International Relations Brochure

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CITY OF BRATISLAVA

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

City o BratislavaInternational Relations DepartmentPrimacialne namestie 1814 99 BratislavaE-mail: [email protected]


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C O N T E N T S

In the Europe o Cities and Regions 3

Introduction 4

Overview o Bratislavas International Relations 5

Bilateral Cooperation 6

Bratislava Vienna Strategic Partnership 6

Relations with the Capitals o Central Europe 10

Prague

Budapest

Warsaw

Other Bilateral Relations with Selected Metropolises 12

Ljubljana

Dublin

Brno

Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius

Other Partners

Export o Know How 15

Multilateral Cooperation 17

Bratislava in EU Structures 17

Cross-Border Cooperation 18

EU Cross-Border Cooperation Programme

CENTROPE

International Organisations and Initiatives 22General International Organisations and Initiatives 22

Specialised International Organisations and Initiatives 23

International projects 23

Foreign Marketing 25

City Brand 25

Foreign Marketing Focus 28

Formal Receptions 31

Conclusion 34


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3

IN THE EUROP E OF CITIES AND REGIONS

Andrej urkovskLord Mayor o Bratislava

Bratislava continues to be one o the youngest capitals o Europe. At the same time, however, it

draws on a rich and amous tradition reaching back as many as two thousand years. Due to this as well,

Bratislava has nearly the same historical oundation as several other major cities o Europe. Today, it is amember o a mature amily o 27 metropolises o the new, expanded Europe and, jointly with its neig-

hbours, contributes to creating a metropolitan Euroregion which has all the prerequisites to become one

o the most dynamic areas o European cooperation and development within the next 15 to 20 years.

It would be dif cult to nd anot her similar place in Eu rope whose histor y has involved so

requent changes o political, ethnic, social, as well as urban design system, as has that o Bratislava.

Bratislava, less than 60 km rom Vienna, was articially and orcibly severed rom European evolution,

progress, and general developments, which it had been naturally contributing to and drawing rom or

centuries, or over 40 years until 1989.

Also thanks to this historical experience, Bratislava will be an important partner in creating

cooperation o cities in the new Europe. The role o international cooperation among cities and regions

in the expanded Europe will be indispensable. The new Europe will be a Europe o cities and regions.

Since the medieval times, cities were islands o ree economy, ree thinking and deep aith.

For Bratislava, the crucial issue is the urther integration within the region. The metropolitan

region o Vienna/Bratislava is one o the areas with the most dynamic potential o urther development.

Thanks to open borders and dynamic cooperation, we got into a prestigious situation o being able to

help others. Bratislava is striving to export know how through bilateral cooperation with cities, inclu-

ding outside o the European Union.

The priorities o Bratislavas oreign policy include economic protability, support to education

and science, and eort o social and political stability. I am convinced that such ruits o international

cooperation will be enjoyed not only by the inhabitants o this region but by all Europeans.


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5

INTRODUCTION

OVERVIEW OF BRATISLAVAS INTERNATIONAL

RELATIONS

The oreign policy o the capital o the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, reects its position in

the international political, cultural, social, and economic area where it denes its interests with

reerence to the interests o its citizens with the objective o achieving the best possible quality o

their lie and promoting the reputation o Bratislava as the capital o the Slovak Republic abroad.

This can be indicated as the main strategic objective.

Bratislavas economic potential, geographic location and openness are a promise o ur-

ther intensive development in this direction whose natural consequence is an intensication o

citys activities in international networks through inter-city and regional cooperation at bilateral

and multilateral levels.

Bratislava is well placed or a purposeul involvement in the European system o cities

whose development should consist in joint programming and coordination o activities. What is

important in this respect is not only the programme developing relations with European Unionscapitals and partner cities with a shared vision but also with metropolises that can benet rom the

experience gained in the processes o economic environment transormation, decentralisation o

public administration, and introduction o the new currency.

The ollowing text represents a brie overview o international relations o the capital

o the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, ocusing on the period o the last two years. A comprehensive

description o the citys oreign policy is provided in the Overview o International Activities o the

Capital o the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, in 2007 2008 with an Outlook or 2010, which is avai-

lable on the of cial website o the city at www.bratislav a.sk.

