European Union Programme MED-PACT ARCHIMEDES PROJECT Actions to Regenerate Cities and Help Innovative Mediterranean Economic Development Enhancing Sustainability Andrea Del Mercato Director, Economic Development and European Policies, City of Venice
Project presentation Med-Pact Programme Objectives of Archimedes project Partnership Project Action plan Main activities The target groups and the beneficiaries Expected results Project sustainability
MED-PACT Programme MED-PACT: Local Authorities Partnership Programme in the Mediterranean It is an inter-city co-operation programme decided by the European Commission in 2005 in the framework of the MEDA programme. It relates to the third strand of the Barcelona Partnership, which is aimed at encouranging dialogue and co-operation between civil societies from both sides of the Mediterranean. Totale budget allocated: EUR 5.000.000 Archimedes project is one of the 9 projects selected among the 75 projects presented to the European Commission. Archimedes project total budget: EUR 737.177 - EU contribution: EUR 580.000 (79%) In the Archimedes project the MEDA cities involved are meeting the challenge to regenerate some important districts of the city, mainly in the historical center, and the need for intervention on historical buildings rehabilitation, economic animation, tourism potential exploitation.
Archimedes overall objectives 1. Establishing new long lasting partnerships between European and Mediterranean cities involved in the project and reinforcing the existing ones 2. Promoting more balanced and more sustainable local development strategies in MEDA and Candidate Countries cities based on a strategic approach which includes the involvement of citizens in planning and implementation processes
Specific Objectives 1. Strengthen and widen partnerships between cities partners working together for sustainable local development in MEDA and Candidate Countries cities; 2. Transfer of adequate technical and methodological tools to MEDA cities and assistance in defining, promoting and implementing integrated urban planning process (Swot analysis; data collection; strategic planning; participation schemes); 3. Support the implementation of specific urban policies for the urban regeneration and economic development based on promotion of local crafts, exploitation of cultural heritage and tourist growth
Partners and Associates Partners: Venice (Italy) EU Leader Istanbul (Turkey) MEDA Co-leader Genoa (Italy) EU Bordeaux(France) EU Beirut (Lebanon) MEDA El Mina (Lebanon) MEDA Oran (Algeria) MEDA Associate Partners: Sofia Capital Region (Bulgaria) Union of Marmara Sea Municipalities, Istanbul (Turkey) Chamber of Commerce, Genoa (Italy) CRUIE (Center of Research on Urbanism and Ecologic Engineering), University of Genoa (Italy)
Partners and Associates Technical support The International Centre Cities on Water EU cities VENICE MEDA cities ISTANBUL Eminonu Union of Marmara Sea Municipalities Dissemination and Communication plan BEIRUT Gemyzè Team srl Financial Assistance and Evaluation BORDEAUX ORAN Sidi Lahori Liguria Chambre of Commerce (Genoa) GENOA EL MINA The old city CRUIE University of Genoa Sofia Capital Region
The project main phases The project actions can be grouped into 2 main phases that, for a certain period (second half of the first year), will be developed in parallel. First phase transfer of knowledge based on the EU cities experience and definition of a common methodology. Second phase pilot project development in a chosen area with the support of EU cities. Networking activities will be constantly carried out during the project (four transnational meetings and the final International conference).
The city areas chosen Each MEDA city has chosen a city area where to experiment the development of an urban regeneration feasibility study and implementation plan (pilot project). ISTANBUL Eminonu, a district that lays in the very center, where the Great Byzantian Palace and the Hippodrome, that need to be excavated, and Ottoman houses, that require serious restoration, are placed BEIRUT Preservation of the ring road sourranding the city centre and going through the quarters of Phoenicia, Zouqaq Blat, Basta, Nassra, Gemayzé, Saifi ORAN Sidi Lahouri, the old city center, that has the biggest number of historical monuments and sites in the city EL MINA The souk, the commercial and social heart located in the old town, now it is quite deteriorated
The Action Plan year 1
The Action Plan year 2
The project main activities 1. Mutual knowledge between cities and urban planning tools transfer focused on SWOT analysis, data collection, strategic planning and participation schemes. 2. Creation of local working groups. 3. Creation of three thematic working groups on: cultural heritage and economic development led by Venice, urban regeneration led by Bordeaux, strategic plan and tourism led by Genoa. 4. Urban planning guidelines development and start up of pilot projects. 5. Pilot projects development in the four Meda cities aiming at experimenting activities of urban regeneration combined with cultural heritage, tourism and business creation. 6. International and local dissemination of Archimedes results, focusing on the perspective of future cooperation.
The target groups Target groups are the groups/entities who will be directly positively affected by the project The target groups of our actions are: - the local institutions such as local authorities, district municipalities, municipality unions, metropolitan cities, universities (e.g. Istanbul and Yildiz Technical Universities, School of Architecture of Bordeaux, University of Architecture of Oran); - NGOs (e.g. Maison des Arts of El Mina); - Professionals working on tourism, cultural heritage, environment, architecture, archaeology, history and urban issues, chambers of commerce.
The final beneficiaries Final beneficiaries are those who will benefit from the project in the long term at local level: - local authorities - residents - students - tourists - economic operators working in the tourism sector - craftsmen and SMEs - NGOs and associations working for the cultural heritage valorisation
Expected results 1/3 Regarding the public authority partners of the project ARCHIMEDES the planned actions will allow to: - reinforce the cooperation between local authorities in the following fields: tourist promotion, historical centres management and urban planning, economic development and enterprise creation. - promote policies of cooperation and dialog between Euro-Mediterranean cities on the issue of sustainable urban development. - consolidate a methodology of experience exchanges at Euro-Mediterranean level in the field of sustainable urban development.
Expected results 2/3 For the civil society (NGO s, associations and other groups involved) and the SME s of the partner cities, the planned actions will allow to: - improve citizens quality of life through setting up operational studies on integrated regeneration of historical centres (architecture, economy, tourism). - improve businesses and tourism sector development by reinforcing attractiveness of the target areas of Oran, El Mina, Beirut and Istanbul - create a network among local companies, NGO s and public offices which could bring new ideas, collaboration and activities.
Expected results 3/3 As regards the technical and management capacities of the partners, the project aims to the acquisition of: - know-how in strategic planning and other tools useful to plan urban development - know-how in the field of historical centres revitalization and cultural heritage valorisation; - know-how in tourist promotion and enterprises development strategies; - ability to transfer know-how to other Meda cities through the cooperation between different networks (Eurocities. UCLG, etc); - a methodology to work in networks and cross-fertilization of capabilities; - ability to exchange good practices between experts in the areas of town planning and urban development; - know-how to access European fundings and manage European projects.
The sustainability of the project Institutional cities cooperation will continue after the end of the project through the informal network of the cities involved in the project and within Eurocities Euromed Group and UCLG Network. The network will be enlarged towards Candidate Countries through Sofia Capital Region. As regards to the pilot projects, a financial and fund raising plan for the implementation of the actions will be included. MED-PACT programme will be an important opportunity to design regeneration plans and start its implementation. After the end of the project some actions might be financed at local level; for the others, national and European grant possibilities will be explored.
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