Prague metropolitan region consists of two parts of the capital of Prague (PRG) and surrounding parts of Central Bohemia region (CBR). Prague Metropolitan PhDr. Milan Turba, Hon MRTPI METREX Lombardia Spring Conference Milan, May 2015 1
Prague metropolitan region consists of two parts of the capital of Prague (PRG) and surrounding parts of Central Bohemia region (CBR). 2
Characteristic of the region Most dynamic and most productive region of the whole Czech republic (PRG as the core of the region generates ¼ of national GDP and Prague s per capita GDP reaches almost 170% of the European Union average). The most populated region (with 2.5 mil inhabitants and ½ of all foreigners in CR). Highly attractive region for both foreign investors and tourists. The core of agglomeration (PRG) is a national centre of R&D and learning and a well known traditional cultural centre. The most dense and most used transport network. PRG and CBR, especially Prague sub-urban zone, are one living organism with a number of mutual links, common interests, and similar problems. The real major challenge is effective cooperation of both parts of the region. 3
Main positives Prague represents an extraordinary source of job opportunities for its vicinity. There were 124 thousand commuters from CBR to PRG in 2013. Benefits for residents of metropolitan region: - low unemployment rate, - above-average wages, - higher household incomes, - higher standard of living. Well-established transport system - Prague Integrated Transport (PIT) 308 municipalities in the Prague metropolitan region serviced by buses and 222 railway stations and stops within PIT (in 2013) 4
Prague Integrated Transport System 5
Main positives Metropolitan region is the place for short-time recreation of Prague residents. The concept of a green belt around Prague 6
Intensive residential and commercial sub-urbanisation around Prague 7
Main negatives and problems Fast sub-urbanisation behind the border of PRG, urban sprawl. Not sufficiently coordinated projects, increase in the individual car transport. Fragmentation of landscape, high losses of arable land of highest quality. 8
Main negatives and problems Drain of young people from PRG. Municipalities in Prague hinterland with the highest growth of inhabitants in 2001 2013 Migration of wealthy people from PRG to CBR, risks of social segregation. Incomplete anti-flood protection in the region. Insufficient capacity of pre-school and school facilities in the suburbs. Some political barriers to the cooperation and other problems. 9
Role of EU funds in the intra-regional cooperation To implement their projects and developmental intentions, both parts of the Prague metropolitan region, i.e. Prague and its regional hinterland have been using possibilities offered to them by the system of financial support of EU funds following the Czech Republic s accession to the European Union. But Prague metropolitan region consists of two cohesion regions under different Objectives of EU support CBR Objective 1, PRG Objective 2. Such situation substantially complicates the possibility to implement joint projects with support of EU funds. E.g. in programming period 2007-2013, financially demanding infrastructure for R&D institutes located in PRG had to be build in CBR closely behind the Prague city border. Could the rules of support from EU funds be modified in such situations? 10
Role of EU funds in the intra-regional cooperation Objective 1 region Objective 2 region 11
The main activities supposed in the Strategic plan for Prague to improve urban-rural cooperation Establishment of a joint advisory body to interact between PRG and CBR, and if possible a joint work place to prepare and coordinate development goals (focused on transport, technical infrastructure, housing, commercial centres, education, health and leisure). Collaboration in preparing strategic and land-use plans. Coordinated distribution of major investment which might influence the spatial arrangement and transport requirements of PRG and CBR. Collaboration with regional development agencies (existing in CBR and but still missing in PRG). Joint preparation of the projects which require funding from state budget or EU funds, eg. Joint Integral Territorial Investment projects. 12
Joint Integral Territorial Investment project as the first step to future improvement Memorandum on cooperation of Prague with Central Bohemia region signed in June 2013. Working group in the format 3+3 (politician, strategic expert and implementation expert) established. Agreement in the 3 main topics of ITI preparation (transportation, environment and regional system of education) reached. Preparation of the strategic document, which should become a conceptual starting point for ITI, started. At the moment, the draft of the strategic document is finished and ready to be discussed by the political representations of Prague and Central Bohemia region. 13
Integrated strategy for ITI in the Prague metropolitan region a new definition of the Prague metropolitan region 2014 14
Integrated strategy for ITI in the Prague metropolitan region the problem tree 15
Prague metropolitan region - the basic strategic definition of the ITI INTEGROVANÁ STRATEGIE PRAŽSKÉ METROPOLITNÍ OBLASTI VIZE PMO Pražská metropolitní oblast v roce 2023: Blízko do škol, pohodlně do práce, bezpečně doma! Globální cíl Globálním cílem PMO je propojení jádra a zázemí pražské aglomerace do jednoho funkčního celku s efektivně rozmístěnou infrastrukturou veřejných služeb, který bude jednak dobře dopravně propojený a jednak bude společně chráněný před přírodními riziky, a to při celkovém respektování zdravého životního prostředí. PO 1 - INTELIGENTNÍ DOPRAVA PO 2 - OCHRANA PŘED PŘÍRODNÍMI RIZIKY PO 3 - DOSTUPNÉ A KVALITNÍ ŠKOLSTVÍ PRIORITNÍ OBLAST Cíl: Prostupná a propojená metropolitní oblast s výborně dostupnou metropolí, reflektující potřeby svých obyvatel, kteří využívají integrované hromadné dopravy a dopravy šetrné k životnímu prostředí. Cíl: Metropolitní oblast využívající šetrná a přírodně blízká řešení a moderní systémy pro ochranu obyvatel a aktivní předcházení rizikům spojeným s přírodními živly. Cíl: Metropolitní oblast podporující dostupné a kvalitní školství, metropolitní oblast reflektující výzvy znalostní ekonomiky a potřeby dynamického trhu práce. 1. 2. Zrychlit a zkvalitnit přepravu osob uvnitř PMO Posílit preferenci hromadné dopravy 1. Zvýšit kapacitu předškolního a základního vzdělávání DÍLČÍ CÍLE 3. 4. Zvýšit regionální mobilitu napojením na infrastrukturu TEN-T Rozšířit infrastrukturu pro cyklodopravu pro cesty do práce 1. Zabezpečit území před povodněmi 2. Zvýšit kvalitu vzdělávacích zařízení v souladu s požadavky trhu práce 16
Integrated strategy for ITI in the Prague metropolitan region Strategic vision for the Prague metropolitan region in the year 2023: Close to school, convenient for work, safe at home! Main proposed activities in the area of: transportation: joint P&R construction, interconnection of PIT with Central Bohemian system of integrated transport, modification of some railway stations, etc., environment: implementation of anti-flood measures in the Central Bohemia, regional system of education: improvement of physical capacities (both facilities and human resources) in the ring of municipalities around Prague). These projects will be financed by individual regions (PRG and CBR) from their own sources and subsidies, however on the basis of one jointly elaborated and approved strategy. 17
Joint Integral Territorial Investment project as the first step to future improvement Memorandum on cooperation signed in June 2013. Thank you for your attention! E-mail: turba42@gmail.com www.city-regions.eu 18