The capital o the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, is open to any kind o cooperation at bilateral

or multilate ral levels, in the orm o exper t exchange o experience as well as at an of cial level o

ormal contacts. However, this cooperation must proceed in a systematic manner, on the basis o

the given relations added value. Only an ef cient oreign polic y o the city can contribut e to the

promotion o the citys reputation abroad.Bratislav a, in an eort o operating as ef ciently as possibl e in the sphere o international

relations, bases the implementation o its oreign policy primarily on the geographic location and

economic potential. At the same time, however, the balance between the citys growth potential

and its sustainable use is taken into account, which should be the essential aspect o current and

uture activities.

Currently, citys oreign relations are implemented at the bilateral level the cooperation

with partner cities, as well as at the multilateral level the membership in international organisati-

ons and networks o cities. In addition to these two priority axes, there is the protocol level which

provides or of cial representation contacts o the Lord Mayor and management o the capital in the

oreign policy area. In addition to the above, the practical implementation o international activities

and operation o the city on the international scene includes the operation o oreign marketing that

employs targeted promotion to create good reputation o the capital abroad.


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7

BILATERAL COOP ERATION

A new tendency in Bratislavas bilateral oreign relations

is their gradual systematis ation and ef ciency improvement with

the primary role being played by the added value o such coope-

ration regardless o whether or not the given partner relation-

ship is built on a contractual basis.

The joining o the EU substantially inuenced Bratisla-

vas bilateral orientation with an increasing ocus on relations

with capitals o the European Union. However, these continue to

be dominated by contacts with those capitals that are connec-

ted with Bratislava through traditional historical or geographic

aspects. These include the closest partners such as Prague, Vien-

na, Budapest, Warsaw, etc.

BRATISLAVA VIENNA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

The international cooperation between the cities o

Bratislava and Vienna is a clear example o present trends and

their positive impacts in uniying Europe. As national borders

gradually cease to exist, the integration o local economies un-

derlines the importance o cross-border cooperation. Ater the

borders opened in 1989, both cities, with respective annual GDP

growths higher than the rest o the country, naturally started to

benet rom geographic vicinity and this development proved

advantageous or both sides. The joining o the EU in 2004 eli-

minated urther obstacles to cooperation and projects nanced

rom EU unds in particular become the driving orce o the initi-

atives. Another important milestone in the development o the

positive inuence o the integration into the European space was

Slovakias accession to the Schengen Zone.

In the period o the last two years, the cooperation with

Vienna was the most active cooperation among bilateral relati-

ons. Mutual cooperation was implemented in the orm o specic

working meetings, conerences, cultural, social and sport events,

as well as in the orm o cooperation in cross-border projects.

However, the existing cooperation undoubtedly culmi-

nated in 2008 in the Bratislava Vienna Twin City Year, which

meant not only the basis o a new level o both citiesmutual re-

lations but gave the bilateral cooperation with Vienna a specic

position within the structure o citys bilateral relations.

The declared connection o Bratislava Vienna Twin

City is an evidence o the trend o rationalisation in citiespartner

relationships without a contractual basis and expresses the con-

cept o joint development and utilisation o the possibilities o

this conurbation and the entire region. The area o the Bratislava

Vienna conurbation is apparently one o the regions with the

best prospects, this being due to the potential available to it:

Territorial potential:

Two closest capitals o the EU (60 km apart) being on the inter-

ace o two EU accession groups

Development potential:

Per capita GDP in both cities are high above the averages o

the respective countries

Potential o educational basis and state-o-the-art research

concentration o universities; Vienna: developed science and

research; Bratislava: room or its application

Multiunctional logistics centre 5 o the main transport co-

rridors o the trans-European transport network, the Danube

waterway, two international airports. This logistics centre in


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9

the area o the Twin City grants the region a unique position in international

competition, motivating companies to the decision to place the headquar-

ters o their companies in this very space.

