Forschungsabteilung 1
HERMES - Harnessing Employment, Regional Mobility and Entrepreneurship in South-Eastern Europe
An international research project funded by the European Commission
under the framework of Preparatory Actions on the Impact of Enlargement
in the Border Regions of the EU
Duration: July 2004 to June 2006
The Issue
As of the EU enlargement in 2004 and in the next years, the EU intents
to prepare the pre-accession countries by a number of different means
and policy measures. But also the regions closely located to these countries
experience a changing environment as the role of the respective borders
diminishes.
Thus, the success of enlargement depends to a large extent on the European
citizens, both in the EU and the candidate countries. The public perception
of enlargement in EU regions bordering the candidate countries is characterised
by concerns regarding issues such as increased competition and flows of
migration from the future Member States.
In response to these concerns, a programme for border regions has been
developed, which aims at strengthening overall com
petitiveness
and smoothening transition to changing socio-economic conditions of these
regions. Projects within this framework can basically be differentiated
according to three thematic lines:
- Regional Partnership Events for SMEs in EU Regions Bordering the Candidate Countries
- Employment and Socio-cultural Events in EU Regions Bordering the Candidate Countries
- Cross Border Initiatives between Local and Regional Authorities in EU Regions Bordering the Candidate Countries.
The Project
The HERMES project aims to contribute to the objectives of increased
competitiveness, territorial socio-economic cohesion and sustainable development
in four Greek border regions, namely Kentriki, Makdonia, Anatoliki Makedonia-Thraki,
Noteio Aigaio and Voreio Aigaio. It focuses on the anticipated impacts
on these regions' labour markets of the imminent EU enlargement. The project
is based on the realised need to address the challenges of qualification
enhancement and active labour market policy promotion in an effective
and combined strategy, especially when addressing under- and unemployed
population groups. Furthermore, it endeavours to encourage the process
of lifelong qualification enhancement, the geographical and professional
mobility of workers and the development of entrepreneurship. Simultaneously,
HERMES will proactively connect the Greek regions to their cross-border
accession countries in an endeavour to establish sustainable institutional
structures, bridges and cross-cultural links that shall help to ensure
its viable endurance beyond the duration of the project.
This project highlights the particular geopolitical and socio-political
case of South-Eastern Europe by focusing on Greece and its neighbouring
countries Cyprus, Bulgaria, Turkey, as these enter a phased enlargement
process. Among other, HERMES intends to deliver integrated results in
the form of:
- Cross-Border Studies recording the impact of enlargement in regional labour markets and suggesting appropriate policy/sectoral focus and employment strategy development;
- An Integrated Methodology for the Incorporation of the Youth & Gender dimensions in regional proactive employment strategies;
- Intra-, Inter-Regional and Cross-Border Networking and Cluster Development etc.
The IRS accompanies this project as a scientific advisor, who participates
in project monitoring and evaluation, but is especially involved in the
preparation of cross-border studies on the impact of enlargement in local
labour markets and the assessment of training needs as well as the implementation
of cross-border network activities.
The Partnership
The project brings together partners with practical background and from different areas of research as well as practitioners from regional planning and local authorities. The HERMES Consortium consists of the following institutions:
- Research University Institute of Urban Environment and Human Resources, Panteion University of Athens (UEHR) – Coordinator – Greece
- ARSIS Association for the Social Support of Youth in Thessaloniki – Greece
- University of the Aegean in Chios – Greece
- Municipality of Rhodes – Greece
- Center of Vocational Training – Labour Institute – Greece
- Federation o fIndustries of Northern Greece in Thessaloniki – Greece
- Chamber of Chios – Greece
- University of Macedonia – Greece
- Institute for Regional Development and Structural Planning (IRS) – Germany
- Institute of Geography at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences – Bulgaria
- Foundation for Development of Ege University – Turkey
- Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Bulgaria
Contact at the IRS:
Dr. Sabine Zillmer
Phone +49-3362/793-186
e-mail: zillmers_at_irs-net.de
