Dr. Dávid Fekete

The Modern Cities Program as a new tool in the Hungarianspatial development policy

Széchenyi István University (Győr)

„Medium Sized Towns in European SpatialStructure” Conference

Budapest, 17.10.2018 1

About Modern CitiesProgram

Main developmentcategories, financialquestions

The critiques of the program

In focus: Győr

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Modern CitiesProgram1

Modern Cities Program – Historical approach

• Disproportion in settlement structure

o 2 main reasons: 1920. Trianon, 1950. Great-Budapest Concept

• Unique urban development measures in history (no other example)

• Examples from Europe:

o 1960’s, 1980’s development policy from Western-European

countries

o France: etatism-dirigisme, Ministry of Cities

Modern Cities Program I.

• 23 county town

• The signature of the agreements: Sopron, 24 th march 2015 –

Hódmezővásárhely, 26th may 2017

• 2 + 1 million people – 1/3 of the country population

• 3400 billion forint

• Urban development program

Modern Cities Program II.

• 2017: minister without portfolio, 2018: goverment comissioner

• „Bottom-up” approach

• Impartiality

• New dimension in urban development

Main developmentcategories, financial

questions2

Development categories

• Road development and related projects – 70 % of the total budget

• Urban rehabilitation and cultural, tourist projects – 12 % of the total

budget

• Health care and sport – 7% of the total budget

• Economic development and innovation – 12 % of the total budget

• Objectives of the program: liveable cities and strengthening the

economic competetiveness

• Reindustrialisation

• Joining to the highway network

• Knowledge based projects

About MCP

• Indebtedness – 1990-2010, constantly growing tasks for local governments

• 2011. new municipal law, 2013. debt assumption

• MCP budget: from central budget, + Territorial and Settlement Development

Operative Programme („TOP” projects)

• 0,41 % of GDP in 2017

0,37% of GDP in 2018

• Total cost: 3400 billion HUF

Finance

Amount of MCP 2015-2018 (HUF)

2015 2016 2017 2018

25 billion 50 billion 152 billion 150 billion

Critiques3

• The lack of social participation

• Central decision-making• The lack of complex development

strategy

• Slow realization of the program

• The question of maintenance costs

Controversial issues

In focus: Győr3

- …THE CITY OF RIVERS

- …THE CITY OF CULTURE

- …THE CITY OF SPORTS

- …THE CITY OF INNOVATION- …THE CITY OF DEVELOPING INDUSTRY AND SERVICES

Győr

─ 5th biggest city ( ∼130.000 inhabitants )

─ Center of the biggest urban economic area in Hungary (growing local business tax income,

AUDI Hungária Zrt.)

─ MCP: 120-130 billion HUF

─ 28th April 2017 – the date of the agreement

─ Emphasis on transport development

─ In accordance with Győr2023, ECC candidate

Győr

Objectives Projects

Environment and health industry New ambulance station Parking plate by the hospital

Sporteconomy New sporthotelUniversity research and development Digital Development Center

Enrichment of built and natural environment New center for recreation Reconstruction of John Paul II Square

High quality of cultural and art life New concert hall Reconstruction of the National Theatre

Expansion of tourism

Bycicle path between Győr and Pannonhalma Aqua Adventure Park Zoo development New conference center

Gróf Bethlen István Kutatóközpont | GYŐR, EGYETEM TÉR 1. | www.bethlenkutato.hu | bethlen@sze.hu

Thank you for your kindattention!