Grgasović

Petra

Grgasović

Ad-Hoc Expert

Generic Skills

B.1. Understanding of integrated and sustainable urban development:

Through my formal education, work and activities - I gained more insight into this multidisciplinary and complex field and continuously developed my knowledge related to sustainable development. As Master of Architecture and Urban Planning I gained knowledge on sustainability of urban areas, planning approaches, social impacts of planning, integrated planning processes etc. I soon discovered a need to complement my knowledge with education in field of environmental engineering, mostly focused on sustainability of buildings and building materials. Besides acquiring a degree in that field, I completed a number of trainings related to energy efficiency of built environment, environmental management systems and enrolled to a study (PhD) related to regional development. My work has enabled me to directly communicate to local and regional authorities, especially in context of urban and regional mobility, which gave me a deeper understanding of existing needs, problems and possibilities in terms of integrated sustainable development based on realistic and proven needs. During my work I was mostly focused on urban and regional mobility and transport projects in general. Transport is a specific sector –it is generated by other human activities and it also strongly influences them. It requires setting up an appropriate environment for sustainable and integrated strategic planning of all socio – economic activities and then transport itself, to ensure it supports integrated development.

B.2. Understanding of exchange and learning processes at transnational level:

Croatia is the youngest Member State which meant that many well established good practices in EU still need to be implemented here. To be able to do that, we need to work on capacity building and acquiring knowledge present in other countries and EU institutions. Many of the obstacles that hinder progress can be easily and more efficiently overcome by exchange of experience and asking advice. During my work experience, we relied greatly on transnational cooperation and advised with other MS for many issues, especially those countries similar in size, population, cultural background and administrative structure (such as Slovakia or Slovenia). Also, in the last three years, I went to a number of courses, seminars and workshops in Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Italy and Belgium - related to management of ESI funds, State Aid, Project Cycle Management, Public Procurement, Irregularities, EU policies, required environmental procedures, CBA, Climate Change, Project Appraisal, Feasibility Studies, Public Administration etc. Working visits to Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia were organized on several occasions in order to discuss common issues and applied solutions. Many benefits are gained also through multinational meetings organised by EU institutions. As a representative of Croatia in European Commission's Expert Group on Urban Mobility, I can confirm the significance and positive impact that such forms of exchange and networking have on tackling various issues.

B.3. Proficiency in English:

I have been using English in my everyday work for the last three years, in written and spoken form. Many of the reports we are obliged to submit are written in English, as also the majority of guidelines, regulations and publications we use in our daily tasks. All communication with European Commission, auditors and other EU institutions (such as EIB) is carried out in English. Most of my professional trainings are in English, same as our communication with JASPERS. I learned English as a part of my formal education - through elementary school (from age 9), gymnasium and faculty and own a certificate for C1 level of knowledge. As a consultant, I use written and spoken English on daily basis – in communication with multinational project teams and during preparation of project applications and other documentation.

Expertise for the design and delivery of transnational exchange and learning activities:

Thematic expertise:

Theme / Policy:

Sustainable Urban Mobility

Summary Thematic expertise:

My knowledge and experience are related to the following sub-themes within urban mobility group: • urban and regional integrated transport planning (development of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans and Regional Transport Masterplans), • public transport development, • electric vehicles, • non-motorised means of transport. My experience and knowledge were acquired through formal and informal education and through different roles I had during my professional work. Through Architecture and Urban Planning study programme I gained knowledge on sustainability of urban areas, planning approaches, social impacts of planning, integrated planning processes etc. That knowledge was complemented with further formal education in field of environmental engineering, where I mostly focused on sustainability of buildings and building materials. In parallel, I completed a number of trainings related to energy efficiency of built environment, environmental management systems, transport project preparation, strategic planning, feasibility of projects etc. and enrolled to a PhD programme related to regional development through implementation of transport projects. My work experience was gained through three roles: designer in an architectural office, positions in the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure and through my current position – as a consultant. While working as an architect I gained knowledge about project life cycle, legal framework for construction projects, importance of teamwork and stakeholder participation. I also learned basics on sustainability of built environment which helped me later to direct my efforts to sustainable transport. My work in the Ministry (Sector of EU funds) had the biggest influence on my professional development. During three years of my work there, I had an opportunity to work as a project manager (within the duties of Intermediate Body (IB) level 2), Head of Programming Department (IB1), Head of Service and Head of Sector in charge of project implementation. That way I could participate in all the phases of project’s life cycle with an additional focus on EU funds utilisation. More than that, Croatia is the youngest Member State which meant that new approaches had to be adopted, structures re-organised and many good practices established in EU implemented also here. Working both on a strategic and project level, I was able to directly communicate to local and regional authorities, especially in context of urban and regional mobility, which gave me a deeper understanding of existing needs, problems and possibilities in terms of integrated sustainable development based on realistic and proven needs. As a result, I took the role of representative of Croatia in European Commission's Expert Group on Urban Mobility and, in the context of strategic planning, project preparation and EU funding, was mostly focused on urban and regional mobility (in terms of SUMPs, public transport, non– motorised means of transport, inter-modality etc.). Through that, I was introduced to all the policy challenges of urban mobility – both in Croatia but also in other EU Member States. My personal and professional goal was to spread knowledge about planning sustainable urban mobility, prerequisites and opportunities for funding related projects (especially through ESIF), promote the importance of cooperation on all levels of governance, coordination and knowledge exchange between local communities in Croatia and other MS.

