Regional Integration and Metropolitan Development of SE Europe

1. INTERREG III B CADSES Regional Integration and Metropolitan Development of SE Europe RIMED 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania November 21, 2004

2. INTERREG III B CADSES RIMED January 2003 – June 2005 SEED, Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Greece

3. INTERREG III B CADSES Goal of the Project • Propose an action plan for the metropolitan centers of SEE • Identify a strategy of sustainable urban growth based on trans-national networks of cooperation • Maximize spread effects to national hinderlands and • Promote polycentric development and regional integration in SEE SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED* 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania

4. INTERREG III B CADSES Strategy Focus • Sofia • Tirana • Skopje • Thessaloniki SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED* 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania

5. INTERREG III B CADSES Project Partners • University of Thessaly (LEAD PARTNER) • Democritus University of Thrace • Organization of Thessaloniki for Master Plan and Environmental Protection of Thessaloniki • University ‘St. Cyril and Methodius,’ Faculty of Economics, Skopje, FYROM • University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Sofia, Bulgaria • City of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria • Institute of Economics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria • City of Skopje, Skopje, FYROM • Institute of Economics, Skopje, FYROM • University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania • Prefecture of Tirana, Tirana, Albania • Institute of Labor, Tirana, Albania SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED* 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania

6. INTERREG III B CADSES Activities that Promote the Goals • A study analyzing the forces of spatial change in SE Europe • A study analyzing complementarity and conflict in the goals of A) Regional integration and B) polycentric metropolitan development in SE Europe • A comparative SWOT analysis of the metropolitan regions of Sofia, Skopje, Tirana and Thessaloniki analyzing forces of change and forces of interaction • Workshops in Sofia, Tirana, and Skopje • A Synergic Action Plan for Polycentric Development in SE Europe, setting forward a new strategy of regional integration SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED* 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania

7. INTERREG III B CADSES Activities that Promote the Goals(Cont’d) • International Conference and Annual Forum of SEE Cities in Thessaloniki • Establishment of a coordination unit and a Web site service • Pilot Action for the measurement of the spread effects of action plan to smaller cities: the case of Blagoevgrad • Pre-feasibility study for key investments required in each city in order to facilitate its new role • Staff exchange and a joint training seminar to city officials with special emphasis to synergic approaches network and cooperation in planning and development SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED* 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania

8. INTERREG III B CADSES Work Packages of the Project • WP1. The forces of spatial change in S.E. Europe • WP2. Regional Integration and Polycentric Metropolitan Development in SE Europe: From Conflicting to complementary goals • WP3. Comparative SWOT analysis of the metropolitan regions of Sofia, Skopje, Tirana and Thessaloniki: forces of change and forces of interaction • WP4. A Synergic Action Plan for Polycentric Development in SE Europe: Towards a new strategy of regional integration • WP5. Pilot action: measure spread effects of action plan to smaller cities – Case study: Blagoevgrad • WP6. Pre-feasibility study for key investment required in each city in order to facilitate its new role. SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED* 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania

9. INTERREG III B CADSES WP1. The forces of spatial change in S.E. Europe • Analyze types of spatial adjustment to the forces of transition, integration, technological and structural change in the 1990s: Trends of convergence or divergence in SEE • Identify barriers to regional integration and trans-national cooperation: multiple types of fragmentation and isolation in SEE • Evaluate spatial aspects of EU and International Policies in SE Europe: their impact on regional integration • Analyze the national urban systems in SEE: Polarized or truncated hierarchies with deficiencies in medium sized cities SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED* 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania

10. INTERREG III B CADSES WP2. Regional Integration and Polycentric Metropolitan Development in SE Europe • Analyze the place of the four urban regions in the European / Southeast European system of urban places • Identify and evaluate the driving forces of urban development in each case: Link with the international experience • Identify national urban hierarchies and the relations of the four metropolitan regions with their hinterlands • Analyze existing conditions of small cities in the region • Evaluate alternative strategies • Specify methods and policies that maximize the spread effects of the four growth poles • Demonstrate the advantages of a network – based poly-centric versus a mono-centric development strategy in terms of growth, integration and spread effects SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED* 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania

11. INTERREG III B CADSES WP3. Comparative SWOT analysis • Analyze economic structure and change • Examine social characteristics and social dynamics • Study institutional arrangements related to urban management and growth • Evaluate urban social, technical and economic infrastructure • Evaluate land use policies and land use change • Identify strengths, specializations and comparative advantages • Identify weaknesses and disadvantages • Analyze opportunities and threads • Evaluate economic potential in the region of SE Europe • Evaluate economic potential at the European level SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED* 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania

12. INTERREG III B CADSES WP3. Comparative SWOT analysis (Cont’d). • Identify forces and constraints of Interaction among the four Metropolitan regions • Analyze economic, administrative and institutional relations among Sofia, Skopje, Tirana and Thessaloniki • Examine the capacity and quality of transportation, energy, and telecommunication networks • Evaluate the importance of scientific networks • Analyze tourism and population movements • Evaluate the role of ethnic groups of residents as agents of cooperation • SWOT analysis of the specializations and the type of relations best fitting the profile of each city • Evaluate the potential of improving contacts and relations • Evaluate the potential of a synergic approach to regional development in SEE. SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED* 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania

13. INTERREG III B CADSES WP4. A Synergic Plan for Polycentric Development in SEE: A new strategy of regional integration • Define the conceptual framework and the goals • Define the conditions, the requirements and the actors • Identify synergies among cities, actors and policies • Identify lines of action in key fields of intervention • Identify a synergic action plan in key aspects of urban planning methods and practices, urban management, land use policies, place marketing, inter-national entrepreneurial networks of co-operation, tourism and cultural activities, scientific cooperation, investment and infrastructure development • Identify policies actions and methods securing that urban development will be characterized by strong spread effects to hinterland • Evaluate urban development and regional integration effects of action plan. • Secure follow up and long term impact of project activities SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED* 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania

14. INTERREG III B CADSES RIMEDRegional Integration and Metropolitan Development in SE Europe Final Findings of the Based on the Questionnaire Survey in the Four Metropolitan Areas WORK PACKAGE 2-4. November 21, 2004 Tirana, Albania