The Reference Framework

for European Sustainable Cities (RFSC)

A first assessment by the German-Austrian URBAN-Network

Barbara Bühler

Network Coordinator, German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development

The German-Austrian URBAN-Network

� Based on the Community Initiative URBAN in the past funding periods

� Supports German and Austrian cities in implementing integrated urban

development measures which are financed by EU Structural Funds

� The regular network conferences provide a platform for intense exchange

of experiences, knowledge transfer and political awareness

� Direct dialogue between 4 levels: European, federal, regional and municipal� Direct dialogue between 4 levels: European, federal, regional and municipal

� 14 member cities from Germany (Berlin, Bremen, Meißen, Leipzig,

Saarbrücken, Ludwigshafen, Mannheim, Pforzheim, Regensburg,

Dortmund, Duisburg, Fürstenwalde) and Austria (Wien, Graz)

The network visiting an ERDF-funded project in Meißen (Germany) in October 2012 (Photographs: Claudia Hübschmann)

A first assessment of the RFSCBased on a training session with 7 network cities in Dortmund (Germany) on 27th September 2013

POSITIVE ASPECTS:� Very flexible tool that can be used at any time during the project cycle

� Individual use: Suitable for a variety of different stakeholders

� Well-structured, appealing user-interface

� Complex but not too complicated

� Good tool to evaluate and compare projects

� Self-evaluation instead of external evaluation of projects� Self-evaluation instead of external evaluation of projects

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT:� Some technical issues still need to be solved

� Copying of projects would be very useful

� Translation of indicators into national languages

� ‚Bundling of projects‘: Evaluation of an integrated urban development strategy which

comprises a range of different measures

Thank you for your attention.

CONTACT:

Barbara Bühler | Coordinator of the German-Austrian URBAN-Network

Deutscher Verband für Wohnungswesen, Städtebau und Raumordnung e.V.

(German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development)

Phone: +32 2 550 1613 | E-Mail: b.buehler@deutscher-verband.org