FUTURE OF CITIES LJUBLJANA FORUM 2011

1. FUTURE OF CITIES LJUBLJANA FORUM 2011 City Developers Foresight Conference: European Metropolitan Growth Area 2027 Janez Podobnik ECPD International Institute for Sustainable Development, Urban Planning and Environmental Studies, Ljubljana, Slovenia Director 13-14 October 20011 Ljubljana, Slovenija

2. Recreational and Long Distance (RELOD)Tourist Bicycle Lanes along Sava River, Connecting Capital Cities Ljubljana, Zagreb and Belgrade – Contribution of the Cities to the Water path =SLOVENIA cross border CROATIA cross borderSERBIA= =Ljubljanalocal communitiesZagreblocal communitiesBelgrade=

3. Located in Ljubljana, Slovenia – an EU and NATO and OECD member state Established in 2009 Part of the European Centre for Peace and Development (ECPD) which is a part of the United Nations University for Peaceand SBRA Slovenian Business and Research Association, Brussels ECPD has headquarters in Belgrade and an academic council in Paris A word about the Institute

4. To continue policy promoted by the ECPD and focus it on sustainable development Following the ECPD doctrine that has interdisciplinary connected areas of economic, technological(biotechnology, food safety) and social development Focusing on management of natural resources pursued by technological and environmental programs, which embrace the principles of sustainable development Vision of the Institute

5. RELODCycle Project partners City of Ljubljana – established a project team group, led by vice-mayor of Ljubljana ICPE – International Center for Promotion of Enterprises, Ljubljana Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia(mag. Igor Cotič) ECPD International Institute for Sustainable Development, Urban Planning and Environmental Studies, Ljubljana City of Zagreb, Croatia City of Belgrade, Serbia And others (Chambers of commerce, tourist organizations, local municipalities, etc.)

6. Basic information • Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia – the project is open for all countries with regards to the Danube Basin • 3 years; • 2.500.000 EUR: SWOT analysis, Feasibility study, pilot projects, Draft plan with guidelines for implementation of RELODCycle, dissemination • concrete construction of the bicycle lanes: bankable project: est. 25 million EUR – start of investment is dependent on resources • Participant • Countries: • Project duration: • Estimate cost for basic project: • Follow up projects:

7. Promoting bicycling as an element of sustainable transport and recreation (case:BicikeLJ) Ljubljana has a good practice of sustainable settling of Ljubljanica bank – expanding this approach by Sava River to other capital towns and other cities in Sava River basin Project connects the aspects of metropolitan development, regional-transborder Sava River basin development as well as the European approach (seen in the new, already adopted EU Strategy for Danube region) What does Ljubljana as a capital city gain with RELODCycle

8. Open public spaces and metropolitan areas • Open public spaces in the City of Ljubljana represent the skeleton of the city (OPS as a principle in urban planning theory: http://www.pps.org/about/approach/ • In the last years a series of street redesigns were implemented with appropriate urban and traffic program • Redesigns were done mostly in the old city centre and with renovation projects upgraded the urban program • However, there is still a lack of green open public space along the Sava River (water fronts) for recreation • Open public spaces could play a vital role in rising of sustainable • culture (information, awareness, dialogue, • co-operation, participation, and lifestyle) • Green open public spaces especially water fronts along the rivers • represent a good opportunity for the sustainable development

9. The Sava River and its tributaries, i.e. Ljubljanica, in its way through the municipality of the capital city forms a large potential for recreational and tourist purposes • Well designed and managed green open public spaces especially water fronts along the rivers could represent the value added for the sustainable development • Sustainable approach could influence positively on transnational • cooperation in the region

10. Purpose of the project • Improving cooperation between the capitals Ljubljana, Zagreb and Belgrade and other local communities on this path • Contribution to future development of the broader region, sustainable development promotion, mutual understanding and enlargement processes in the EU • contribution to the implementation of the EU Strategy for theDanube Region (Sava River) • fostering the integrated management of the Sava river front focused on sustainable tourism and transport as well as overall quality of life • Upgrading the project “Fostering contribution of the SME sector to sustainable development of the Sava River basin”

11. Expected results • Economic • aspect: • Social aspect: • Environmental • aspect: • introduction of regional tourist destination • improvements of tourist and recreationalinfrastructure of partner cities and local communities • cross border cooperation between EU member state and future member states • promotion of sustainable principles and integrated approach in spatial planning • draft plan of recreational and Long Distance Tourist Bicycle Lanes along Sava River

12. Creating transnational tourist packages (e.g. Combined rail-cycle-boat trips along the Danube (Sava) Improving sustainable mobility through traffic and interconnectivity of trains, busses, and shipping in the Danube countries To improve planning and infrastructure for sustainable tourism To support ways and cycle tourism: examples of good practices – Prague-Vienna Greenway, Amber trail from Budapies through Slovakia to Poland, subnational routes, such as Austrian Weinviertel Focal points between EU SDR and RELODCycle project

13. Presentation of the project at different International workshops (first launch of the project: 11.11. 2010, ICAM Conference, Ljubljana); Support by ISRBC – International Sava River Basin Commission, Zagreb, Croatia Meeting with Austrian representatives of SIEMENS, 11. 7. 2011, Ljubljana (SIEMENS supports the project, but is ready to invest only after its construction is done); Presentation of the project at The 11th meeting of the partnership for improvement of Danube infrastructure and navigation – (PIDIN): 11th October, Vienna; Latest activities regarding the financing of the RELODCycle project

14. Key opportunity is tourism, such as: -Accommodation -Hospitality facilities (refreshment centres, info-spots, bike repair shops, etc.) -Renting bicycles and rollerblades -creating transnational tourist packages -promotion of cultural heritage Weakness: business sector can be involved only after the construction of the bicycle lanes is finished, therefore the first part of the project must be supported by EU IFI’s, national budget and local municipality budget How business community/private sector can be better involved in the RELODCycle project

15. Structural (ERDF) and IPA funds WBIF – Western Balkan Investment Framework, priority given to: Regional Impact; Sectoral strategies – EU Danube Strategy Financial mechanisms to support the EU Danube strategy: EIB, EBRD and other IFI’s – possible cooperation for construction of bicycle lanes (bankable projects) National budgets, local municipality budgets Possible financial resources for financing the project

16. Project is realistic with technical and financial feasibility Supported by ISRBC (International Sava River Basin Commission, Zagreb) Win-win solution: concept of sustainable transport, tourism as well as coastal zone management Bottom-up approach for cooperation between the metropolitan cities of Ljubljana, Zagreb, Belgrade Project can be built in phases, in terms of building – connecting with flood protection and buoyancy of Sava River To summarize

17. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! Janez Podobnik, Director info@ecpd.si 2012.. First cycling tour from LJ.... Call for Danube-Sava River Projects in favor of .... Meeting of Mayors of Ljubljana, Zagreb, Belgrade