3CE335P4 – EURUFU - central2013.eu · EURUFU 3CE335P4 O 3.3.5 Joint strategy (vision) 27 August...

3CE335P4

EURUFU O 3.3.5 Joint strategy (vision) 27 August 2013

This project is implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF

3CE335P4 – EURUFU

O 3.3.5 Joint Strategies (vision)

Work package 3 – Identifying Rural Potentials

Action 3.3 – Definition of relevant criteria / indicators / strategy.

Author

External expert: West Pannon Regional and Economic Development Public Non‐profit Ltd.

Contracted by: PP12 – Office for National Economic Planning (ONEP)

Version 27 August 2013

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Index

I INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 3

II DEFINITION OF THE JOINT STRATEGY ........................................................... 5

III STRATEGIES FOR THE EURUFU PILOT REGIONS .......................................... 7

III.1 Ethnic minorities ....................................................................................................................... 7

III.2 Poor Polish youth ...................................................................................................................... 8

III.3 Ageing small villages ................................................................................................................. 9

III.4 Poor farmers ............................................................................................................................. 10

III.5 Population attracting regions ................................................................................................. 11

III.6 Wealthy elderly green Alpine ................................................................................................. 11

III.7 Unattractive serious ageing .................................................................................................... 12

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I INTRODUCTION

Starting point: The pilot regions participating in the realisation of the EURUFU project, as well as the area

categories defined in WP3 during the project possess heterogeneous characteristic features in several as-

pects. Thus the strategy has to be defined considering this fact.

Structure: The strategy has been defined on two levels. The first one is an overall, common „core-

strategy”, which is formulated based on the common features of all areas, at the same time, as a second

level, there is the necessity of setting up „micro-strategies” that reflect the unique features of the pilot

regions differentiated in WP 3. These two aspects form the main structural elements of the strategy, which

are supplemented by a chart giving general overview regarding the core-strategy.

Applied methods: Methodologically we have relied on the outputs of the present expert studies as well as

on previous results of the EURUFU project. Thus main findings of the benchmarking, the demographic

and economic forecast, as well as related feedbacks obtained from project partners regarding the strategy

have been used.

Regarding „micro-strategies”, a several area categories have been assessed together – in those cases where

some initial framework conditions were highly similar, and it had an added value regarding the formula-

tion of the strategy. The strategies will be discussed as follows:

EURUFU typology of rural regions Typology applied in the strategy

Deprived Roma villagesy

1. Ethnic minorities Deprived Roma children

Crisis regions

Poor polish youth 2. Poor polish youth

Ageing small villages 3. Ageing small villages

Poor farmers 4. Poor farmers

Migration magnet 5. Population attracting areas

Wealthy suburban

Wealthy elderly green Alpine 6. Wealthy elderly green Alpine

Unattractive serious ageing 7. Unattractive serious ageing

The following map shows the classification of EURUFU regions (1-7) applied in this strategy.

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II DEFINITION OF THE JOINT STRATEGY

During the definition of the common strategy common thematic fields have been identified that have

relevance in connection with the CEU area (containing the pilot regions), and that represent the main

challenges regarding the area as a whole:

- In the social sphere: o Training and Education o Medical and social services

- In the economic sphere: o Mobility o Available labour opportunities, local economy

The specific sub-fields mentioned above form a complex unity, and deliver their joint effects in a highly

interlinked manner in a given geographical area.

The current strategy treats the above mentioned problem areas as focus points for intervention, since

these are the thematic fields in which it is the most necessary (and possible) to define interventions. This is

in conformity with the methodology used in the Benchmarking study, where several specific best practices

have been assessed, following also the sequencing described above.

Interventions described in the strategy compose the central element of the following matrix, and they can

be realised on 2+1 levels:

- Local level

- National level

+ EU level

Again, separation of level categories is only possible with transitions, moreover it can be stated that the

possible impact of project partners decreases concerning the concrete actions approaching the EU level.

As means of the common strategy the following tools have been identified: usage of local strategy (1);

inclusion of the business sector (2); regulation and coordination (3); lobbying (4). The inclusion of two

aspects is considered especially important into the common strategy:

- Addressing the business sector. Considering the wide-spread effects that can be gained this way, and

several connections can be found to innovation (3S) and to future industries, this tools can be

important in several regions (e.g. Westliche Obersteiermark, Microregion Mór), and can be nowhere ne-

glected. By the inclusion of the business sector, traditional branches (and crafts) can be trans-

formed into 21st century industries, in a way taking into account also problems of rural CEU are-

as.

