GRISI PLUS Final Conference: USING GEOMATICS FOR A MORE ATTRACTIVE COUNTRYSIDE 9th October 2014 Moravske Toplice, Slovenia GRISI PLUS project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and made possible by te INTERREG IVC programme.
PhiloxeniaPlus Project facts MED territorial programme - capitalization call ERDF 831k, 18 months, 7 partners: Local Employability (LOC.EM.), E-zavod, ANETEL (CY), EUROKOM (IT), Province Teruel (SPA), Collectif Ville Campagne (FR), CCI Gers (FR) To capitalize on the experiences of PhiloxeniaPlus partners for a better methods and best practices transfer: Allowing enrichment and methodological support to the further professionalization of local stakeholders and the efficiency of territorial strategies; Facilitating and encouraging the emergence of new economic activities, innovation and performance in terms of tools and approaches for the welcoming of new active people and new populations and the promotion of local products in order to ensure sustainable development. GRISI PLUS project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and made possible by te INTERREG IVC programme. 2
PhiloxeniaPlus background Rural areas are weakened by demographic decline Concentration of population in cities brings negative impacts also in urban areas environment, traffic, health. Against concept of sustainable dev. Cohesion policy should prevent differences in development among regions Countryside can be attractive place for living There exist best practices for welcoming policies: PHILOXENIA, SOHO-SOLO, OVOP, RURAL ENTERPRENEURSHIP (CYPRUS), COLLECTIF VILLE CAMPAGNE, INFLOWENCE INTEGRATED PLAN LOCRIDE (ITALY), MEDSTRATEGY, INO2020. GRISI PLUS project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and made possible by te INTERREG IVC programme. 3
Population loss Issues (demographic, economic, environmental, social, governance) Ageing, mobility, birth rate, absence of welcoming new population Number & quality of jobs, business opportunities, connectivity Preservation of land & environment, landscape, biodiversity, urbanisation Social links between existing and new inhabitants, hosuing (pricing, quality and availability), access to education, training and information Participation in decision making, cooperation between local communities GRISI PLUS project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and made possible by te INTERREG IVC programme. 4
Project activities Ex post assessment of PHILOXENIA project results Elaboration of recommendations for 2014-2020 period Creation of policy recommendations for welcoming policies Methodological guidelines for implementing welcoming policy National seminars International final seminar 12.11.2014 venue Committee of the Regions in Brussels (WELCOME) Dissemination and communication actions GRISI PLUS project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and made possible by te INTERREG IVC programme. 5
Ex Post assessment of PHILOXENIA project results in lower Podravje 18 supported SMEs (2010-2012) -> 10 survived Financial projection 2010-2018 (4 scenarios) EC contribution for implementation of PHILOXENIA project Slovenia only: 263.916,27 Duration = 3 years Average yearly EC contribution = 87.972,09 SMEs generation of public revenues (paid through taxes) in 7 years = 475.180,00 Average yearly contribution of SMEs to state budget = 67.882,85 ROI = 3,88 6
Questions for decision makers? Should the priority be welcoming or maintaining? Should we try to stop people from leaving? Can we? How to make settle down and mobility easier? How to support entrepreneurship and job creation? Business zones? Do we keep environmental balance does protected areas support or limits quality of life? Should we urbanize farm lands? Should we avoid forestation of landscape? Do we need to support new housing? Should we build social housing? How to establish open public participation in decision making? Use of social media? How to cooperate between local communities and between countryside and cities? GRISI PLUS project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and made possible by te INTERREG IVC programme. 7
Search for existing good practices Policy recomendations Never stay alone while preparing welcoming policies Design good initial idea Establish common diagnostics involve second opinion Produce action plan for welcoming policy (business, housing, culture, connectivity, environment, trainings, recreation, transport ) Establish institutional contacts Communicate widely, get many local communities aboard Convince regional and national authorities on importance of welcoming policies Search for appropriate funds Start activities (BUSINESS, RECEPTIVITY, AMENITIES) Promote and accompany Balanced local development 8
Welcoming policy cycle 9
PHILOXENIA PLUS RESULTS Providing assistance to elected officials on welcoming and attractiveness policies Provide assistance to agents implementing welcoming and attractiveness policies Provide assistance to migrants setting up and carrying their countryside projects Providing assistance to decision-makers in regional, national and EU levels with accompanying and supporting implementation of welcoming and attractiveness policy on the local level http://www.philoxeniaplus.eu/ 10