Older publications in English, French, Greek, and Bulgarian. Includes the front and back cover of my book 'Le Marché International de l' Or" [The International Gold Market].

12. NE12:NE12.qxd 6/5/2009 5:48 PM Page 12
NEW EUROPE
June 7 - 13, 2009
FOCUS
with Christos Kissas, The Municipality of Athens Development Agency Managing Director
Regional Development
What about the regions?
INTERVIEW
The lesson learnt with respect to regional devel-
opment policies is that each region is unique, not
simply different, and therefore each region
requires a specific development pathway suitable for
its scale and production profile that focuses on its
regional resources
T
he Municipality of Athens Development Agency
Managing Director Christos Kissas, talked to Alia
Papageorgiou about projects in development,
what regional stability and expansion means and how
he describes their challenges today.
Christos Kissas
Regional Development is a core focus Athens Development Agency S.A. or side Greece as well. For example, last There are certain levels to address this all of them together bring about the
within the EU whether this be through AEDA in short, is the developmental summer, we were selected to be a issue, from the technical details to desired change, the positive step for-
European Commission initiatives or power house of the capital of Greece, Technical Advisor of the City of Sofia, operations, from management to ward for a better city/region. For
on the initiative of the regions them- Athens. It was established in 1996 to Bulgaria in getting structural funds. strategic priorities, etc. My view on the instance, we train young people, we
selves. How do you see the develop- become the technical advisor of the subject would better be understood if I pilot new systems, we assist elderly
ment of this over the last 20 years and City and to take advantage of the What would be any advice you would mention a general principle from the people, we envision the future through
by the various Member States? numerous opportunities for the devel- give to other municipal development science of ecology. In ecology, diversity advance ICT technologies for the citi-
The reduction of regional disparities opment of a better city. It employs a companies doing similar work in is stability, and stable ecosystems enjoy zens, we promote public dialogue, we
and the balanced development of the large number of highly qualified other European cities? better development despite their seek to find new ways to diffuse cul-
European regions was - and still experts (more than 100 people), it is To take some time at the beginning to threats. Likewise, more diversity is ture. All this work jointly creates the
remains nowadays - a key challenge for quality oriented (certified for ISO formulate a clear vision, then articulate needed in the systems and mecha- bottom-up endogenous change we
the European Union. In the early ‘90s, 9001), and it is very active in national their strategy and invest in the right nisms used in EU for its development wish to see in the future. Of course,
the development of a common region- and international projects. AEDA people to do the work. People make funds. Ideas in that direction could be there are no easy and fast solutions:
al policy understood that it could implements various projects in areas the difference at the end of the day, various local collaborative funding time and serious effort is needed.
improve the economic and social cohe- such as sustainability, urban develop- and we should work with the best. schemes joining public and private
sion of the Community. This evolved to ment, social services, tourism, culture, funds adapted to local/regional condi- What is still lacking in the Develop-
the Community’s new regional policy innovation and ICT. AEDA is currently What advice could you share on tions. Fortunately, we have seen some ment sector?
based on the coordination of financial developing as a service provider out- Development fund efficiency? steps in that direction from the Com- There is a gap in quickly turning politi-
resources at both the Community level mission with the introduction of JESSI- cal decisions into concrete plans of
and the national level. Since then, CA, a “next-generation” funding instru- action. There is also a gap in creating
regions have attracted significant assis- ment. Although JESSICA and the like as synergies which leads to multiplicity
tance to initially develop their infra- initiatives are new and (as expected) effects and leads to inefficiency. These
structures and gradually focus on their there is some uncertainty about them, two factors are obviously missing to my
human capital, the later being the sin- they are quite promising and Europe view.
gle most important asset of the EU to should work more on these types of
my view. During these years we have funding instruments. Creativity and Do you often have the opportunity to
experienced both regional “successes” imagination is urgently needed for find- speak with your counterparts from
and “failures” but overall the balance is ing new ways of developing Europe. other cities in Europe?
positive. The lesson learnt with respect Rather often I must say, especially with
to regional development policies is that How would you say that Europe has counterparts from South East Europe.
each region is unique, not simply dif- best highlighted what it could do Is that enough? Not really, but time is
ferent, and therefore each region through regional development? Some not enough for any of us. On that
requires a specific development path- projects such as Cultural or others that respect, I would like to take the oppor-
way suitable for its scale and produc- I see your agency has participated in - tunity that New Europe offers by this
tion profile that focuses on its regional or others such as Ariadne shown in interview and invite any colleague -
resources e.g. biodiversity, industrial your annual report for 2008 - can you manager of city or regional develop-
know-how, culture, etc. describe for our readers how these aid ment organisation that share the same
the expansion of regional develop- concerns and is interested to exchang-
Regional Development in Europe makes the regions and the citizens go round.
Could you describe for us the work of ment? Are there other examples bet- ing ideas to contact me. I will be more
This week we talk to the Municipality of Athens' Development Agency's Managing
a Regional Development Authority Director Christos Kissas for an inside look on what his agency does ter suited to explain the depth of aid? than happy to assist and develop new
such as yourself? Each project we implement has a dif- opportunities for collaboration. People
Our organisation, the Municipality of ferent focus, logic and added value but make the difference!