ITI/SUD what is it?
Integrated Spatial Investment / Sustainable Urban Developmentis the corresponding translation of the termsIntegrated Territorial Investment / Sustainable Urban Development (ITI/SUD)and is the financial tool for drawing community resources from the European Structural Funds, which was activated in our country for the first time during the Programming PeriodNSRF 2014-2020.This tool gave the opportunity to the Urban Authorities to design an integrated program,a targeted Development Strategy, based onreal, spatially defined needsthem and to seek funding from the Regional Operational Programs (RPPs) that issued the respective Invitations.
At the base of this financial tool is the creation of a permanent relationship of consultation, feedback and complementation between the agencies and the citizensof a city or wider area.
This relationship is maintained, fed and monitored by a partnership among important entities of the city Civil Authority, which is also responsible for the implementation of the Strategy that is being prepared as well as for its Review, based on the restructuring of needs during the planned five-year period.
The ITI/SUD of the Municipality of Piraeus - history - current situation
The planning:
In 2014, a new and extremely productive period began for the Municipality of Piraeus, spearheaded by the planning and implementation of the Integrated Spatial Investment (ISP). The main characteristics of which are that:
1. It is an integrated and not segregated Strategy,
2. It gives the responsibility of resource management to the city of Piraeus itself and
3. It creates a greater possibility of flexibility in the use of the resources assigned to it.
The governance system:
In the Municipality of Piraeus,the City Authority which is also responsible for the approval, monitoring, implementation and revision of the Strategy that is being prepared, established and has been operating since 2018 among three partners of the Municipality of Piraeus, the Public Benefit Municipal Enterprise of Piraeus (KODEP) and the Youth Sports Culture Organization (OPAN)- of the two Legal Entities of the Municipality of public benefit and cultural nature respectively and meets on the basis of its regulations at regular intervals.
The vision and goal:
The ITI/SUD Strategy of the Municipality of Piraeus was based on the vision of the municipal authority to make Piraeus a modern sustainable city, through the development of the local economy, the improvement of the urban environment, the everyday life and quality of life in the city, and the strengthening of social cohesion.This vision was supported, enriched and framed all this time by the institutions and citizens of the Municipality of Piraeus through the consultation process that was launched in April 2015 and continues both through electronic consultations (2017) , as well as through live meetings.
The official start:
After all the stipulated conditions were completed, the first ITI/SUD of the Municipality of Piraeus was submitted as a proposal to the relevant Call issued by the Region of Attica in March 2017, it was positively evaluated and approved for funding in March 2018.
Thus, an autonomous Service was established within the Municipality Organization, the ITI/SUD Actions Management Directorate(former Autonomous Department) which was designated by Decision 379/2018 (Government Gazette 789/Β/7.3.2018) of the Attica Region as the Intermediate Management Body (EMB) of the Operational Program Attica 2014-2020 for the implementation of the approved OCHE/BAA Piraeus Strategy, with full assignment of management responsibilities.
Based on the above decision the total amount of €80,465,325 was assigned to ITI Piraeus of which, the amount of €9,166,000 are acts of direct State Aid entrepreneurship.
Where we are today:
Four and a half years after the approval of the ITI, Actions amounting to €80,473,001 have been specialized, Invitations amounting to €66,540,550 have been issued and the amount of the included Transactions amounts to €55,114,092.39.
Of the above amounts, €7,116,196.78 is a direct grant to very small and small businesses of the Municipality of Piraeus that were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic (Direct State aid).
The result estimate:
The rate of change of maturity of the ITI is recorded as satisfactory, despite the fact that the implementation of the Strategy was on the one hand approved and financed in 2018, in the middle of the Program Period, with all the known management difficulties that this entails (time reduction of all stages of management) and on the other hand, during the implementation of the Strategy the covid-19 pandemic appeared with the multifaceted impact known to all.
In addition, the satisfactory progress of the management of the ITI/SUD of the Municipality of Piraeus is confirmed by the already received decision of the Attica Region, to enable the ITI Piraeus to continue and expand also in the next Programming Period 2021-2027 by submitting a new updated proposal for the ongoing ITI of the Municipality of Piraeus, the drafting of which also concerns the present consultation.
Presentation of the ITI/SUD Strategy of Piraeus
and how to promote it
On the basis of the special character of the country largest port the strategy of the Piraeus Municipality was drawn up, which looks forward to the reorganization of the local economy and entrepreneurship of Piraeus, with the use of the possibilities of ICT applications, in the improvement of the urban environment and existing infrastructures, the promotion of the City as an internationally recognizable tourist and cultural destination, always in combination by strengthening social cohesion through social inclusion and employment promotion actions.
The implemented strategy focused on specific needs and challenges that have a spatial localization, while at the same time actions with an integrated character were qualified and taken into account to improve economic, environmental/climatic and social/demographic conditions.The Strategic SUD of the Municipality of Piraeus is governed by a clear logic of intervention, through the adoption of a logical sequence that includes an analysis of needs - challenges, strengths and weaknesses, weaknesses and opportunities in the area of intervention and matching the needs with the specific objectives / investment priorities of the OP Attica 2014-2020.
Based on the above, the Strategy of ITI/SUD Piraeus is developed in the following Pillars, forming a coherent Action Plan:
Pillar 1:
Improving the Attractiveness and Competitiveness of the City of Piraeus - Exploiting comparative advantages and highlighting new business opportunities - Supporting the Adaptability of existing and the creation of new and innovative Businesses.
The total Budget assigned to the Municipality of Piraeus for the implementation of the Pillar 1 projects is €28,207,000.
Pillar 2:
Urban Upgrading and Revitalization – Promotion of the City of Piraeus as an internationally recognizable tourist and cultural destination – Management and diffusion of tourist and cultural flows in the City through Sustainable Urban Mobility interventions and application of smart solutions in urban and social functions. The total Budget allocated to the Municipality of Piraeus for the implementation of the Pillar 2 projects is €24,521,000.
Piraeus stands out:
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As blue city oriented towards maritime activities and the blue economy
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As green city, with the utilization of energy technologies in public infrastructures and functions and contribution to the energy upgrade of the building stock, in combination with sustainable urban mobility interventions
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As smart city, with development and adoption of new technologies that improve services to citizens, visitors, businesses, etc., attract young people and create start-ups
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As sustainable city, under the interaction of environmental, traffic and social interventions and services
Summarizing,the Sustainable Urban Development Strategy of Piraeus, with a catalystthe specific development dynamics of the Blue Economy and the Maritime Network was developed comprehensively and multifacetedly exploiting the possibilities offered by its cultural stock for the enrichment and diversification of its tourism product, in order to consolidate a contemporary sustainable development physiognomy.It is essential for the success of the project the development of social actions to support and empower the local community, based on the need for the equal inclusion of all citizens, in the direction of integration and social cohesion.