Expertise support to local authorities and other stakeholders in designing & delivering integrated and participatory policies

E.1. Knowledge on participatory methods and tools for co-production and implementation of local polices :

During 2014 and 2015, Ministry of Transport decided to launch Call for Proposals to finance urban mobility projects. From the applications submitted it was evident that urban settlements were not ready for serious investment, lacking basic strategic documents and not understanding processes related to project preparation and implementation or their interconnectivity. It was decided that the priorities for financing should be exactly these (missing) documents, while assuring that they are developed in a way to ensure sustainable development of urban and regional mobility. Ten projects were then approved for financing– all strategic documents on regional or local level. At the time I was working as a project manager within the Ministry for several of these projects and was faced with a challenge: how to gather all stakeholders in order to ensure an application of integrated approach and how to keep the focus of all parties involved on the common goal – creating a basis for sustainable mobility system. Participatory methods included facilitation of workshops where stakeholders were constantly guided towards more intense cooperation and exchange of information and reminded on the common objective. Stakeholders involved were national, regional and local governments, state owned companies – managers of rail and road infrastructure, regional and local development agencies, public transport operators, bodies in charge of local and regional roads, spatial planners etc.

E.2. Knowledge on integrated approach for the design, delivering, monitoring and evaluation of urban strategies/policies:

Integrated planning related to urban strategies / policies has a relatively short history in Croatia. Regional and local authorities have to develop a great number of strategic documents mandatory by law. Unfortunately, evaluation of these documents while assessing EU funding possibilities, usually showed that they were incomplete and made by using an inappropriate methodology – especially in terms of following an integrated approach. As applying integrated concept is (among other things) a prerequisite to use ESI funds, many actions were undertaken to spread knowledge about appropriate methodology for developing strategic documents - that would ensure sectoral and general sustainability. In transport sector there were no documents on local, regional and national level made by using an integrated approach. It resulted in usage of spatial planning documents (who were the only ones integrating various sectors) as input for planning instead treating them as output. In our attempts to clarify the importance of integrated planning (which is extremely important in transport - which is generated by all other socio–economic influences), in cooperation with JASPERS we gave recommendations to local/regional authorities on planning methodology, on ToR-s for developers of these documents. On the example of National Transport Strategy we illustrated the importance of early stakeholder involvement, existence and updating of sectoral databases and monitoring of implementation of measures.

E.3. Awareness of the main policy and funding schemes for sustainable urban development at EU and national level:

As I was working in the Directorate of EU funds, I am particularly aware of funding possibilities for urban mobility projects and as a consultant I have the same obligation to be well informed. As a representative of the Ministry (Directorate for EU funds), who had a role of Managing Authority / Intermediate Body for Operational Programme Transport (2007.-203.) and OP Competitiveness and Cohesion (2014.-2020.), I am very familiar with funding possibilities from ESI funds. As managing and coordination of CEF funded projects was also a role of Directorate for EU funds, I also understand the possibilities offered through CEF instrument. To be able to coordinate and guide beneficiaries (clients) through the process of project preparation I have to know all possibilities of funding. Participating on events prepared by EC and on meetings of Expert Group on Urban Mobility I learned about other programmes, instruments and initiatives on EU level aimed at urban mobility and clean transport financing. As a representative of the Ministry, I was in constantly informed of the possibilities offered by EBRD and EIB. I also participated in Civitas and Horizon 2020 projects and events, which enabled me to understand these initiatives better. I am continuously educating myself about new sources of funding.

E.4. Ability to understand specific local situations and adapt tools and content to different local realities:

In case of urban and regional mobility, understanding local context is of utmost importance. In political terms, it is especially relevant in Croatia, where there is a great number of local and regional administrative units, most often of different political directions. That kind of set up can be extremely challenging while planning transport network or public transport service. Besides that, great differences exist between regions in terms of economy and quality of life which has a significant impact to mobility but is at the same time sensitive to transport planning. Also, differences exist in geographical, demographical and cultural terms between different parts of Croatia, and all these aspects have to be taken into consideration when it comes to urban mobility planning. Local context was extremely important when developing the National Transport Strategy, especially the part referring to urban and suburban transport. National policy promoted in the Strategy, based on the functional regional concept was not accepted equally among different local authorities so additional efforts needed to be made to reach mutual understanding. I was a part of a team that made more than 20 working visits in two years to local and regional communities exclusively with the intention to find the best way of cooperation regarding strategic planning and project preparation. Even more visits were made by local and regional authorities to the Ministry (Directorate of EU funds).

Summary Expertise:

I worked as a promotor of integrated approach – creating a basis for sustainable mobility. Participatory methods included facilitation of workshops where stakeholders were constantly guided towards more intense cooperation and exchange of data. Stakeholders involved were national, regional and local governments, state owned companies, development agencies, public transport operators, bodies in charge of local and regional roads etc. As integrated planning is also a prerequisite to use ESIF, many actions were undertaken to spread knowledge about appropriate methodology for developing strategic documents - that would ensure sustainability. On the example of National and Regional Transport Masterplans we learned the importance of early stakeholder involvement, existence of sectoral databases and monitoring of implementation of measures. Working in the Directorate of EU funds, I am particularly aware of funding possibilities for urban mobility projects and as a consultant I have the same obligation to be well informed. Understanding local context is of utmost importance: there is a great number of administrative units in Croatia, great economic differences exist between regions, but also differences in geographical, demographical and cultural terms. I was a part of a team that made more than 20 working visits in 2 years to local and regional communities exclusively with the intention to find ways of cooperation regarding strategic planning and project preparation.