Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 1 The German-Austrian URBAN-Network Dr. Lothar Blatt, Christian Huttenloher URBAN-Network Coordinator 47-51, rue du Luxembourg B-1050 Brussels Tel.: +32 (0) Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 2 History of the German-Austrian URBAN-Network Already for URBAN I the Commission wanted to initiate the exchange of experience between URBAN cities In 1996 the URBAN-Network Germany was set up by a common initiative of DV e.V. and the Federal Ministry of Economics. In 2001 change from URBAN I to URBAN II cities and extension to Austrian URBAN cities First transnational URBAN-Network. Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 3 Network Structure URBAN-Network is project of DV e.V. without own legal form Members are the 15 German and Austrian URBAN cities: Germany: Berlin, Bremerhaven, Dessau, Dortmund, Gera, Kassel, Kiel, Leipzig, Luckenwalde, Ludwigshafen, Mannheim, Neubrandenburg, Saarbrcken Austria: Graz and Vienna URBAN-Network is also open to other cities and institutions Federal and Lnder ministries involved in network activities Financing ( Euro per year): Membership fee of URBAN cities (6.300 Euro) and financial donation by the German Savings Banks and Giro Association Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 4 General Objectives of the URBAN-Network German-Austrian URBAN Network - technical assistance- Initiate and utilize research and studies To assist and advise the cities in their URBAN programmes To organise a targeted exchange of experience and know-how To participate in national/transnational exchange of experience To inform about and promote URBAN and the networks activities To inform about other activities/initiatives on European/national level Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 5 Activities of the URBAN-Network The four levels of activities: 1st Level: Network Conferences 2nd Level: Study Groups 3rd Level: PR and Promotion 4th Level: Advice and Information Themes regarding the whole URBAN-Network Themes regarding single cities Information on URBAN and its implementation, Lobbying for the URBAN-approach Assistance in implementing the URBAN-programmes, Information about other initiatives and funding Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 6 are a platform for the exchange of experience concerning the daily work, problems and solutions within the URBAN-programmes; include a presentation of the URBAN-programme of the host city with an excursion into the URBAN-areas and visits of URBAN-projects; concentrate on one thematic topic: SME-assistance/promotion New technologies/information society Labour market and employment Social inclusion/education Brownfield development Culture and media Public Participation/Local partnerships have been organised 30 times so far. Network Conferences Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 7 Network Study Groups are established on the initiative of some cities, if there is a specific need and interest for deepening certain issues; offer the opportunity to learn more about and discuss specific topics, to develop optimised methods and to solve common problems. have been installed so far for: SME-funding schemes Indicators and Evaluation Local economy Local employment promotion Community centres Project management Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 8 Network brochure Synopsis of URBAN-programmes Database of URBAN-projects Information about URBAN and network via print media and press releases Roaming exhibition on URBAN I Participation in national / international events Reply to specific requests Compilation of research documents Targeted information and promotion on political and scientific level Public Relation and Promotion Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 9 Advice and Information Assistance and Advice of URBAN cities in preparing, applying and implementing the URBAN-programmes Facilitating direct links between URBAN cities with same problems or similar project activities Establishing contact to EU-institutions and other organisations for solving existing problems Regular information on latest developments and activities/initiatives concerning urban development and renewal on EU and national level (e.g. via regularnewsletter) Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 10 Participation in International Activities Contacts to institutions from other countries dealing with URBAN (ministries, cities, networks) Co-operation with URBAN-Network France and Dutch network for URBAN and objective 2 cities Intensive participation in the URBACT-programme Advise for preparation and implementation on programme level Information and motivation of URBAN cities Assistance in setting up thematic networks of German lead partners (Leipzig and Kassel) Involvement and information of German and Austrian URBAN cities in ECO-FIN-NET (DV e.V. is acting as coordinating partner) Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 11 URBACT-network ECO-FIN-NET Fostering local economy in disadvantaged neighbourhoods based on innovative financing techniques Special emphasis is given to assistance to small and medium sized enterprises (SME) Lead Partner: City of Leipzig Thematic Project Co-ordinator: German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development Project Partners: Birmingham, Gdansk, Evosmos, Gera, Gijon, Grenoble, Leipzig, Marseille, Rotterdam, Venice, Vienna, Vilnius, West Athens Project duration: 01/04 06/06 Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 12 Three thematic issues 1.Financial support facilities for SME by credits, loans and venture capital 2.Public SME Support by special funding schemes 3.Maintenance and assistance of SME-networks Three project phases 1.Identification of already existing innovative financial instruments and strategies 2.Development of new instruments for fostering local economy; Transfer and development of best practice examples 3.Development of political recommendations Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 13 Integrated urban regeneration actions should be also in the future an integral part of Community Support Frameworks Preservation of the Acquis URBAN: (1) Integrated area-based approach (2) Citizen participation (3) Responsibility of the municipalities (4) Innovative measures (5) Transnational exchange of experience Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 14 (1)Integrated area-based approach Integration and combination of measures from different sectors (e.g. economy, employment, social issues, culture, security, physical planning, environment protection, traffic) Including access to jobs and training opportunities for areas of concentrated exclusion Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 15 (2)Citizen participation Strong partnership with economic and social partners, NGOs and residents groupings Local Partnership should define challenges, strategy, priorities, resource allocation and implement, monitor and evaluate the strategy Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 16 (3)Responsibility of the municipalities Responsibility for programme development, implementation and management should be carried forward to local / city level Programme management at local level leads to advantages concerning efficiency and capacity building in the city administration Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 17 (4)Innovative measures Implementation of innovative pilot and demonstration projects as an experiment are essential in order to advance urban development Cities need opportunity to try out new ideas and innovative strategies Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 18 (5)Transnational exchange of experience Active transnational exchange of experience focused on urban development issues between and beyond URBAN cities should be fostered Dissemination of know-how in order to instil in municipal authorities the philosophy of the integrated approach For instance, the conditions and procedures of integrating the URBAN approach into the regional mainstream programmes should be presented and discussed with the participating actors. Agentur MAKZ German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development OPEN DAYS September 2004 Brussels Folie 19 The German-Austrian URBAN-Network Contact German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development Dr. Lothar Blatt, Christian Huttenloher URBAN-Network Coordinator 47-51, rue du Luxembourg B-1050 Brussels Tel.: +32 (0)