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COMPLEMENTARITIES BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS IN PROMOTING EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL INCLUSIONIntroductionJorma Palola, Permanent Representative, Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (AFLRA)This seminar, jointly organised by CEMR and theAssociation of Finnish Local and RegionalAuthorities, sought to bring together two importantareas of CEMR’s work: employment andsocial policy with cohesion policy. These areasaddressed the common theme of complementaritiesbetween urban and rural areas in promotingemployment and social inclusion. Representativesfrom regional authorities, academiaand the European Commission participated inthis event.Globalisation, the EU’s internal market policyand enlargement all strongly affect conditionsof social and economic welfare. Employment,social inclusion and regional development, themain topics of this seminar, are essential for thewell being of all citizens. It is important toemphasise that these areas are closely interconnected.The role of regional and local authoritiesis also significant in the practical application ofthese policy areas. Local democratically electedbodies have a specific role in translating the EU’sinitiatives into local actions and in channellinglocal and regional needs into national and EUdecision-making. There is significant overlapbetween these different areas of policy.Problems of employment and social inclusioncan have specific rural and urban features.However, it is evident that these problems areinterdependent. For example, in Finland, consequencesof substance abuse are often visible inboth cities themselves and in their surroundingrural communities. This is one symptom of theinterrelations between urban and rural problemsthat needs to be tackled today. These problemsraise the question of how we could createmutually supportive policies and practical measuresof implementation to achieve a balancedurban and rural development.The fact that the European Union is revising itsemployment, social; cohesion and agriculturalpolicies, in view of the forthcoming enlargement,gives a particular pertinence and contextto these discussions today. In the comingmonths, member states will also discuss and— 4 —
COMPLEMENTARITIES BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS IN PROMOTING EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL INCLUSIONdecide on many national plans and objectivesaffecting particular EU policies.CEMR’s Cohesion Working Group is working oncohesion policy and regional development, examiningthe need for a balanced rural and urbandevelopment within the European Union andassessing how regions in the next structuralfunds post-2006 period need to develop theircomparative advantages.CEMR’s Committee on Employment and SocialPolicy is also working in this area. In October2001, a CEMR conference was held on the OpenCoordination Method. Open coordination is amutual feedback process of planning, examination,comparison and adjustment of the policiesof EU member states. This is all done on the basisof common objectives.The Open Coordination Method leads to nationalaction plans (NAPs) which then result in newguidelines in the areas of employment or socialinclusion. CEMR regards the Open CoordinationMethod as an instrument having the capacity tolink European strategy to innovation on theground. It is a means through which local andregional authorities are facing the challenge ofinfluencing policy outcome. Employment andsocial inclusion are issues of great concern tolocal government. It should be added that localauthorities have developed new forms of governancewithin their territory to drive forwardinnovative actions in the areas of employmentand social inclusion.This seminar focused on how a balanced developmentbetween urban and rural can be encouragedin the areas of employment and socialinclusion. The first part of the seminar focusedon employment, the second part looked at socialinclusion, and the third part addressed the coordinationof local and regional governmentapproaches to promoting social inclusion andemployment in rural and urban areas. Emphasisis on a bottom-up approach. The seminar lookedat practical examples and discussions aimed atdrawing out common themes.— 5 —
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