- Regulation, coordination: It is in several aspects an underrated and underemphasized area, although it

can have a significant impact when used in an appropriate way. Coming from the nature of this

tool, it can be applied mainly on national / EU levels. Although by its application, more signifi-

cant impacts can be gained than via financial interventions (subsidies), the tool is not applied

widely enough currently.

The next chart contains and summarizes the main elements of the joint strategy based on the above de-

scribed aspects:

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Tools Handling social challenges Handling economic challenges

Intervention level for

problem handling Tool

Training and Education Medical and social services Mobility Available labour opportunities, local

economy

The focus points for intervention

Loc

al le

vel

Application of local strat-

egy – with interventions

on local level (EU financ-

ing)

„Coming Home” – local programmes focused on the young generations

The development of the institutional system of the health and welfare of the ageing pop-ulation

Developments of the public transport – in favour of the commuting to work. Innovative solutions in the area of mobility. (e.g. car shar-ing)

Transport development (?) in the sensitive natural areas and touristic destinations

Capitalizing local take-off points . e.g. RandD, innovation, strengthening traditional industries

Local Smart Specialization strategy In case of touristic regions touristic action plan

aiming at the preservation and the strengthen-ing of the attractiveness.

Tele-work, telework centres, smart work centres

Inclusion of the business

sector

Company scholarships Intern/apprentice programmes Company kindergartens

Building of social and health care institu-tions

Silver economy

Special offers of the service providers (e.g. for employees)

Strengthening the local supply-chains, local economic interventions

Local products

Nat

iona

l lev

el

EU

leve

l

Regulation and coordina-

tion

The consideration of demands of the companies during the creation of the training programmes

Handling migration problems (in case it is rele-vant)

Measures encouraging willingness to have children: - Taxation policy favouring families - The encouragement of part-time em-

ployment - Daytime childcare institutional system

The preservation of the basic health and welfare services in rural areas

Creating the cross-border commuting of employ-ees in the regions align borders

Encouraging entrepreneurship Special bank loan constructions for rural areas

Lobbying For necessary infrastructural interventions Encouraging young farmers to stay in the rural

areas. (Framework conditions of the CAP 2014-2020)

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III STRATEGIES FOR THE EURUFU PILOT

REGIONS

In the following section, individual „micro-strategies” are defined regarding the area categories identified

during WP3, taking their individual features into account, putting them into a common area category in

two cases, as mentioned before.

III.1 Ethnic minorities

From the aspect of methodology, the first three area categories (Deprived Roma villages, Deprived Roma

children, Crises region) have been grouped under the heading of ethnic minorities and handled as one

unit, with regard to the fact that these regions face similar strategic problems, thus the strategic answers

can also be similar, differences may only occur in the importance and weight of the individual tools.

Analysis of the current situation – main challenges of the area category:

In these regions, it is not the demographic processes that constitute the main problem, as the age-

structure can be regarded as favourable. (Despite the fact that outward migration is strong, it is com-

pensated by the high fertility rate.) Simply formulated, the problems here are the low income and edu-

cation levels, the lack of employment opportunities, the deterioration of community infrastructures

and the resulting social tensions.

The natural vegetation is present with a higher than average rate in these regions, while the proportion

of agricultural usage is lower. The settlement structure is characterised by a high rate of small and scat-

tered settlements. Due to the low GDP these settlements can fulfil less and less communal function,

even the basic services are more and more missing.

Main goal of the strategy: Stop the socio-economic depression of the Roma, support the catching-

up process

Proposed measures:

European Union level

The handling of challenges resulting from the high rate of Roma population should be based on

a complex approach considering both social and economic aspects simultaneously. The educa-

tional and cultural developments’ priority has to be assured long-term, and questions of educa-

tional organisation, organisation of practical trainings, developmental and close-up trainings de-

signed for the special situation and needs of the Roma minority should have priorities compared

to investments into infrastructure.

National level

In short and medium term the main task may be to map and exploit the opportunities for de-

veloping the local economy. This however, has to run parallel with changing social policies

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based on financial subsidies, so that by encouraging employment, working should become the

secure source of living instead of the social system for the disadvantaged groups, too. During in-

terventions on the field of economic development, special consideration has to be dedicated to

the partly market-based activities or to social-based initiatives serving self-sufficiency, since ca-

reer and other emergency opportunities of the unskilled Roma population are very low. Thus

the different social land initiatives, programmes to foster self-sufficiency complemented by

training programmes may be very important tools. The proper organisations have to be found

or created to operate these programmes (it is reasonable to organise these based on the local

municipalities or on the basis of non-profit companies founded for this purpose).

Micro-credit loan programmes also have to be main elements of the interventions in economic

development, since besides the lack of skills the lack of capital also hinders the foundation or

strengthening of local enterprises.

