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A rich 2010 URBACT Annual Conference!

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09 October 2017
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Physical Urban Development

Issues such as the economic downturn, urban renewal, social housing in a former prison, European acculturation, the Bicycle Festival, private sector involvement and more were covered. Three hundred and sixty participants attended the URBACT Annual Conference, held from 30 November to 1 December in Liege, Belgium. It was rich with discussions, ideas and debates. For those who could not make it due to bad weather—and for the others—here is a selection of what we heard in Liège.



Johannes HAHN, European Commissioner for European Policy "
"The challenge of democracy could very well play out in cities."

"Brussels is a good example of the paradox that often affects European cities. On one hand, it is classified among the cities that contribute the most to the state's wealth, and on the other it is confronting a high level of social exclusion, an impressive unemployment level, illiteracy, etc. So many problems that are shameful at this time in our European history."




Watch Mr Picqué's speech in French during the Opening Plenary Session on URBACT video channel.


Joseph POSTRANECKY, URBACT Monitoring Committee

" Results-of-the-URBACT-Cafe.pdf

A business incubator in a former prison
Claudio FANTONI, the City of Florence, Italy

/>"From 1832 to 1983, 'Le Murate’'was the male penitentiary of Florence, located in the heart of the historical centre. In 1983 the penitentiary was transferred to a peripheral area, and in 1998 the City Council of Florence decided to regenerate the former prison looking for alternative solutions and a mix of functions (residential, social, commercial, directional, etc.)".<br /><br />"73 new social dwellings were built at Le Murate since 2002, which is a unique choice in Italy". <br /><br /> "The current phase of the recovery is mostly focused on cultural intervention and on the integration with the urban context: <ul><li>A 'Literary Café'.</li><li>SUC (Urban Contemporary Spaces), a laboratory in contemporary culture</li><li>Smart dissidents 2.0 spaces: effective and virtual hospitality for political activists and bloggers who live in no-freedom-of-speech countries and use the web to make their voice listened.</li><li>Entrepreneurship incubator for cultural goods.</li><li>Road link Le Murate-Largo Annigoni".</li></ul> M. FANTONI participated in the workshop "From Isolation to integration: conversion of prisons as driver for regeneration of historical city-centres". <a data-cke-saved-href=Discover the conclusions of all the workshops held during the two-day conference focussing on innovation in the city, metropolitan governance, active integration, etc. .

"It must be sexy to go by cycle"
Dr. Wolfgang FISCHER, University of Graz, Austria

"The p />ersonal benefits of walking or cycling instead of using the car are the most important: fitness, health, cost savings, pride. They are more convincing for people than the general common benefits like cleaner air, less expansive health system, more money for the infrastructure etc". <br /><br /> "We can generate engagement among citizens with campaigns like: <ul><li>Giving a prize to the cyclist of the month</li><li>Market for exchanging bicycle </li><li>Support for bike hanger</li><li>Bike celebration</li><li>Collecting kilometres by bike and doing something good</li><li>Politicians accompanying kids etc". </li></ul> <br /> Dr. Wolfgang FISCHER participated in the workshop "Reducing the Urban Carbon Footprint: changing mindsets, changing lifestyles"<br /> <br /> <strong>Responses to the crisis, from Jyvaskala to Talinn<br /></strong> <strong><br />Paul SOTO, Manager of URBACT Thematic Pole "Cities, Engines of Economic Development and Job Creation"<br /><br /></strong> <img style=
"This study effectively shows that cities do not yet know what they really want to do. They are not supplying solutions, but ideas on how to advance. The value of URBACT lies in enabling this exchange."

Mr Giuseppe RAAPHORST, Managing Director Social Development, Rotterdam (The Netherlands)

"In Rotterdam, we fear that if young people do not work for two or three years that it becomes very difficult for them to return to the job market. As a result, we are implementing a strategy to keep them busy by giving them additional training, for example."

Mr Kaarel-Mati HALLA,Director of the Strategic Development, Talinn (Estonia)

"In our city, we have 30,000 people unemployed out of a population of 410,000.  Half of them receive no aid from the national unemployment fund. They are facing difficulties paying back their home loans and could become homeless. In 2009, the city launched a 'package' with 42 measures to face the downturn, with a budget of about 20M euros for two years. It has already enable the creation of 2,000 jobs."

Watch the plenary session and discussion "URBACT cities facing the crisis" on URBACT video channel: Part 1 and Part 2.


But the URBACT Conference was also the opportunity for hundreds of people involved in cities in the field to share their convictions and their experience in a lively and informal way. This took place at the friendly "ice-breaking dinner", which was held at the Liège provincial palace. It took also place in the space dedicated to stands for URBACT projects, with speakers involved and a profusion of documents. And it took place during the breaks that took place throughout the day.


 <img data-cke-saved-src="uploads/RTEmagicC_abce43d205.jpg.jpg" src="uploads/RTEmagicC_abce43d205.jpg.jpg" width="160" height="106" alt=" /> Videos of the URBACT Annual Conference - URBACT Channel on Dailymotion 

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