The intended objective o the Bratislava Vienna Twin City Year 2008

was to increase public awareness o the partnership link between the two ci-

ties, to emphasise good neighbourly relations between their populations, to

present the interest in joint development within the Centrope region, and to

improve awareness o their respective products.

In this period, several joint activities took place concerning a broad

scale o areas such as culture, sport, ree time, gastronomy, economy, educati-

on, school system, research, inrastructure, management, transport, inormati-

on, or travel.

The Twin City Year started on 16 May by an inauguration cruise o the

Twin City Liner II catamaran with an of cial visit o Aust rian Federal President,

Heinz Fischer, and Lord Mayor o Vienna, Michael Hupl. The main topics o the

meeting o both citiesLord Mayors were, in addition to the Twin City Year 2008

itsel, also the candidacy o both cities or the common seat o the European

Institute o Innovation and Technology, the Main Line or Europe, and coope-

ration in the ramework o the CENTROPE Euroregion.

In the same month, urther joint activities took place subsequently,

namely the economic orum Possibilities and Prospects o the Vienna Brati-

slava Regionas well as a sport event in the orm o riendly ootball matches

between municipal authority employees, journalists, and children rom both

cities.

The Twin City Year activities continued with the expert Vienna Brati-

slava Transport Symposium and with mutual presentations o both cities cul-

ture: in the summer months, it was a presentation o Viennese culture as part

o the Bratislava Summer o Culture estival and, subsequently, a presentation

o Bratislavas culture at the Donauinselest estival. In September, mutual ex-

changes o Bratislavas and Viennas secondary school students took place as

part o the Vienna Bratislava Danube Twins 08project, and the architectural

exhibition o Young Viennese Architects Y.O.V.A. was organised. Representa -

tives o municipal authorities o both cities met again in November at the ex-

pert Bratislava Vienna Twin City Workshop with the main topics being urban

development, regional planning, transport and inrastructure, economy, and

research and innovation.

The Twin City Year was concluded by the Viennese Gala Evening and a

common concert o the Slovak Philharmonic and the Wiener Symphoniker on

23 November, at which the Lady Deputy Mayors o both cities evaluated the

last year and expressed conviction that it had not been an isolated occurrence

but that the year had ormed a solid base or urther continued cooperation.

In addition to the Twin City Year, cooperation with Vienna in the most

recent period included other important projects:

In 2008, the cooperation o Bratislava and Vienna was reected in the

orm o joint candidacy or the seat o the European Institute o Innovation

and Technology (EIT) they bid or in a joint application entitled Twin City He-

adquarters or EIT. Although the EU member states eventually decided to pla-

ce the headquarters in Budapest, cooperation with Vienna in this area appears

to be very promising and will thereore certainly continue in the uture.

An important project in the area o transport is the Main Line or Eu-

rope initiative involving multilateral cooperation o cities and regions along

the European railway line o TEN T-17 (Paris Bratislava/Budapest), however,

Bratislava and Vienna were brought together in this exercise by the decision o

appointing them as the joint organisers o the Initiatives general meeting that

took place in January 2009. The main part o the conerence had its rst day in

Bratislava, continuing with a transer o the participants to Vienna or the se-

cond day including the signing o the Main Line or Europe Twin City Initiatives

Declaration.

The geographic vicinity o both cities predetermines an intensive co-

operation in the area o land use planning with a major part thereo presently

taking place particularly in the ramework o individual joint projects o the EU

Cross-Border Cooperation Programme as well as in the ramework o the CEN-

TROPE project. A current topic and a challenge or the uture continues to be

Bratislavas development with respect to the citys land use plan involving the

cross-border area o Austria.


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11

RELATIONS WITH THE CAPITALS OF CENTRAL EUROPE

Another level in the building o bilateral relations is the metropo-

lises o the Central European region sharing historical and social

experience and common interests with Bratislava. The partner-

ship with these cities represents a clear priority not only with re-

spect to the geographic vicinity but particularly due to common-

ly shared values and objectives.

