1. The ‘State of European Cities Report’
Corinne Hermant-de Callataÿ
National Urban Audit Coordinators, April, Brussels

2. It was won by ECOTEC/Nordregio/ Eurofutures consortium
1. Context and Aim
Commission launched a call for tenders to interpret and add-value to the UA data
It was won by ECOTEC/Nordregio/ Eurofutures consortium
Data available for 1991, 1996 and 2001
Study carried out between December 2005 – January 2007

3. Contents The study: timing and table of content Context and aim
Today’s Patterns of Population Change
How much do Cities contribute to Competitiveness, Growth and Jobs?
Some conclusions

4. 2. Introducing the State of European Cities report
Main deliverables of the study:
State of European Cities Report (Public)
Case Studies
Country profiles (Public)
Strength and Weakness Report

5. 6 December delivery of version 4
Milestones
6 December delivery of version 4
Comments from Commission by end of January 2007
Translation of the executive summary in DE, ES, FR, IT and PT
Publication end of May
Availability on the Internet end of May

6. State of European Cities Report TOC
Competitiveness of Cities
Economic analysis
Typologies
Pathways
Living in Cities (cohesion & Quality of life)
Employment, immigration, households, education
Power of Cities
Responsibilities, autonomy, budget, government structure

7. 2. Today’s Patterns of Population Change
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Growth and stagnation of European Cities

8. …Ageing: increasing numbers of senior citizens co-incide with a stagnant population, with some exceptions…
Population of Europe’s cities has been growing with 0.35% per year – twice the average national growth rate
Both national and regional contexts matter a lot – smaller cities can do less to influence their surroundings
Net population change masks various underlying demographic trends and patterns
The ageing population as an overarching trend – the faster a city grows the lower its share of elderly people
Migration as an important factor – larger cities attract more migrants from greater distances than smaller towns
Ageing population and migration are intertwined – and difficult to unravel
Many underlying patterns can take place at the same time – the dominant factors vary from city to city

9. …Larger cities attract more migrants from greater distances…

10. … Overall, urban growth in Nordic countries has been positive…

11. …The urban patterns of Western Europe are varied…

12. ….The overall trend for cities in Central & Eastern Europe has been population loss…

13. … Many Southern European cities have been growing…

14. 3. How much do Cities contribute to Competitiveness, Growth and Jobs?
3.0 The competitiveness of cities
In almost all EU countries, cities are the foremost producers of knowledge and innovation
In larger cities, GDP figures are 60-80% higher than their national averages
Smaller cities tend to lag, but show stronger growth rates
Service sector employment accounts for 80-90% of all jobs

15. …According to the Lisbon benchmark,
most of Europe’s high performers are
located in the north and centre of the Union…

16. …National and urban economic performance are often intertwined…

17. …Drivers of urban competitiveness: the role of talent and connectivity…

18. Typologies and GDP level
Knowledge hubs – key players in the global economy, positioned above the national urban hierarchy and in the forefront of international industry, business and financial services based on high levels of talent and well-connected to the world.
Established capitals – firmly positioned at the top of national urban hierarchies, with a diversified economic base and concentrations of wealth
Re-invented capitals – champions of transition, engines of economic activity for the New Member States
National service hubs fulfil key national functions and often some capital functions in the (public) services sector
Transformation poles – with a strong industrial past, but well on their way to manage change and develop new economic activities
Gateways – larger cities with dedicated infrastructure, handling large flows of international goods and passengers
Modern industrial centres – the platforms of multinational activities as well as local companies exporting abroad;
Research centres – including science and technology related corporate activities; well-connected to the international world
Visitor centres – handling large flows of persons from national or international origin, geared towards tourism.
De-industralised cities – having a strong (heavy) industrial basis, which is in decline or recession
Regional market centres – fulfilling a central role in their region, particularly in terms of personal, business and financial services, including hotels/trade/restaurants
Regional public service centres – fulfil a central role in their region, particularly in administration, health and education
Satellite towns – carved out particular roles in larger agglomerations

19. Typologies and Employment levels
Criteria:
Size
Economic structure
Economic performance
Key drivers of competitiveness
Limitations:
A complimentary tool to better understand urban dynamics
City types are defined by their core rather than by their boundaries
Cities may recognise themselves in more than one grouping

20. Typologies and Education levels

21. Typologies and Accessibility

22. 4. Some conclusions
Underlying demographic trends are masked by net population changes: need to better understand the relation between ageing and migration at city level
Typologies as a tool to better compare cities and for co-operation between cities
Further work should be done on drivers of competitiveness and on power of cities
Urban Audit as a unique (under-explored) source of information for making comparisons across Europe or focusing on countries.

23. Thank you