Creating Collaborative Advantages Through Coordination of Regional Development Activities

Through the increasing importance of networking and use of participatory strategic planning approaches in the regional development practice, it seems that local and regional development theory moves from the concept of competitive advantages towards collaborative advantages. This conceptual move implies a redefinition of inter- and intra-institutional relations of the public and private sector, and therefore, calls for defining new forms of governance. The exploration of the concept of collaborative advantages might contribute to a better understanding of the relations between the European concepts of competition and cohesion. As networking in various forms and creation of collaborative advantages requires significant “coordination†of multiple development actors and activities across different territorial levels, a broad spectrum of research questions can be opened. This research paper is focussed on the problem of coordination, which is often mentioned as one of the main problems of local and regional development. Before any development activity can be coordinated, some preconditions have to be fulfilled, namely development actors have to be willing to communicate and to cooperate. Only then collaboration in the implementation of concrete development activities might occur. This process involves formal and informal institutional relationships, as well as multi-level governance. The main goal of this research paper is to explain and define the concept of collaborative advantages and coordination in the context of regional development policy. In Addition, a conceptual policy coordination model that combines horizontal and vertical relationships between the main development actors, while planning and implementing local and regional development activities, is presented. The regional development policy coordination model is developed on the basis of recent insights into regional, institutional, organizational and planning theories and practice. It is tested on the basis of the institutional framework and strategic planning experiences in Croatia, particularly in the context of the future integration into the European Union. The results indicate that the model is applicable in other countries and it contributes to a better understanding of institutional relationships in coordinating regional development activities and creating collaborative advantages.

Pro-Active Regional Development Policy - the Croatian Case

The paper deals with existing regional development discrepancies in Croatia and discusses possibilities of initiating dormant development potentials and closing development gaps. Bottom up policy approach is analysed in view of Croatian specific regional features that call for careful design of a specific bottom up ? top down policy. Such a policy requires efficient communication between national and local government levels, coordinated design of regional and structural measures, capacity building of local self-government structures and thorough development programming. Qualitative development factors like institutions, political environment and social capital are attached a particular importance. Almost totally neglected today these factors deserve a special attention in future Croatian development policy formation. Monitoring and evaluation of policy measures appear equally neglected and deserve a special attention as well. At the end, a pro-active regional policy is scoped and particular measures and projects proposed.

Sustainable Development Aspects in Cross-Border Cooperation Programmes: The Case of Croatia and Montenegro

The cross-border area between Croatia and Montenegro has similar development preconditions: large potential for tourism development and rich natural and cultural heritage. Both have experience in EU funded cross-border cooperation (CBC) programmes. The importance of the sustainable development aspect and is formally included into various national strategic documents, but implementation of such vague strategic documents is often problematic and sustainability aspects need to be examined on programme and project level. The current Integrated Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) Cross-border Cooperation Programme Croatia-Montenegro 2007-2013 is the basis for our research and sustainability evaluation. As recognised in the Cross-border Cooperation (CBC) Programme, one of the main challenges of the cross-border area besides the impact of globalization on the regional economy and developing competitive economy based on knowledge etc., are also environmental challenges. The Programme’s strategic orientation to sustainable development encompasses economic development, human resources development, social justice and environmental protection. The overall objective focuses on the development of the cross-border region through cooperation and networks following the guidelines and regulations provided by the European Commission (EC) through the IPA Implementing Regulation. Specific objectives focus on development of SMEs, tourism, trade, environment, culture and sport. The long-term opportunities for the programming area are: competitive regional economies based on high quality service sector in tourism; efficient protection of the environment; natural and cultural heritage; and sustainable use of nature resources; as well as high quality public and social services necessary for community development. At project level, environmental issues were only to a very limited degree included and addressed in the application package through evaluation of financial, institutional, policy level and environmental sustainability aspects. Since the CBC Programme is implemented through projects, our questions are the following: What is the structural impact of the proposed actions and do they lead to improved legislation, codes of conduct, and methods? Is there an environmental impact? To which extent is guidance on sustainability issues provided and what is needed for improved implementation? How are participatory approaches during project planning and implementation used?

