TERCO - European Territorial Cooperation as a Factor of Growth, Jobs and Quality of Life

1. TERCO - European Territorial Cooperation as a Factor of Growth, Jobs and Quality of Life Workshop Session1: Progress on New Territorial Evidence 30th November 2011, Kraków Department of Planning and Regional DevelopementUniversity of Thessaly, School of Engineering

2. TERCO hypothesis and objectives TA2020: “Co-operation is key to fostering smart, inclusive and sustainable growth and territorial cohesion in the EU” TERCOmainhypothesis: territorialcooperation (TC)is one of the factors underpinning the socio-economic development of territorial units. TERCO main objectiveis to assess the relationship between territorial cooperation (TC) and the socio-economic development of EU and neighbouring regions • Subordinated objectives:

3. Keypolicyquestions and types of TC

4. Howdifferentterritoriescooperate? TA2020: “Territories with common potentials orchallenges can collaborate in finding common solutions and utilise their territorial potential by sharing experience. Territories with complementary potentials, often neighbouring, can join forces and explore their comparative advantages together creating additional development potential” TERCO Case Studies evidence: • Regions with common potentials (PL and Cz): Tourists potential of Sudety mountains • Exchanging experience (#1) and jointly implementing common actions (#4) • Joint promotion of Sudety as a tourist product Regions with common challenges (PL and DE): Oder river challenge • Sharing tools to tackle a common problem(#3) • Sharing equipment and know-how to deal with flood prevention, • Regions with complementary potentials (GR and BL): health and social protection services • - Solving jointly cross-border problems (#6) • - Infrastructure, volunteer and national rescue teams, insurance vouchers

5. Co-operation of cities Aver. Nuberof TwinCitiesagreementsper commune TA2020: “The cooperation and networking of cities could contribute to smart develop-mentof city regions at varying scales in the long run” • Database of TwinningCitieswhichhave not existedbefore • Typology of co-operatingcitiesisbuilt • Quantitative data complemented by qualitative

6. How adequate are domains/themes of TC? Domains of TC most developednow vs. Domains of TC most desirable in the future

7. Governance models

8. Should TC include infrastructure investment? Whattype of infrastructureshould be supported via TC? New EU MemberStates Infrastructure Old EU MemberStates Which type of TC shouldsupportinfrastructure? nonEUMemberStates

9. The best TC projects seem to be those whichfocuson solving a specific problemtogether and time of simple projects is coming to an end.Introduction ofmore functional approach to territory seems to be important for future TC. In case of TC across external borders cultural cooperation andeducation are perceived by actors from all sectors as the most important domains. TC programmes should neither be designed nor analysed in isolation from other strategies/programmes at a given (sub)region. External policies do matter. Co-ordination matters if we think seriously about synergies. Governance models: a) depend on the specific situation, b) top-down approaches are unlikely to work when partners contribute large financial shares to the project. Good practices: a) their number increases with the growing complexity of projects, (e.g. common database with compitibile procedures, regular stakeholder forums, common involvement in certification for quality labels, etc.) Infrastructural investments: a) YES if have EU dimension, (e.g. missing link in transport network), b)New MS - physical infrastr; Old MS social infrastr, c) inshort run small infrastructural project - long run importance of soft measures. Experience of the TERCO

10. Thank you for your attention ! http://esponterco.wordpress.com/