Local level

In the small settlements the maintenance of public services should be organised on network ba-

sis, considering cost efficiency.

III.2 Poor Polish youth

The very favourable age structure – even compared to European trends – features the vast areas of Po-

land. These polish micro-regions and a few micro-regions in Slovakia and Hungary constitute the regions

of EURUFU area category “poor polish youth”.


The natural dynamics of changes of the population is positive, which means that the number of births

exceeds the number of deaths. The migration, however, even in these areas is often negative, basically

due to the migration of the young and active population into the cities, as well as to the Western Euro-

pean countries.

Main goal of the strategy: Tackling challenges caused by outward migration

Proposed measures:

National level

From the aspect of demography the development strategies of these areas have to react mainly

to the challenges caused by migration. Strategic measures can be: programmes for young people

encouraging them to become entrepreneurs; further developing smart specialization, and local

infrastructure; investments to keep the population in the area – human public services, recrea-

tional possibilities, developments of the public community spaces to create an attractive rural

environment – thus the positive expectations towards the life in cities can be satisfied in the ru-

ral areas as well. Since agriculture plays an important role in the system of the local economy in

these areas, subsidies to young agricultural entrepreneurs (farmers) and support for handover of

farms, have to be important elements of the development strategies of these areas.

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Local level

Since the density of the population is low in these areas, all these measures have to be accompa-

nied by the development of transport and accessibility of the regional centres (via innovative so-

lutions – e.g. car sharing), to reduce the „isolation feeling” of people living in these rural areas.

Keeping qualified workforce at place shall be a special point of focus since migration of young

and well qualified persons to central settlements is one of the main challenges. In order to stop

/ mitigate this process, the local SME sector needs to be strengthened (e.g. with supporting sub-

supplier networks to multinational companies) and innovative forms of employment have to be

applied.

In the development of the public services the younger age structure demands the development

of day-care services and special emphasis has to be dedicated to interventions to develop public

education in order assure the sufficient human capacities.

III.3 Ageing small villages

The age structure of the Czech areas characterised with small settlement system features an ageing popula-

tion. The settlement system and the demographic structure create a special situation, and thus they de-

mand special interventions.


In these areas the migration is not such a big problem, as e.g. in the rural Polish regions, the net migra-

tion is even positive in some areas – however it means that it is the natural decrease of the population

that causes the unfavourable age structure.

Main goal of the strategy: Tackling challenges caused by ageing population

Proposed measures:

National level

Theoretically the high GDP enables an increased attention to the development of basic infra-

structures and the provision of public services in these areas characterised by scattered settle-

ment structure. The challenges caused by ageing have to be handled on the one hand by solving

short-term problems (e.g. the increasing capacities of elderly homes, developing home aid ser-

vices, programmes regarding active ageing, etc.), on the other hand by slowing down the trend

of the ageing – that is to elaborate and launch programmes motivating the increase of child

births. National level regulation issues are important elements of the latter, e.g. the taxation poli-

cy favouring families, creation of opportunities for part-time work in the rural areas, or the de-

velopment of the child day-care services in these regions. The fertility rate can be effectively im-

proved by helping the reintegration of women in fecundity age into the labour market, since the

main cause for postponing pregnancy is that career aspects have become increasingly predomi-

nant.

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Local level

On the one hand the small and scattered settlement structure can serve as a touristic potential if

it is complemented by natural and cultural attractions, on the other hand it demands new solu-

tions in the organisation of public services. Thus for example by the network-based solutions of

the health, social and education services accompanied by intelligent transport organisation pos-

sibilities, the quality of life in these areas can close up to the level in cities.

III.4 Poor farmers


In case of this area type, the agricultural potential is significantly higher than the Central European av-

erage. The GDP is lower than the average, due to the lower added value of the agricultural activities,

which can be explained by the low capital level and the lack of necessary developments in the sector.

Main goal of the strategy: Social: Tackling challenges caused by ageing population

Economic: Develop branches of high added value

Proposed measures:

National (and partly local) level

The potentials of the agriculture and the industries built on it (processing industry, different ser-

vices) are much higher than the current level. One of the main elements of the development

strategies of these regions can be to build on and strengthen this potential. The capability of the

agriculture to keep the population in the area shows strong correlation with the capitalization

level of agri-businesses and with the structure of landownership. The landownership policy

based on family small-holdings, small and medium lands, as well as cooperatives are a crucial

regulatory factor in the development of these rural areas.

