Located in the heart of the prosperous Po Valley, Reggio Emilia is an enterprising and forward-looking area in the European Union. It stands at the crossroad between continental Europe and the Mediterranean region, along a prime communication corridor between East and West Europe

Some data
City Surface area 231,66 Km²
Approximately 170,000 inhabitants
City is divided in 8 districts (each one of these has an elected council and local committees, is linked to the municipal budget and refers to the city deputy mayor)
City of SMEs
Well known worldwide for its high quality social services (elderly / disabled children /women /schooling system)

Local Economy
2004 Reggio Emilia: 14th province in Italy as per income per capita [the value of the provincial per capita income is of 24.552 euros compared to a national average of 20.760 euros]
3,3 % unemployment rate [compared to a national average of 7,7 %]
Main economic sector: craft[textile/mechanical /ceramic tiles], food and agriculture, advanced services sector
District approach
Cooperative system [dating back to 1880]

Municipal Functions
The Italian governmental administrative structure is divided into Regions / Provinces and Municipalities
The municipality exercises functions which are both specific and assigned to it by higher levels of government (Region / State).
According to the subsidiarity principle the municipality also promotes all activities which can be adequately and effectively organized by the self-directed initiative of single citizens.

Reinterpreting the role
Local public authorities need to act as policy facilitators stimulating and governing the local territory
Municipalities are called to become facilitators of instances of different stakeholders managing the power of the different ideals merging into one city vision, which is based on the local development / improvement of living standards and social cohesion.
Sharing and guiding a locally owned strategy.

How did Reggio Emilia proceed?
Necessary redefinition of municipal structure/reorganization process
Creation of the strategic Department
Policy areas ( city projects alongside with normal service provision departments e.g. Urban planning)
“Matrix Organization”

Strategic and Urban Planning in Reggio Emilia
-“Strategic Planning” – since 2006 (prior to this: single episodes)
-Underpinning idea: in the past, policies were defined individually – at present: increasing need of integration
-in 2005: general reform of the organizational structure (based on rethinking the framework according to policy areas) – creation of a department “Pianificazione Strategica” (Strategic Planning) - headed by Giordano Gasparini, employs 120 staff (grouped in 5 areas), 10 of whom are directors.

General Framework of local policies
main guiding ideas at the local level
Reggio European City
Creativity
RE investing on civic culture

Reggio European/International City
Small city attentive to infrastructure planning: specific important development plans (Calatrava TGV station) bringing Reggio Emilia into Europe
Following the criticalities of the plains ( flat area which has been affected by pollution) cooperation with local surrounding communities for developing environmental plans
Give value at European level of local BPs (educational models / SME / cultural offer – dance theatres Calatrava…..)

Creativity
Generate a new development idea :
limit the city expansion
Transform dismissed industrial areas
urban Regeneration
Attention to youth ( investing in university, brain and innovation attraction)

RE investing on civic culture citizenship
Investing on training and education in order to foster intercultural integration ( Reggio Emilia has a very high presence of immigrants)
Integration and inclusion policies
Digital divide (action to reduce this gap)
Improve and give value to participation, ownership and joint responsibility for city decisions.

Methodology
1.How? Fostering and promoting participation processes in planning (forums, public consultations, workshops)
2.The municipality signed the Aalborg commitments and put in place a system for environmental accountability for sustainability
Tight link between strategic planning-programming-implementation-project monitoring (annual Report of activity)

Participation
Essential in order to have a locally owned strategy
Participatory consultations / forums and workshops are being experimented
A specific city department in charge of managing participatory processes has been created (within the strategic planning division)
Support managers in trying to identify priorities / mediate and create collaborative practices at the community level.

Municipal experience in international projects
Reggio Nel Mondo: A management solution adopted by the Municipality
Agency created in 2000 in order to manage all municipal international relations
Supporting and qualifying international relations of the Reggio Emilia territory
Bringing the experience of Reggio Emilia all over the world
Stimulating and supporting the presentation of projects on EU calls (Third Countries)
Developing territorial marketing activities
An innovative management tool idea proposed by the municipality and the chambers of commerce
An independent agency to manage the municipality’s activities and the projects’ coordination

Twinning agreements
StateTowns/CitiesSigned

POLAND Bydgoszcz 12.04.1962
FRANCE Dijon 25.05.1963
GERMANY Schwerin 14.04.1966
CROATIA Zadar 02.06.1972
SPAIN Girona 16.09.1982
U.S.A.Fort Worth (TX) 29.10.1985
REP. of MOLDOVA Chisinau 20.04.1989
SERBIA KragujevacJan 2004
SOUTH AFRICA PolokwaneApril 2004

Friendship agreements
–
MOZAMBIQUE PembaPact of Friendship02.07.1975
SOUTH AFRICA ANC Pact of Solidarity26.06.1977
BRAZIL Rio Branco (Acre) Declaration of Intent05.09.1994
CHINA Rizhao (Shandong) Declaration of Intent 09.05.1998
Rep. SAHARAWISmaraDeclaration of Intent 21.11.2000
PALESTINE Beith JalaDeclaration of Intent
17.05.05

Example of planning experiences in international contexts
Serbia
Project: ANCI IB
local urban planning / Redefinition of the mobility system
Study for the reorganization of the local municipal parking system fostering the access to and the valorisation of the historical city centre
Polokwane (SA)
Water management
Support to the reorganization process of the water distribution and management of the water related public utility company
EUROTOWNS
Network of European middle sized cities
Leader of European Sustainable Mobility Task Team
Analysis of BP and sharing of urban mobility plans and local strategy ( innovative solutions, Reggio Emilia bici bus…) approaches have evolved and included participatory approaches stemming from the local agenda 21.
BETHLEHEM PMSP
Specific Objective: support the improvement of local capacities in the field of environmental planning specifically on the issue of waste management.
Drafting of a pre-feasibility study on the construction of a sanitary landfill in the Bethlehem district
Start up the activities of the Joint Service Council for Solid Waste Management, supporting the creation of a local body financially sustainable Support local municipalities in managing the transition of the service to the JSCSWM.

Expectations
Stream in synergy with implemented action in waste management area,
Preparatory action
– definition of a methodology
– identification of environmental planning as the topic to be dealt with