retrieved from website and final reports

Portfolio of urban networking and urban-rural projects in the IR3B Programme: 10 projects in measure 2.1 + 3 projects in measure 1.1

Reference to a UBC’s integrated urban-rural management project (‘project (‘New BridgesNew Bridges’) submitted to the BSR Programme 2007-’) submitted to the BSR Programme 2007-2013 2013

7 recommendations7 recommendations for the development policies made for the development policies made

The workThe work

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1. Policy-making towards a polycentric development requires a long-term perspective, continuity and a well-governed stakeholder approach (networking between public and private actors facilitates in-situ learning and strategic actions). ).

Successful policy areas for replication elsewhere: accessibility and connectivity between the urban centres, urban image and quality of life, removal of physical and cultural hindrances and provision of facilities for people-to-people contacts and specialised services for local businesses.

The recommendationsThe recommendations

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2.2. Cooperation of metropolitan and larger cities in the BSR Cooperation of metropolitan and larger cities in the BSR tends to focus on: tends to focus on: innovation support systemsinnovation support systems, benchmarking , benchmarking of of innovation management productsinnovation management products, networking of , networking of business business incubatorsincubators or or business clusterbusiness cluster cooperation (especially in the cooperation (especially in the area of area of creative industriescreative industries). ).

The metropolitan areas build The metropolitan areas build growth partnershipsgrowth partnerships to to influence European level policies and strategies, and develop influence European level policies and strategies, and develop strong strong Baltic Sea brandsBaltic Sea brands. .

Such an orientation requires inclusion of business support Such an orientation requires inclusion of business support organisations, investment agencies and marketing entitiesorganisations, investment agencies and marketing entities in in the the stakeholder teamstakeholder team of urban cooperation of urban cooperation

The recommendationsThe recommendations

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3.3. Smaller cities located in the ‘shadow’ or ‘area of influence’ of Smaller cities located in the ‘shadow’ or ‘area of influence’ of the metropolitan centres shall be supported in unlocking the metropolitan centres shall be supported in unlocking their their hidden capacityhidden capacity..

Policies should take into account the socio-economic status Policies should take into account the socio-economic status of the city, but also its development endowment by of the city, but also its development endowment by proximityproximity of a metropolitan centre (e.g. capacity of a of a metropolitan centre (e.g. capacity of a resource for a resource for a commuting labour forcecommuting labour force). ).

In the socio-economic transformation process an attention In the socio-economic transformation process an attention should be given to the potential of the should be given to the potential of the social economysocial economy and and the the macro-level networkingmacro-level networking with the regional and national with the regional and national governance levels. governance levels.

The recommendationsThe recommendations

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4.4. Fine-tuned tools to counteract Fine-tuned tools to counteract depopulation depopulation in the in the countryside is a prerequisite for a more balanced structure in countryside is a prerequisite for a more balanced structure in a rural-urban relation.a rural-urban relation.

NetworkingNetworking between the neighbouring cities is just one of a between the neighbouring cities is just one of a few feasible options in searching for few feasible options in searching for policy-matching partnerspolicy-matching partners during an economic transformation process in the during an economic transformation process in the hinterlands. Others may include hinterlands. Others may include stimulation of rural stimulation of rural entrepreneurshipentrepreneurship, or , or creative solutionscreative solutions in municipal service in municipal service facilities and infrastructure.facilities and infrastructure.

For making such solutions successful, For making such solutions successful, local engagement in local engagement in spatial planningspatial planning is necessary. is necessary.

The recommendationsThe recommendations

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5.5. Urban-rural partnership schemes usually manifest themselves Urban-rural partnership schemes usually manifest themselves in a in a coordinated planningcoordinated planning of labour market, transport of labour market, transport infrastructure or service facilities that are in use by both the infrastructure or service facilities that are in use by both the city and its direct hinterland. city and its direct hinterland.

Such Such planning routinesplanning routines should apply innovative tools based on should apply innovative tools based on collaboration and engagement of local communities. In effect, collaboration and engagement of local communities. In effect, the planning routines may even develop local capacities for the planning routines may even develop local capacities for managing the demographic or economic changemanaging the demographic or economic change. .

In the process, a In the process, a competence of universitiescompetence of universities is noteworthy, is noteworthy, although case-specific knowledge transfers models between although case-specific knowledge transfers models between the universities and the community need to be developed. the universities and the community need to be developed.

The recommendationsThe recommendations

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6.6. Successful urban-rural partnerships require an Successful urban-rural partnerships require an institutional institutional supportsupport to help integrate the cooperation strategy into plans to help integrate the cooperation strategy into plans and programmes of various public institutions and to provide and programmes of various public institutions and to provide reliable supervision and communication systems supporting reliable supervision and communication systems supporting implementation process. implementation process.

7.7. The The awareness raising actionsawareness raising actions on shrinking hinterlands ought on shrinking hinterlands ought to be adequately addressed in urban-rural development to be adequately addressed in urban-rural development policies at all levels. National support programmes and policies at all levels. National support programmes and legislation should also have room for legislation should also have room for multidimensional local multidimensional local sustainable development initiativessustainable development initiatives..

The recommendationsThe recommendations

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Thank you for being attentive Thank you for being attentive and – perhaps – inspired...and – perhaps – inspired...

wiktor@szydarowski.comwiktor@szydarowski.com