1. PROMISE Municipal PROperty Management In Southeastern European Cities March 2009 – February 2012

2. PROMISE Background Municipal Property Management in SEE cities is usually inefficient. It is managed through inappropriate institutional frameworks by several independent agencies lacking professionalism Cities do not include these assets in their accounting and reporting systems and do not keep a proper inventory. In general, Municipal Property Management lacks strategy, as real property assets rarely play a role in urban planning and development. High cost of municipal property maintenance generates pressures in public funds In many countries decentralization of public administration has increased the range of services provided by Municipal Governments and the need for locally generated public resources. Privatization of Municipal property is not considered anymore as the only option for Municipal Governments, although it generates short term benefits

3. The PROMISE Challenge Municipal property is a major component of the overall local public wealth Municipalities need to view public property as a productive asset and a tool for urban planning and development. Municipalities need to use corporate management practices to develop comprehensive property management tools, methods, and strategies corresponding to sustainable socio-economic urban development policies. In this way they will manage to improve their municipal budgets, provide better services for citizens and attract investment through public-private partnerships and the new European initiatives like JESSICA.

4. PROMISE Objectives Promote the harmonization of institutional frameworks in order to remove barriers on transnational investments Promote the exchange of experiences between municipalities through the networking of major SEES cities that share common interests and expectations in municipal assets management Stimulate partnerships between cities and academic institutions Facilitate territorial transnational cooperation and the establishment of durable partnerships in the SEES Facilitate public-private partnerships, levering financing and the use of modern financial tools and methods of management Improve the attractiveness of urban areas in SEE through strategic planning and development, that will stimulate business opportunities, innovation and entrepreneurship and will improve their image as international business locations Optimize and standardize public decision-making procedures and improve accountability and transparency in urban governance.

5. Project Partners LP. University of Thessaly, DPRD, Greece PP1. Municipality of Athens Development Agency, S.A., Greece PP2. Academy of Economic Studies of Bucharest, Romania PP3. Municipality of Bucharest, Romania PP4. Province of Rimini, Italy PP5. University of National and World Economy Sofia, Bulgaria PP6. Institute of Technologies and Development Foundation, Bulgaria PP7. Sofia Municipality, Bulgaria PP8. Municipality of Bratislava, Slovakia IPA PP1. City of Zagreb, Croatia 10% ERDF PP1.University of Tirana, Albania 10% ERDF PP2. Municipality of Tirana,Albania 10% ERDF PP3. Municipality of Casjetina, Serbia

6. Work Packages Work Package 1. Transnational Project Management & coordination Work Package 2. Communication & Dissemination Work Package 3. Analysing the Existing Institutional Environment Work Package 4. Creating an Inventory and an Accounting System Work Package 5. Classification of Properties Work Package 6. Developing Projects on MPM Work Package 7. Overall Evaluation

7. Time Table of Work Packages

8. PROMISE Municipal PROperty Management In Southeastern European Cities March 2009 – February 2012