Vision SEE 2020 Project
Vision SEE 2020 Project
The Vision SEE 2020 Project is one of the two projects implemented by Formula Europe Institute in 2010 and 2011. It was focused on marketing the investment opportunities of Southeast European countries on the European and global stage, making them more attractive for potential investors. From SEE to SE: Based on the experience gained on the ground working with SEE regional & Local Governments, Formula Europa Institute team developed the position that the European Cohesion Policy will not produce results until the Regional & Local Governments’ capacity for Strategic Planning in the SEE lagging regions is not upgraded. Responding to this challenge Formula Europa Institute initiated ESPAC Initiative as a tool for systematic approach to the problem with the insufficient capacity for planning in the newest and future EU member-countries. Following up the latest development in the Eurozone, the Institute enlarged the scope of the SEE Region to the South European and initiated the South European Regional Strategy for Economic Recovery with two major goals: Joining forces in marketing South European Region and Upgrading the Capacity for Economic Development Strategic Planning.
Background
The project has been developed as a response to the delays that Southeast European economies are witnessing, despite the latest EU Enlargements. The long-term goals of the Enlargement, namely the creation of conditions to turn the new Member States into alternative European investment destinations, are not being achieved. The region under analysis is suffering for many different reasons, both domestic and international. Among these, it is worth to mentioning the pressure of migrants coming especially from Northern Africa, the high unemployment rates, the lack of structural reforms and the bad management of European resources. National, regional and local governments are not always aware of their role and, if that occurs, they do not always have the capabilities to face the contemporary challenges.
Project Steps
As presented in the Business Model, the project has the following steps:
1) Analysis of the SEE National and Regional strategies for development
A team of experts is currently analysing the national, regional and local development strategies, as planned by the different countries within the Europe 2020 Strategy framework. This analysis aims at understanding the processes and projects that could improve the integration of the whole region and its economic attractiveness.
2) Selection of Game-changer Projects
The Research Team will be selecting around 20 projects per country. These projects will be chosen within three budget ranges (below 50 million, between 50 and 100 million, above 100 million). The selected projects will be either game-changer or co-financing projectsbeing, respectively, projects capable of changing the whole picture of the SEE region and projects seeking for private co-financing parties. The section of the website concerning the projects will be constantly updated to allow potential investors better knowledge of the Southeast Europe reality and opportunities.
3) Completion of SEE Geographical Economic Map
A Geographical Economic Map, similar to the European Blue Banana and other Sectorial geographic representations, will represent the ultimate product of our project.It will provide a picture of Southeast Europe Region envisioned in 2020 as a result of the development strategies’ implementation and success. It embodies an extremely useful instrument for worldwide economic actors who are willing to relocate their industries, to start up new businesses, or to invest in large-scale projects (e.g. infrastructure).
4) SEE Summit 2012 “Linking Development with Profit”
The SEE Summit 2012 has been designed as a three-days Conference that will take place in Brussels in March/April 2012. It will represent a unique opportunity for both potential investor, as well as national and regional governments to meet, to discuss projects and to establish partnerships.
To know more about the Summit, click here.
Role of Governments
Local governments, international investors and resident populations vastly underestimate Southeast Europe’s potential for growth. It is time for this region to act as strategic region within Europe. It is time for developing an integrated strategy for its economic and social development. It is time for South East Europe to capitalize on its tremendous potential and become an engine for both its own growth and the whole Europe. This brilliant future can only be fostered by a capable group of politicians and public managers, once they have put aside any personal or contingent interest. The public good and the improvements in people’s living standards should represent the lighthouse for any public policy in SEE countries. The first big step in this direction will be building an Integrated Vision SEE 2020, which reflects the overall goals set up by the European Strategy 2020.
National governments
National governments in the SEE region are called to function as strategic managers of their countries and to align their policies to the European directives. The European Union recognizes the importance of collaboration and integration among countries in order to achieve the goals identified by the Strategy 2020. The national strategies developed in accordance with the Strategy 2020 will be merged and optimized in the framework of this project by presenting an Integrated Vision of the SEE region, which will be an important tool for prospect investors.
Regional and Local governments
In the current globalized world, regions and their territories assume a different meaning. Their administration implies a deep understanding of the overall economic and social trends and excellent managerial capacities. The hidden value in each region across Europe is enormous. In order to economically survive, each territory has to find a proper specificity and direction. As recently highlighted by the European Parliament, to pursue the territorial interests is mainly in the hand of regional and local governments. Those interests need to be strategically managed and the policies to be smartly planned. Managing an interest, including your own, is an art.
The European Union recognizes the crucial importance of regions in achieving the goals identified by the Strategy 2020. For that to be possible, regions have to be prepared for the competition and strategically manage their local resources and capabilities. This project follows the line stated by the European Parliament and Commission seeking to improve the attractiveness of the SEE regions in front of the investors.
Expected results
The results that the project seeks to accomplish are really ambitious but the Vision 2020 Team is determined in making them come true. The ambition is due to the attempt of creating bridges between two worlds that too often are taken apart: the public sphere and the private investors. Despite the different interests, they should be collaborative and find common grounds for development.
The final product to be presented at the SEE Summit 2012 in Brussels will be a Geographic Economic Map of the region. It will highlight the new economic centers, the new infrastructure and every other project able to radically improve the conditions of the region. The picture of Southeast Europe in 2020 will serve as a lighthouse for decision-makers and investors in the next ten years. To consult the updated map, please click here.
For any further information, please contact the Integrated SEE Vision 2020 Project Coordinator:
Ms Chiara Palazzetti – c.palazzetti@localhost
