Role of Major Cities

in EU Regional Programmes

Kevin Richardson

Newcastle City Council

Question?

• Tested against the principles of

Concentration, Programming and

Partnership, to what extent does the

Third Cohesion Report recognise new

thinking about the role of major cities in

helping to drive growth in regions?

UK Core Cities• Birmingham• Bristol• Leeds• Liverpool• Manchester• Newcastle• Nottingham• Sheffield

• Cities matter to national performance

• Larger cities often most successful

• Lisbon Agenda

• Balancing growth and social inclusion

• More rapid progress than many regions

• Cities matter to regional performance

Why Major Cities?

• “the most competitive regions

also had the most competitive

cities….we found no examples of

successful regions which had

unsuccessful cities at their core”

• a population and business base of such a relative size which means that regional success is unachievable unless that city also succeeds

• relationships with neighbours and regional bodies which identify the interdependence of the success of both city and region

• a university committed to regional development• a concentration of ‘knowledge’ businesses • local governance with capacity and leadership• an international airport

Major Cities: A Definition?

Opportunities of 3CR• Thematic approach indirectly favours

cities e.g. R&D • National Framework Documents• Urban dimension to regional programmes• Urban +• Financial responsibility• New ‘cross border’ instrument

Problems with 3CR• Role in negotiation of National Framework Documents?

• Cities remain only one partner amongst many ‘equal’ partners

• Use of NUTS to define ‘regions’

• Use of GDP - ignores statistical effects of commuting

• Proportion of urban emphasis within regional programmes?

• Why is ERDF regional and ESF national?

• Impact of changes to Regional Aid on non priority regions

• No distinction between urban areas of whatever size

• Need or Opportunity? Special treatment for Guadeloupe!

What Can Major Cities Do?• Politicians and senior executives need to play leading role

in shaping regional policy• Collate meaningful data which shows both need and

opportunity• Build understanding with neighbours of complementary

and competing roles• Develop a ‘whole city’ approach within regional

partnerships• Influence national framework documents • Build networks with other cities• Develop ‘tri-partite’ relationships with Brussels and Capital• Prepare financial systems and ‘cross border’ bodies

Conclusion• ….. the proposals ..…are simply

improvements on a model of regional development that a growing number of policy makers, (including a number of national governments), now increasingly question as unsustainable. Cohesion Policy faces its toughest ever examination; and it is doubtful whether the new proposals – as they stand - are sufficient to counter these criticisms.

Contact Details

Kevin Richardson

Manager, International Team

Newcastle City Council

kevin.richardson@newcastle.gov.uk

www.newcastle.gov.uk/international