URMA 2 nd STUDY VISIT and PUBLIC SEMINAR REPORT 12-13 December 2012, Kraków Niepołomice Prepared by: Karol Janas, Institute of Urban Development During two cold December days, URMA project partners met in Krakow (Poland) to exchange experiences and learn about conditions and determinants of urban-rural cooperation in Krakow Metropolitan Area (KMA) and Malopolska Region. The meeting created an opportunity to discuss issues related to the further project development. The overall schedule of the meeting was tight and included three major events: a study visit for project partners, an open public seminar and the project steering committee meeting (see attached meeting schedule). STUDY VISIT, 12 th December 2012: Niepołomice Commune as an example of urban-rural cooperation in Krakow Metropolitan Area The meeting started with a study visit around the commune of Niepołomice which is located just 25 kilometers east of Krakow centre. Main aim of the visit was to learn about the practical dimension of cooperation between predominantly rural municipalities and Krakow, second largest Polish city. Apart from the town itself, the municipality has an area of 95 square kilometers and comprises 12 surrounding villages, most of them typical rural areas from both functional as well as morphological points of view (share of population working in the agriculture and dominating land use and rural type settlement pattern). The municipality s population is about 22,000 people, half of them living in Niepołomice. The town is situated at an intersection of major roads: No.4 road running from the south, and A4 east-west motorway that is currently under construction. The town dates back to the 13th century and the history of Niepołomice were closely related
to the Polish royal court and frequent visits of monarchs to Niepołomice castle. Today Niepołomice is one of the most rapidly developing municipalities in Poland. Thanks to its favourable location, good infrastructure and the initiatives of local selfgovernment, it has become a home for more than 20 large multinational corporations such as Coca-Cola, MAN, Royal-Canin, Nidec or Oknoplast. Apart from that, there are over 1,300 businesses registered in Niepołomice. They provide jobs not only for the town s population but also for many people from neighbouring villages as well as for Krakow s citizens. Council tax revenues constitute the main contribution to the municipality s budget, allowing for long term planning and raising quality of life of the inhabitants. The study tour started with the visit to the Niepołomice Special Economic Zone and Industrial and Technological Park. The guides Maciej Huculak and Wojciech Jarczewski from the Institute of Urban Development explained the (possible) role of urban-rural cooperation in creation of joint pro-investment policy for Krakow metropolitan area. Especially the complementary character of the core metropolitan city and the surrounding rural areas was highlighted. Krakow being a bustling, rapidly developing city with several universities and rich in cultural assets serves as the main attractor for investors, especially those operating at the transnational level. On the other hand, the investment areas in the city are limited and suitable rather for office developments than for large scale, land consuming industries. The greenfields could be found more easily in rural areas beyond the city limits. Thus, partnership cooperation between the core city and rural municipalities would be beneficial for both areas and its inhabitants. Afterwards, a short walk around the town of Niepołomice gave insight into what serves as an example of a secondary service centre for rural areas. The development of such sub-centers within the metropolitan areas helps in reducing direct flows between the core city and its rural hinterlands. More polycentric development influences also the quality of life in rural areas, as the inhabitants have better access to basic services. Such
local centres serves also as a points of reference for local identities by stimulating civic activity in rural areas. A meeting with the representatives of the Niepołomice Town and Commune at the Royal Castle, Mr Adam Twardowski Deputy Mayor of Niepołomice and Ms Joanna Kocot representing the Department of Promotion, constituted the main part of the study visit. They gave a presentation about the state of current relations and cooperation between Niepołomice and Krakow, pointing out a general lack of interest in cooperation from Krakow as well as the role of pro-investment policy in a wider regional perspective. Finally, a visit to the Niepołomice Royal Forest concluded the visit. Mr Grzegorz Leszczyński, representing the Royal Forest Community Association which acts as a Local Action Group in the framework of the Leader+ EU initiative, welcomed the participants. They learned that Niepołomice Forest is Poland s seven largest forest complex covering an area of 12,000 hectares and providing numerous opportunities for active recreation not only for the Niepołomice residents, but also for those living in Krakow and the eastern parts of the metropolitan area. One of the strategic goals for the Association is to protect local natural and cultural resources which are under growing pressure of industrial development (Special Economic Zone), new residential developments and increased tourist traffic. This goal is going to be achieved not only by improving or providing new infrastructure and services but also by actions aimed at integrating new residents and strengthening local identity. The proximity of Krakow is perceived both as an advantage and opportunity, but also as a threat to local identity as well as to natural and cultural environment endangered by rapid suburbanization.
