Final Findings of the Based on the Questionnaire Survey in the Four Metropolitan Areas RIMED Regional Integration and Metropolitan Development in SE Europe INTERREG III B CADSES WORK PACKAGE 2-4. November 21, 2004 Tirana, Albania

Part B: Metropolitan development in SEE: SWOT analysis for the four metropolitan areas SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED * 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania INTERREG III B CADSES University of Thessaly Department of Planning and Regional Development South and East European Development Center (SEED) Pedion Areos, Volos Greece Tel Fax

SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED * 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania Present conditions and future prospects in the metropolitan areas  Indicators: Quality of life and environment, economic conditions, quality of public spaces, business, competitiveness of private industrial firms, effectiveness and quality of urban planning, education, employment  Each city has its own agenda: different evaluation of existing conditions, but also important similarities  Average-Better than average (<3): quality of life, quality of public spaces, business climate, competitiveness of firms, quality of education  Worse than average (>3): quality of the environment, economic conditions, employment prospects  Optimism about the future INTERREG III B CADSES SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED * 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania

SWOT Analysis of the four metropolitan areas  Strengths and advantages for each city  Disadvantages and the weak points in each city  Opportunities arising in each city  Threads arising in each city INTERREG III B CADSES SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED * 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania

Strengths and advantages INTERREG III B CADSES SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED * 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania

Table 52. Strengths and advantages in Skopje: Geography: strategic place in the Balkans 66,7% Skilled labor force 50,0% Low cost of living (low price levels, low housing cost) 41,7% Fast growing small business 36,7% A multi-cultural structure of the population 36,7%

Table 53. Strengths and advantageses inSofia: Skilled labor force 77,6% Geography: strategic place in the Balkans 61,2% Strong scientific base 47,8% Strong presence of foreign firms 34,3% Historical heritage (monuments) 32,8%

Table 54. Strengths and advantageses inTirana: Geography: Strategic place in Europe 52,3% Geography: strategic place in the Balkans 49,2% Fast growing small business 44,6% Favourable climate 44,6% Skilled labour force 40,0%

Table 55. Strengths and advantages inThessaloniki: Geography: strategic place in the Balkans 92,8% Historical heritage (monuments) 59,4% Strong scientific base 42,0% A multi-cultural structure of the population 34,8% Strong economic base in trade and services 33,3%

SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED * 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania Disadvantages and Weak Points INTERREG III B CADSES SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED * 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania

Opportunities INTERREG III B CADSES SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED * 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania

Table 63. Opportunities arising for Tirana: Use wisely European Union funds allocated to the metropolis 59,4% Take advantage of EUpolicies for cities 50,7% Use international connections to ‘learn’ from others and gain know-how 49,3% Establish stable and peaceful relations with neighbouring countries 43,5% Establish better road, train and air connections with the other metropolitan areas in South eastern Europe 42,0% Use wisely European Union funds allocated to the metropolis 59,4%

SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED * 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania Threads INTERREG III B CADSES SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED * 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania

Part B: Metropolitan development in SEE: SWOT analysis for the four metropolitan areas SEED-South East European Development Center - RIMED * 4th Workshop, Tirana, Albania INTERREG III B CADSES University of Thessaly Department of Planning and Regional Development South and East European Development Center (SEED) Pedion Areos, Volos Greece Tel Fax

Regional Integration and Metropolitan Development of SE Europe 4 th Workshop, Tirana, Albania November 21, 2004 RIMED INTERREG III B CADSES