Strategic Plan for Prague
by Milan Turba
Key words: changes, strategic plan, priorities,
implementation, partnership.
Abstract
1. Changing city
In the Czech Republic and its capital Prague, the
political system, the administration of the state and city and the
local government have completely changed, as well as ownership
relations. The market economy has emerged, modifying the social
structure and lifestyle of Prague's population. The world has
rediscovered Prague after a half-century of isolation and the city is
flooded with a wave of tourists. Prague has a very good rating, a very
low level of unemployment and attracts not only businessmen and
investors but also dynamic young people from East and West alike. It
is an interesting partner for all who wish to develop their activities
in a city of extraordinary beauty, capable and educated population and
new opportunities.
On the other hand, Prague keeps suffering more and
more from rapidly growing car traffic, obsolete infrastructure, street
crime, rigid and still relatively inefficient administration. The city
does not always effectively manage its assets and lacks finance for
main infrastructural projects. The historical core of Prague resists
commercial pressure and the rush of tourists and cars.
2. Strategic vision, aims and policies
Rebirth of democracy and transition from centrally
planned to a free market economy has also demanded a new approach in
planning and management of development of the city. Similar to other
European cities, Prague also needs, besides a newly conceived land-use
plan (adopted by Municipal Assembly in September 1999), a long-term
programme document forming comprehensive, yet real conception of its
future economic, social and spatial development under the new
conditions - strategic plan. During last five years, the city was
preparing a document of such type with considerable support of the
British Know How Fund.
Prague Strategic Plan is an intercepting point of
various views and interests. It arises out of dialogue of politicians,
experts and the public and has a good chance to become an important
instrument of city management, which formulates the aims of
development of the city, determines policies in individual fields of
its life and stipulates priorities and development programmes,
necessary for its implementation.
Prague Strategic Plan is based upon the city’s
strengths, especially its unique character, spiritual, intellectual
and cultural tradition, quite exceptional natural and urban values,
its economic and human potential, advantageous position in the heart
of Europe, its good reputation and attraction it has for foreign
visitors.
The vision of future Prague is a successful,
prosperous and internationally recognised city, creative, friendly and
safe, a city of equal opportunities and active citizens, a city of
harmonious natural and urban environment, and a functioning city in
view of having good quality and reliable transport and technical
infrastructure as well as having efficient and helpful management of
the city.
The strategic plan for Prague therefore focuses on
five main topic areas - The city's economy, The quality of life, The
quality of the environment, Transport and technical infrastructure and
Management and administration - containing a system of mutually linked
strategic directions, aims and policies.
The New City Council of Prague has chosen the
concept of Prague’s Strategic Plan as the basis of their Programme
Declaration for the electoral term from 1998 to 2002. In June 1999,
Prague Municipal Assembly adopted the proposal of Prague’s strategic
priorities, programs and projects for the years 1999 to 2006, charging
all city authorities with further development and step-by-step
implementation of the programme.
3. Priorities and implementation
These are Prague’s key strategic priorities:
- A reliable transport friendly to municipal environment
- Sustainable management of energy, water supply and other
resources
- Prague - the centre of innovation and skilled labour
- Promotion of housing market and easy access to housing
- Transition from monocentric to a polycentric city
- Improved quality of city administration
- Integration of Prague into the European structures
Prague’s Strategic Plan is not just a political
proclamation, it is gradually becoming an important instrument of
municipal management. It has become the basis for the Regional
Operational Programme, based on which Prague will strive to gain
support of its projects from the European Union funds. Prague’s
strategic priorities were also considered in preparing of the city
budget and capital investments for the year 2000.
The Prague community is entering the third
millennium with a programme, which has been jointly prepared and
adopted, by the city political representation, experts, private
businesses and citizens.
Ph Dr. Milan Turba
Director for Strategic Planning
City Development Authority Prague
Hradčanské nám. 8
118 54 Praha 1
CZECH REPUBLIC
Tel. / Fax: + 420 2 2051 4642
E-mail: turba@urm.mepnet.cz
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