PUBLIC SEMINAR, 13 th December 2012: Urban-rural cooperation in Krakow Metropolitan Area. Are we ready for partnerships? The 2 nd URMA public seminar was organized by the Institute of Urban Development in Krakow (Poland). Its aim was twofold: on the one hand to present URMA project objectives and share experiences of urban-rural cooperation from other EU regions, but also to initiate and boost a discussion concerning mutual cooperation between rural municipalities (communes) in Krakow Metropolitan Area and the core metropolitan city of Krakow. The seminar provided an excellent opportunity for other URMA project partners to learn about the situation underpinning urban-rural, formal and informal relations in the region of Malopolska. Jerzy Adamski, Director of the Institute of Urban Development opened the event, and together with Professor Jörg Knieling from the Lead Partner HafenCity University (Hamburg), welcomed all seminar participants. The first session was devoted to the international perspective of urban-rural partnerships. Julian Jansen from the Netherlands presented the benefits of metropolitan urban-rural cooperation by highlighting successful practices from Amsterdam. The city offered assistance to peripheral rural municipalities which experience serious problems mostly due to depopulation and a shrinking economic base. The following presentation by Kliment Naydenov, representing Pleven Region Administration (Bulgaria), illustrated how different European regions are and those policies and solutions must take into consideration place characteristics and specificity. Urban-rural cooperation in the Pleven district currently focuses on three major issues: the improvement of accessibility to this peripheral region by developing road infrastructure and enhancing trans-border cooperation with Romania. Infrastructural investments are equally required in order to develop tourism. Finally, an initiative called UNICREDS (INTERREG IVC project) aims at establishing a multi-institutional campus. The second session concentrated on the Polish context of urban-rural
cooperation. Dr. Wojciech Jarczewski from the Institute of Urban Development presented the current state of cooperation and existing functional relations in Krakow Metropolitan Area. Currently, the main problem was identified in enhancing and coordinating the cooperation in the area with intense functional relations. A specificity of Polish metropolitan regions is that rural areas are located very close to the cities as urban sprawl and suburbanization is relatively limited, partly due to lack of efficient infrastructure. However, urbanization pressure is growing and causes more and more conflicts between urban and rural areas. Therefore, an enhancement of cooperation between municipalities and the city of Krakow is absolutely crucial. A rather different perspective on urban-rural cooperation in KMA was demonstrated by Joanna Warchoł from the Malopolska Institute of Culture, a regional organisation establishing cooperation between Krakow cultural institutions and institutions from the wider region of Małopolska. To execute its tasks, the Malopolska Institute of Culture is cooperating with public cultural and non-governmental organizations as well as individuals. Ms Warchoł presented four cultural projects which were successful in terms of building lasting relationships between partners from both urban and rural entities. The seminar was concluded by a panel discussion with representatives of the Malopolska Region: Jacek Woźniak, Deputy Director of the Regional Policy Department, Marshall Office of Malopolska Voivodship; Magdalena Jaśkiewicz, Chief Planner of the Malopolska Regional Masterplan; Wojciech Burmistrz, Deputy Mayor of Zabierzów Commune; and Tomasz Ostrowski who represented the City of Krakow, Department of Urban Development. The discussion was moderated by Professor Zygmunt Ziobrowski from the Institute of Urban Development. The panellists identified a variety obstacles and unfavourable conditions which aggravate cooperation between urban and rural municipalities in Krakow Metropolitan Area. Inefficient legal instruments, limited models allowing a more formalized cooperation, a lack of tradition of cooperation due historical reasons and the legacy of
socialism which resulted in a low level of trust in society, were primarily named. Moreover, a lack of joint responsibility and public interest and contradictory interests and disproportion between partners within metropolitan area (rural communities are not treated as partners by the city of Krakow) were mentioned. Mayors of rural municipalities who attended the seminar criticized the lack of a wider vision of metropolitan development which in succession limited cooperation with the neighbouring areas to a minimum. Other panellists agreed that the legal and institutional framework were not perfect, but identified a lack of good will on behalf of the core city as major obstacle. Experiences of other metropolitan cities in Poland, operating in the same institutional and legal context, proved more successful experiences. New tools such as an Integrated Territorial Investment, considered by the Marshall Office to be implemented in the next programming period 2014-2020, might help to foster and develop more cohesive urban-rural cooperation. Starting off cooperation would be necessary to highlight the practical benefits of a common approach. Professor Knieling summed up the discussion by suggesting concentrating on good examples and successful stories like Niepołomice, Wrocław or Poznń. He referred to the presentation of Ms Warchoł and suggested in less controversial areas such as culture. This could build up trust for addressing more complex and controversial issues like for instance land use management. Finally, all participants agreed that despite many obstacles, cooperation is a crucial necessity in a globalizing and highly competitive world not least to increase the quality of life of the metropolitan regions residents. The attractiveness of Krakow derives also from the attractiveness of the wider region, so that rural areas should not be left alone. Joint pro-investment policy constituted only one field where cooperation between urban and rural areas might bring benefits to everyone. Last but not least, there was consensus that the results of URMA project will be of great interest for Krakow Metropolitan Area and Malopolska Region which are only starting a more advanced cooperation in urban-rural partnerships.