How can cities become attractive to people and businesses? What can be done to encourage young people to stay and live and work in their hometowns? These questions were discussed by participants in the panel “Cities as Drivers of Development, Growth and Territorial Connectivity” as part of the 15th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region.
Urban planner Ivaylo Stoyanov – head of a department at the General Directorate for “Strategic Planning and Regional Development Programmes” at the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works“, argued that cities and municipalities should not be supported in isolation, without looking at neighbouring areas. Services lacking in one city or municipality may be found in neighbouring areas. Therefore, the strengths and specific characteristics must be identified and developed, while whatever is lacking can be sought in neighbouring territories. As a good example, he cited the concept of integrated territorial investment in healthcare in Bulgaria’s South-East Planning Region, where each municipality identified the specific contribution it could make to improving medical services in the area.
Stoyanov stressed that functional links must be developed during the planning process, which is why the challenge is for local authorities to work in partnership. He also recommended that the capacity of available funding be taken into account during planning, with the highest-priority needs and the greatest potential being addressed first. He identified the technical and administrative capacity of smaller municipalities, the complexity of some elements of Cohesion Policy and cooperation as challenges. He also stressed that the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, which is responsible for regional development, is trying to assist municipalities in preparing for the new programming period through instruments such as technical assistance.
Ruse has the opportunity to establish transport connectivity with the whole of Europe, but its geographical location alone is not enough. The challenges of the new era are to preserve industrial development while taking modern needs into account and providing opportunities for young people, said the city’s mayor, Pencho Milkov. He pointed out that, in order to create a generation of dreamers, robotics is taught in every educational institution in Ruse. The mayor commented that infrastructure creates convenience for people, but every young family must have security and have its human rights respected. He was adamant that civil society must be involved in solving local problems and gave the city’s youth parliament as an example. According to him, cities such as Ruse cannot set themselves goals like those of capital cities, but they can give young people the confidence that their hometowns need them.
The mayor of the Ukrainian city of Horodenka, Bohdan Kobylianskyi, commented that in order for people to stay there, they are seeking affordable housing, security, resilient critical infrastructure and jobs. That is why the standard of educational services is being maintained, for example, despite the declining population. An industrial park has been registered and is expected to begin operating after the war. Work is also being carried out on the career guidance of young people.
Mobility is key for young people, stressed Ivana Milosevic from the Danube Youth Council. She explained that it is important for them to have the opportunity to choose where to study and work, but also to return to live in their hometowns. She was adamant that this requires job opportunities, quality services and affordable housing, but that a sense of belonging is also important to young people. According to her, cities should cooperate rather than compete, which is why innovation should not be concentrated in one place.