OPEN DAYS, October 2006
The Network : a means for the cities to take
up the challenge of an efficient management
I. The URBAN France Network : presentation of its structure and results of the projects carried out (2002 – 2006)
1. Running of the Network
2. A brief assessment : a table giving an overall picture of the different projects (2002 – 2006)
3. The URBAN France Network : a tool contributing to an efficient management
II. The Network, an essential tool within the framework of a reconfiguration of the urban approach (2007-2013)
1. The new configuration of the urban dimension of the Cohesion Policy in France : what stakes?
2. The URBAN+ Network : guarantee of the cohesion of the urban programmes in order to reinforce the efficiency of management
3. The URBAN+ Network : anticipating the programming period 2007 – 2013 through a sustained monitoring of application procedures.
4. The URBAN + Network : how to organise its running to come up to the stakes of the new programming period ?
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I. The URBAN France Network : presentation of its structure and results of the projects carried out (2002 – 2006)
Running of the Network
The Management Authorities for all
Towns and Cities
French State
A ‘1901 Act’
association
 The representatives from the
Local Authorities of the URBAN
towns and cities.
A common Technical Assistance
Programme for all URBAN
programmes
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I. The URBAN France Network : presentation of its structure and results of the projects carried out (2002 – 2006)
A brief assessment : a table giving an overall picture of
the different projects carried out (2002 – 2006).
Seminars, meetings
 11 itinerant seminars in
URBAN cities (gathering
approximately 810 participants
in total).
 2 European conferences
associating the URBAN
programmes of the other
Member states (approximately
400 participants in total).
 Day of Europe 2005 (150
children at this meeting in
Strasbourg).
 Organization of many
meetings with the partners and
members of the Network.
 Participation / oral
presentations in more than 60
events.
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Assets of
knowledge
Communication
 7 publications, 209  Creation and
pages in total.
animation of the Web
site.
Created
jobs
 3 jobs created
and
maintained.
 13 seminars
working papers.
 34 monthly
10 trainees
newsletters (paper and accommodated
since 2003.
Installation of a true electronic version).
URBAN "community"
 Information leaflets,
folders, booklets.
 Synthesis of the
final evaluations
(2005)
 Posters, panels,
ballpoint pens, scratch
 Second version of pads...
the impact study [ in
progress ]
 Leaflet on the projects
" Lisbon Strategy "
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I. The URBAN France Network : presentation of its structure and results of the projects carried out (2002 – 2006)
The URBAN France Network : a tool contributing
to an efficient management (2002-2006)
Improving the management of the funds devoted to the urban dimension through an action based on
3 points:
Support to the French
programmes
 Gathering of the « best
practices »: selection of the
best projects and ways of
management
 Active participation in the
stimulation to the spending
of the ERDF credits
(prevention from the risk of
automatic decommitment)
 Intensification of local
partnerships
 Preparation of technical
support documents,
organisation of exchanges’
seminars and thematic
meetings, etc.
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Exchanges between
the institutions and the
partners
 The Network, as a national
« focal-point » guarantees a
global vision
 The Network, as an
interface between the
different players (States,
institutions of the EU,
Regions, urban territories,
etc.)
 The Network, as a tool of
European exchange
(European seminars)
 The Network as a key
player amplifying the
initiatives carried out by the
European Commission.
The added-value of
the URBAN France
Network
 Emergence of the « URBAN
Acquis » concept
 Emergence of a real « URBAN
community » in France.
 Standardization of the level of
knowledge and competences of
the experts of ERDF/URBAN.
 Setting-up of tools : a web
site, a monthly newsletter, a
inventory of projects, etc.
 Local emphasis on the action
of the EU and on the Cohesion
Policy
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II. The Network, an essential tool within the framework of a reconfiguration of the urban approach (2007-2013)
The new configuration of the urban dimension of
the Cohesion Policy in France : what stakes?
 The mainstreaming of the urban dimension in the Cohesion Policy : taking into
account the support to cities in the Objective « Competitiveness ».
 From this point of view, a diversification of urban projects linked to 3 main changes :
1. The possible increase in number of programmes devoted to the urban dimension
2. A change in the shape of these programmes will favour either an integrated approach of
economic, social or environmental issues (based on the URBAN II model) or a thematic approach
(focused on a particular issue)
3. A change in the characteristics of the urban territories covered by URBAN + : instead of
focusing in particular on disadvantaged areas, now, the new programmes will associate them with
dynamic and competitive areas.
 The risks : loss of coherence of the urban dimension of the Cohesion Policy in
France, so loss of clarity and efficiency.
 The stakes : to make the URBAN + Network one of the guarantor of this efficiency of
management that will play a key role in the urban French programmes during the
programming period 2007 – 2013.
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II. The Network, an essential tool within the framework of a reconfiguration of the urban approach (2007-2013)
The URBAN + Network, a strategic role : guarantee of the cohesion of the
urban programmes to reinforce the efficiency of management
Urban projects based on topics
Integrated urban programmes
Encouraging the sustainable
development and the regional
competitiveness in dynamic areas
Developing urban solidarity in
disadvantaged areas
(more than 10 million of the ERDF
funding)
(less than 10 million of the ERDF
funding)
Protection and preservation of
the urban environment
Dimension of competitiveness
and attractiveness
or
Development of
alternative/clean means of
transport
or
Economic stimulation of
disadvantaged areas
or
Employment and professional
integration
or
Struggle against discrimination
and
Dimension of social cohesion
Cohesion between
programmes and urban
territories :
and
Dimension of environment and
sustainable development
networking
Common issues
Common documents on
methodological support
or
Culture promotion
or
Etc…
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Setting-up of exchange tool
between programmes : forum, hot
line, etc.
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II. The Network, an essential tool within the framework of a reconfiguration of the urban approach (2007-2013)
The URBAN+ Network : anticipating the
programming period 2007 – 2013 through a
sustained monitoring of application procedures.
For an optimal management of the funds in the
period 2007-2013 : a technical support to the
applicants involved in the programme URBAN +,
is based on 3 points :
1. Setting-up of appropriate monitoring tools (hot line,
forum, etc.)
2. Standardization of application procedures and
publication of a methodological guide « The structural
funds in urban areas : how to apply ? ».
3. Setting-up of the communication and emphasis on
the new applications : web site, newsletter, etc.
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II. The Network, an essential tool within the framework of a reconfiguration of the urban approach (2007-2013)
The URBAN + Network : how to organise its running to
come up to the stakes of the new programming period ?
Anticipating
Methodological and technical
support
URBACT +
Setting-up of the new Network
Training
French over-seas departments
and territories
Creation of a frame of reference
for experts and players in this
field
TRAINING - INFORMING - HELPING
Technical aid / Management
- « Group of managers »
- « Assessment group »
- « Group making easier the
carrying-out of the programme »
- Others …
Technical aid / Animation
- Exchanging and sharing of
experiences
- Capitalization of skills
- Information / communication
- An Intermediary and an interface
with the European Commission
- Others …
Technical aid / People in charge of
the projects
- Permanent forum of exchanges
- Seminars to share experiences
- Animation
- Others …
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Thank you for your
attention
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