SureuroNET
Management and Finance of Post-war Housing Stock Refurbishment in Central and Eastern Europe
International Conference, Cracow, May 22nd – 24th, 2003
SUREURO Accompanying Measure, co-financed by the EU-Commission and Schader-Stiftung, Darmstadt
Duration: 03/2003– 08/2003
!! Conference-material now available !!
“Modern understanding of urban development is associated with two objectives: creating the city’s competitiveness on a trans-local scale and improving the quality of living conditions for residents. [...] we collect a number of data related to different foreign experiences which might and should be utilised in our reality. We count on valuable comments by local governments’ and experts’ circles as well.”
With these words Marek Bryx, Vice Minister for Infrastructure and President of the Office for Housing and Urban Development, Poland, inaugurated the International Conference Management and Finance of Post-war Housing Stock Refurbishment in Central and Eastern Europe that took place May 22nd – 24th, 2003 in Krakow. The event was funded by the European Commission and the German Schader Stiftung and organised by the Consortium of The Institute of Urban Development (IRM, Poland), The Institute for Regional Development and Structural Planning (IRS, Germany), The Wohnen und Umwelt Institut (IWU, Germany) and The Schader Stiftung (Germany) as an additional transfer floor within the SUREURO project for the Accession States.
The Conference aimed at creating an East-West network of relevant housing experts for exchange of professional and political know-how and good practise towards the development of customer-oriented and socially-observant European housing markets. With this objective in the evening of EU enlargement, the conference focussed on the most relevant aspects of housing in transition. Problems are especially characterised by reduced state influence and decreasing ability of the public sector to invest in housing. Therefore, the conference stressed exchange on Management under Transition, Legislation and Privatisation Processes as well as Tenant Participation in refurbishment processes.
The vivid panel discourse on housing policy amongst politicians, researchers and practitioners was supplemented by workshop sessions, stimulating the over 100 participants of 13 nations to discuss national and trans-national concepts and their transferability to challenging financial and jurisdictional framing conditions. Also innovative approaches on CEEC housing markets were brought to the floor – such as the role of non-governmental organisations in refurbishment processes:
“Local governments should not monopolise rehabilitation projects. They should surrender them to external professionals related to local authorities under agreements that clearly define the roles of the respective party.”
Krzysztof Skalski, Institute of Public Affairs, Jagiellonia University, Poland
The IRS contributed with long-term research expertise elaborated within several projects of the EU-research programme “City of Tomorrow and Cultural Heritage”. (NEHOM, RESTATE, Interreg II C).
For further information see the conference programme here.
The Conference material – including abstracts, spoken lectures, workshop analysis as well as network lists and further links can be ordered
- as CD via Silke Alsen, IRS
- or be downloaded here
Project consortium
- IRM – Institut for Urban Development / Cracow, Poland
- IWU – Institut Wohnen und Umwelt / Darmstadt, Germany
- Schader-Stiftung / Darmstadt, Germany
- IRS / Erkner, Germany
