Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe

Urban Planning Task Force meeting in Bar, 3-4 June 2011

10/10/2011 18:33:04

The NALAS Task Force on Urban Planning met in Bar, Montenegro, on the 3-4th June 2011. The meeting was preceded by the Expert Meeting of the Comparative Analysis of the Legal Frameworks for Urban Planning in the Different Member States of NALAS – II Phase Project. Both meetings were hosted by the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro. The TF UP meeting gathered in total 21 participants. Central points of the discussions were the ongoing project and the approved for financing projects.

Meeting materials (members only)

Urban Planning Task Force meeting in Belgrade, 5-6 November 2010

31/01/2011 06:11:16

The second meeting of NALAS Task Force on Urban Planning for the year 2010 took place in Belgrade, Serbia, on the 5-6th November 2010. The meeting was preceded by the Kick off meeting of the Comparative Analysis of the Legal Frameworks for Urban Planning in the Different Member States of NALAS – II Phase Project. Both meetings were hosted by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities of Republic of Serbia.

Central point of the discussions was land management and land ownership issues of the local government units and the role of the local government associations in facilitating them. A project proposal idea was brainstormed and its main parameters were determined. Short term actions were defined and planned.

Meeting materials (members only)

Regional Vienna Declaration Review Meeting

31/01/2011 06:10:39

NALAS TF UP members participated in the Regional Vienna Declaration Review Meeting on the 3-4th June. It was hosted by UN HABITAT and the Hungarian Urban Planning Society. NALAS presented the results of the Pilot Projects Integration of Informal Settlements. The experience shared will be taken into consideration for implementation of the Vienna Declaration on Informal Settlements.

At the presented UN HABITAT Regional Capacity Strengthening Programme for sustainable Integration of Informal Settlements (RCSP) – Implementation Phase (2010 – 2013) NALAS is mentioned as a strategic partner and one priority of the Programme is dedicated to it.

Urban Planning Task Force meeting in Budapest, 2 June 2010

31/01/2011 06:08:53

The first meeting the NALAS Task Force on Urban Planning for the year 2010 took place in Budapest, Hungary on the 2nd of June 2010. It followed postponement due to force majeure air traffic disruption in April. The TF UP meeting gathered in total 17 participants, including experts from UN-HABITAT and the Hungarian Society of Urban planning. The latter was presented by its Managing Director Mr. Richard Ongjerth who delivered the presentation Innovative Knowledge Transfer for Best Urban Solution. His presentation gave a different perspective to the urban planning processes from the point of view of expertise coming out of NALAS operational region.

This meeting was about the project activities that are being implemented by NALAS TF UP. Central point of the discussions was the completed NALAS Project Urban Integration of Informal Settlements and its follow-up project proposals. Also, at the meeting were presented the results from the Task Force Evaluation.

Meeting materials (members only)

Task Force Evaluation

31/01/2011 06:08:16

The activities of the TF UP were evaluated by its members who responded to relevant questionnaire elaborated by NALAS Secretariat. It contributes to assess the impact of the activities in the TF, to adjust them in accordance with associations’ needs and the experts’ expectations. The results of the survey were presented at the next TF UP meeting on the 2-4th June in Budapest. The main direction the effort will be aimed at will be the improvement of the communication amongst the participating experts, associations and stakeholders, as well as adjusting of the topics and activities in accordance with LGAs’ and TF UP members’ priorities and preferences.

Pilot Projects Urban Integration of Informal Settlements completed

31/01/2011 06:07:26

Pilot Project Urban Integration of Informal Settlements was completed in parallel in Sukth, Albania. Both Pilot Projects helped the participating municipalities to integrate measures for developing/adopting urban plans and thread in citizens’ participation in the process. In the submitted 3follow-up Project Proposals, there are planned actions to continue the processes in the participated municipalities, utilize the knowledge and generate added value for the whole NALAS network.

National Workshop Integration of Informal Settlements

31/01/2011 06:06:57

A National Workshop Integration of Informal Settlements was held in Prijedor on the 10th of February 2010 under the Pilot Project Urban Integration of Informal Settlements. It was the last event organized within the frame of the project which was completed on the 28th of February. Over 30 representatives from municipalities, urban planners, architects and related specialists attended the event. NALAS presented to the audience its strategic goals, scope, activities and competencies, including the functioning of the TF UP. Higher awareness of NALAS activities and recognition of its role was the aim to achieve. The scope of the follow up projects for Prijedor was agreed.

Exchange of experience between SCTM and UOM in the field of integration of informal settlements and legalization

10/21/2010 2:16:41 AM

Seminar on integration of informal settlements and legalization took place on October 7th 2010 at SCTM premises in Belgrade. It was the exchange of experience between SCTM Committee for urban planning and housing and OUM Committee for urban planning and communal services. Representatives of relevant ministries of both countries were present. The event was supported by GTZ project Land Management from Montenegro.

Participants had an opportunity to get acquainted with typology and main causes of occurrence of illegal settlements in Belgrade, presented by local experts. The results of the NALAS pilot project „Urban integration of informal settlements in Prijedor“ were presented by representative of municipality of Prijedor, Republika Srpska.

Representative of City of Belgrade presented the experiences of Belgrade city administration on legalization process. These were very valuable for local representatives from Montenegro.

Local experts from both associations stressed after the seminar that they are aware of the difference between legalization, which presents the administrative individual act and integration of informal settlements, which stands for process of complex, integrated consolidation of city parts, where urban planning, infrastructural, socio economic and other measures are applied.

It was concluded that there is a need to put definition of informal settlements into the legal framework in both countries.

Municipalities are not very well acquainted with the results of pilot projects that have been implemented in the regions. The communications channel should be strengthened. There should be more professional gatherings accessible for local representatives.

Cooperation between local and central governments on solving problems of informal settlements should be based on partnership and mutual dialog.

The State of European Cities in Transition

01.03.2010 07:01:11

Expert Group Meeting – The State of European Cities in Transition took place on the 25-26 January in Krakow, Poland. The EGM was jointly organized and facilitated by the Warsaw Office of UN-Habitat and the Institute of Urban Development (Instytut Rozwoju Miast) Poland. The EGM was hosted by the Institute of Urban Development (IRM) Poland. The main objective of the meeting was to launch the preparatory process of the State of European Cities in Transition 2010 report and agree with selected interested institutions on the annotated outline of the report. The meeting was also intended to agree on the scope of the Report, the geographical coverage; identification of sub-regions; the time schedule for the drafting process, and some partnering modalities and networking mechanisms for the preparation of the Report. Over 20 experts from eight countries of the East and Central Europe Region, representing academic and research institutions, international organizations and associations of local authorities, including NALAS, participated in the EGM.

Citizen Participation in the Urban Planning Process

23.02.2010 06:14:12

Proper planning asks for citizens’ participation. This process may be a round table or workshops or a large public debate with stakeholders direct or indirect affected or interested. The general objective of the document is to contribute in stimulating “demand” for public participation in the planning process, inviting the local major stakeholders to navigate through the a large array of techniques which in long run certainly help for a good governance in the municipalities.