Transcript RG12 Richardson

Role of
Major Cities
in
EU Regional Programmes
Kevin Richardson
Newcastle City Council
Question?
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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
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Birmingham
Bristol
Leeds
Liverpool
Manchester
Newcastle
Nottingham
Sheffield
Why Major Cities?
• 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
• “the most competitive regions
also had the most competitive
cities….we found no examples of
successful regions which had
unsuccessful cities at their core”
Major Cities: A Definition?
• 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
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
[email protected]
www.newcastle.gov.uk/international