However, the ageing structure, together with the above mentioned factors requires similar inter-

ventions as in case of the other areas with these kinds of demographic problems. Thus, chal-

lenges caused by ageing have to be tackled on the one hand by solving short-term problems (e.g.

the increasing capacities of elderly homes, developing home aid services, programmes regarding

active ageing, etc.), on the other hand by slowing down the trend of the ageing – that is to elab-

orate and launch programmes motivating the increase of child births. National level regulation

issues are important elements of the latter, e.g. the taxation policy favouring families, creation of

opportunities for part-time work in the rural areas, or the development of the child day-care

services in these regions. The fertility rate can be effectively improved by helping the reintegra-

tion of women in fecundity age into the labour market, since the main cause for postponing

pregnancy is that career aspects have become increasingly predominant.

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III.5 Population attracting regions

Due to the similarities regarding several basic aspects – such as the positive net migration – the area types

identified with the names of Migration magnet and Wealthy suburban are discussed together during WP3.


The main characteristic feature of these areas is the ability to attract population, thus their problems

are different compared to the CEU rural average.

The positive migration is basically in connection with the agglomeration cycles (agglomeration – sub-

urbanisation – desurbanisation – reurbanisation). In the cases of the two evaluated area categories

these processes encourage the increase of population in these rural areas situated close to cities.

Main goal of the strategy: The slogan “The city of the countryside, the countryside of the city”

summarises the main thought of the strategy well: it is necessary for

these areas to use the advantages of their situation close to the cities,

and parallel to this, to provide the cities with the appropriate hinter-

land. Moreover it is also necessary to preserve those rural features that

make them attractive, and to build on positive trends, (such as the fash-

ionable country life in the phase of desurbanization).

Proposed measures:

National and local level

During the elaboration of the local strategies, medical and social services, mobility should have

high emphasis, while the issues of the local labour opportunities, and the training and education

appear as not significantly underpinned issues. (More precisely, the solutions of these problems

are offered by the nearby cities that provide the background for these rural areas). Thus the cre-

ation of (sustainable) transport connections, as well as the establishment of the necessary local

institutional system (that should be aimed to solve problems primarily caused by positive migra-

tion) may be the main focus points.

III.6 Wealthy elderly green Alpine


Regarding migration, these areas possess positive indicators similarly to the regions evaluated in the

previous section (Migration magnet and Wealthy suburban). However, it is absolutely justified to eval-

uate them separately in terms of strategy, since the dominant natural vegetation land cover, and the

touristic industry built on the attractive natural environment are their unique features.

Main goal of the strategy: Social: Tackling challenges caused by ageing population

Economy: Renewal of traditional industries

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Proposed measures:

National (partly EU level)

Methods aimed at tackling issues of the ageing society described above, mainly in the section of

‘Ageing small villages’ regions (e.g. the increasing capacities of elderly homes, developing home

aid services, programmes regarding active ageing, etc.) can be applied. Their adaptation on the

necessary scale can be significantly supported by the high level GDP per capita of these regions.

In long-term it is important to focus on the application of regulatory tools (national and EU lev-

el) to decrease ageing trends.

Local level

In the strategies of these areas it is important to build on local labour opportunities. On the one

hand, the main direction can be the development of present touristic offers, on the other hand

the traditional industries (e.g. wood industry) should be preserved and developed by dovetailing

them with the demands of the 21st century –first of all in the Austrian regions are already nu-

merous positive examples for that. The issue of the soft mobility is strongly related to this, since

it is important for both the population living in the areas, and the tourists visiting the regions.

III.7 Unattractive serious ageing


The main characteristics of these regions are first of all the growing proportion of old population; old

age structure; negative net migration; high GDP; low proportion of small settlements. There is serious

outward migration from these areas, which results in the ageing of the population – this is a highly

challenging issue concerning the public services, which have to react to the gradually changing de-

mands.

Main goal of the strategy: Mitigate (stop) the trend of ageing population

Proposed measures:

National (partly EU level)

During the flexible adjustment process of the local institutional system, the increased fulfilment

of needs of the elderly population it is an important aspect to strengthen the health industry and

the silver economy. At the end of the day, the main goal is to decrease (stop) the trend of age-

ing, to increase the number of births. During dealing with this complex challenge, there is a

need for regulatory interventions at national (and EU) level as well as changes of approach and

attitudes.

Local level

Considering the trends described above, strengthening of the local economies in the 21st centu-

ry, innovative transformation of local industries is an important strategic direction (as it has

been described in the cases of the ‘Wealthy elderly green Alpine’ regions). This way, the trend of

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negative migration can be decreased, the young and qualified population can be kept in the area,

and moreover – as it has been described in the cases of the ‘Wealthy elderly green Alpine’ re-

gions – the high GDP of these regions can also be kept. Some forms of telework can also be

applied – concrete best practices have been presented in the benchmarking study. (See e.g. Mi-

cropol project.)

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