Cross-Border Cooperation Programme As an Impetus for Establishment of New Modes of Governance in Croatia

Generated as a response to the requirements in managing European cross border cooperation programmes, Neighbourhood Programme Slovenia-Hungary-Croatia 2004-2006 (NP) in particular served as an impetus for establishment of new modes of governance in Croatia. Together with Hungary and Slovenia, Croatia participates in this trilateral Programme as an external EU border candidate state. The NP is implemented as a grant scheme in Croatia for the first time requiring many institutional changes for its implementation. On all levels of government, the NP contributed to the establishment of stronger relations among institutions, horizontally and vertically, and a transfer of know-how in preparation and implementation from experienced partners, Slovenia and Hungary. Such a complex programme generated also problems due to weak administrative capacity, different sources of financing and socio-economic discrepancies. On national level, weak capacity of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (MFAEI) has directly influenced the initiation and implementation of NP and difficulties in the decision-making process occurred. The relationship between MFAEI and the Delegation of the European Commission was unclear and there were difficulties in developing new administrative procedures. Additionally, insufficiently transparent information dissemination mechanisms through different government levels influenced the quality and selection of project proposals in certain counties. Socio-cultural differences in Croatia were insufficiently considered while setting up the coordination system resulting in the extent and quality of submitted proposals and their success in the selection procedure. Some regions showed successful coordination on county level contributing to selection of greater number of proposals from those counties, while in others, there was a lack of capacity in preparing coherent project proposals. In accordance with the presented first Croatian experiences in the trilateral European cross-border programme, the following can be concluded: In terms of socio-developmental impacts, the joint-project proposal preparation process of the cross border partners created intensive inter-institutional cooperation and inter-institutional communication. However, only successful project proposals result in inter-institutional collaboration through joint implementation of projects, which is considered fundamental to the creation of a network society and building of social capital.

Governance Structures for Local Economic Development in Croatia

Who should take care of local economic development in Croatia? This question seems trivial, however, there are still some open questions. According to current legislation, local economic development is an administrative task of the 21 counties, the current units of regional self-government. On the other hand, the cities and municipalities as units of local self-government regularly get involved in economic development activities, though this is not directly defined in the legislation. There is a contradiction concerning development capacity of cities and counties. Cities attract population and economic activity and are usually stronger than counties in terms of financial and human resources that are necessary for economic development activities. This research will question if the existing administrative-territorial setup and functions of counties in Croatia correspond to the needs of economic growth and development on local level. It is also intended to get some insights from contemporary concepts that derive from trade theory, location theory and economic geography. Governance relations between bigger cities and counties in fostering local economic development in Croatia will be examined. For this purpose, local and regional data will be analyzed and through the discussion on existing governance structures, qualitative insights on the appropriateness of the current situation will be presented. The main goal of this research paper is to find quantitative and qualitative justification for an appropriate governance structure for fostering local economic development in Croatia.

