Urban II Community Initiative Programme for Komotini

1. Action Priorities

Priority 1: Multifunctional and environmental urban refurbishment. Since the 14th century, the urban development of Komotini has not followed a structured planning scheme; moreover, it lacks infrastructure and public facilities, which has led to a sharp decline in the quality of urban environment. Special emphasis on the most rundown parts of the urban locality, combined with a policy of enriching and protecting the environment, will improve the aesthetics and functional character of the public urban area and upgrade important cultural heritage.

Priority 2: Encouraging competitiveness. The area has a high level of unemployment, especially among women and young people, while the local economy registers particularly low levels of activity. The programme will work towards upgrading the skills of the active population and, more importantly, skills to vulnerable groups, namely by supplying adequate infrastructure for the furthering of knowledge. It will thus contribute to combating stagnation.

Priority 3: Citizens’ society. The region faces difficulties in integrating all the elements of its multicultural population, and the most vulnerable groups of this society face various forms of exclusion. Addressing the causes at the basis of these negative phenomena will bring about the necessary improvement of living conditions and favour a climate of contact among the various groups concerned.

Priority 4: Information technology networks. The area lags behind in assimilating and using new technologies. Introducing key functions and concepts in the field of urban development and making modern information technology accessible to large sections of the population will contribute to the opening up of the city internally and to the world.

Priority 5: Technical assistance. There is also provision for technical assistance in implementing the programme. Financial support is available covering administration, monitoring and control.

2. Description of the eligible areas

Komotini, a border region in Thrace, Northern Greece, is one of the poorest regions in the EU, whose income per capita ranks 46^th where its contribution to the GDP is concerned. Its development over the centuries, without any planning principles, has had a serious negative impact on its modern population, which is multicultural and includes a large Turkish minority, together with a large number of gipsies. The city’s development can be helped, thanks to its being a crossroads for the future trans-European networks in the area, as well as by the recent return of a large number of skilled local workers from abroad.

3. Management and contact details

The Management Authority for the programme is the Special Service of the Ministry of the Environment, Planning and Public Works. The programme will be implemented jointly by the regional authorities and a wide range of local organisations, including the socio-economic partners, equal opportunity and environmental organisations. A Monitoring Committee will be made up of representatives from the competent industries, regional and local levels, and social and economic partners.