Brownfield Redevelopment Issues in Croatia

Cilj je ovog rada istražiti mogućnosti obnavljanja brownfield lokacija u Hrvatskoj, tj. ulaganja u napuštene industrijske, vojne i komercijalne lokacije, gdje postoji stvaran ili percipiran problem onečišćenja. Ključno je u takvim poduhvatima uključivanje brojnih sudionika, koji pripadaju različitim institucionalnim strukturama, formalnim i neformalnim, i to na različitim razinama vlasti. Analiza pokazuje da je do razvoja takvih lokacija u Hrvatskoj došlo uslijed tranzicije, poslijeratnih problema i neodgovarajućeg upravljanja državnim, kao i privatiziranim poduzećima. Postojanje takvih industrijskih lokacija ima niz nepovoljnih učinaka, ne samo na okoliš, već i na društveno-ekonomski razvoj regija i lokalnih jedinica. Zbog kompleksnosti pokretanja procesa obnavljanja brownfield lokacija i specifičnih problema u Hrvatskoj, razvojne inicijative su uglavnom usmjerene prema privlačenju greenfield investicija. Obnavljanje brownfield lokacija je područje kroz koje se mogu istražiti učinci postojećih razvojnih politika u Hrvatskoj. U zaključku se ističu mogući novi pristupi upravljanju i provođenju participativnih razvojnih inicijativa na primjeru potencijalnih brownfield ulaganja u Hrvatskoj.The aim of this paper is to investigate how brownfield redevelopment, i.e., the redevelopment of derelict, abandoned or underused sites, where a real or perceived problem of contamination exists, might be approached in Croatia. Crucial in such activities is the involvement of many stakeholders, belonging to various institutional arenas, both formal and informal, and dispersed across various government levels. Such locations have emerged in Croatia due to transition and post-war problems, and poor management in state-owned as well as privatised enterprises. The presence of such industrial sites has various adverse effects not only on the environment but also on the economic and social development of the regions and localities. Due to the complexity of initiating brownfield redevelopment processes and specific problems in Croatia, economic development initiatives are directed towards attracting greenfield investments and creating new industrial and entrepreneurial or business zones. Brownfield redevelopment is an issue through which the impacts of existing development policies in Croatia can be analysed. The paper concludes with the identification of possibilities for new modes of governance and participatory initiatives for brownfield redevelopment in Croatia

MAPPING OF TOURISM POTENTIAL: THE PRECONDITIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN CONTINENTAL CROATIA

Many Croatian scientists indicate that there are significant opportunities in tourism that can beneficially influence the overall socio-economic development of Croatia. It is recognised that Croatia has to follow more closely the contemporary tourism trends, in which much greater attention is given to ecology, the cultural identity of the destination, active vacations, service quality and selective forms of tourism development. There is also agreement that the clean sea, the coast, and the abundance of natural and cultural beauty are the advantages of Croatia’s tourism supply in the maritime part of the country. However, there are some discussions that the Continental part of Croatia is also abundant in natural beauty, cultural wealth, and gastronomy, and that it has many other underutilised tourism potentials. Different viewpoints on tourism in Croatia are based on statistical indicators, such as the level of development of tourist regions expressed through investments in infrastructure, the number of employed and the direct benefit of tourism to the economy. Despite the fact that the Continental part of Croatia abounds in tourism potential, what is offered is recognised only locally. This problem has negative impacts at the strategic level, as project planning and financing need to have a regional dimension. Some authors (Kušen, 1999; Koščak, 1998; Krippendorf, 1986; Müller, 1994; Stabler, 1996; Travis et al., 1994) have developed a cadastre of tourism potential, which has never been implemented. Therefore, this paper aims to map the tourism potentials of Continental Croatia by using the triple helix model, based on which regional tourism can be developed and future project funding ensured. <p

Citizens and the city: the case for participatory budgeting in the City of Zagreb

Since there is constant concern that local government heads allocate budget resources in favour of various pressure groups, the paper investigates whether local participatory budgeting can be implemented in order to better align budget allocation with citizens’ needs in the Croatian context. The paper analyses the results of the citizen survey intended to question whether the citizens of Zagreb could embrace the participatory budgeting, based on their interest in the way the money of Zagreb’s taxpayers is spent and willingness to participate in the budget preparation process. The main determinants of the interest, awareness and participation of citizens in local budget processes are explored as well. The results of this study indicate a moderate level of citizen awareness and interest in local budget processes, but an extremely low level of participation. Since citizen participation is crucial for democratic decision-making and ensuring transparency and accountability, the identified factors should be addressed in a planned manner. Citizens’ willingness and capacity can be increased through raising awareness and implementing measures intended to encourage spontaneous participation