Prague

The cooperation o Bratislava with the capital o the

Czech Republic is based on traditionally good relations that stem

naturally rom the joint history o the common state. This repre-

sents the basis or common interests as well as or coordination

when pursuing these interests in the European environment,

which is maniested particularly in the Committee o the Regions

and in the cooperation o the Slovak and Czech delegations.

The expert level o Bratislavas and Pragues mutual co-

operation is coordinated particularly at annual meetings o cen-

tral European municipal authority directors which both cities ac-

tively participate in. The traditional cooperation in international

projects continues including, or example, the Christmas Bridges

between the cities, or, since 2008, the maniestation bicycle ride

on the anniversary o 11/9, Prague Vienna Bratislava.

Prague is presently Bratislavas closest partner concer-

ning the so called good relations the level o ormal contacts.

This is evidenced by annual regular reciprocal participations o

the Lord Mayors at city balls and similar social occasions.

At the beginning o 2009, the cooperation with Prague

was shaped primarily by the Czech Republics EU presidency.

What can be mentioned as an example is the Prague Days in

Bratislava that took place in the ramework o the presentation

o Czech cities and regions throughout Europe. This event was

the result o the cooperation o the Czech Centre in Bratislava

with the Prague municipal authority and it was launched in the

presence o both capitals Lord Mayors. Another opportunity or

both Lord Mayors to meet was subsequently the European sum-

mit o regions and cities in Prague in March which was held on

the basis o an invitation rom the Committee o the Regions.

Prospective areas o mutual cooperation are envisa-

ged to include, in particular, coordinated pursuit o common

interests in the European environment, lively cultural exchange

and exchange o experience in various elds: tourism and travel,

territorial development and urban design concepts o the city,

public transport, successul promotion o citys brand abroad, or

experience in drawing on EU unds.

Budapest

The existing cooperation between Bratislava and Buda-

pest proceeds particularly at a multilateral level, especially in the

orm o annual meetings o municipal authority directors, which

was held in 2008 in Budapest and culminated in signing a joint

declaration that conrmed the good relations o the participa-

ting towns and their coordinated procedure in matters o com-

mon interest.

International contacts o both cities take place in seve-

ral other multilateral projects such as the Main Line or Europe

initiative, the Five Cities Tournament, or the Vienna Bratislava

Budapest international supermarathon.

As or bilateral relations, the most signicant event in

the last period was the of cial visit o Lord Mayor o Bu dapest,

Gbor Demszky, in Bratislava in February 2009. The topic o both

Lord Mayorsdiscussions was the My City Bratislava/Budapest

project, a estival whose main objective is to introduce the cul-

ture o important European cities rom a non-traditional aspect.

In addition to cultural topics, the discussion included areas or

expanding and intensiying the cooperation between Bratislava,

Budapest, Vienna and Prague and the possibilities o cooperati-

on in tackling the nancial crisis.

Prospective areas o cooperation with Budapest conti-

nue to include, in particular, the coordinated implementation o

common interests in the European environment, the nancing o

urban projects using EU unds, possible cooperation in the area

o science and research (Budapest was elected to be the seat o

EIT), and inormation exchange in various elds: reurbishment

and revitalisation o river bank zones, tourism and travel, promo-

tion o citys brand abroad, transport. The cooperation in the eld

o culture continues to be a tradition.

Although the present cooperation with Budapest is

implemented primarily on the multilateral basis, the geographic

vicinity o both cities, the location on the Danube, and the com-

mon history predetermine Budapest, similarly as Vienna, to be a

strategic partner in cooperation.

Warsaw

The metropolises o the closest central European spa-

ce include the capital o the Republic o Poland, Warsaw. Many

common topics as well as the present comprehensive boom in

the citys development can be an important source or Bratislava

or mutual cooperation and bilateral inormation exchange.

In the present period, mutual bilateral relations, as in most o the

cases, take the orm o a multilateral dialogue in international

ora but also that o good relations. What can be mentioned as

an example is the visit o Lord Mayor, Andrej urkovsk, together

with Deputy Lady Mayor, Anna Dyttertov, in Warsaw in April

2008, which took place at the invitation o Warsaws Lady Mayor,

Hanna Gronkiewicz-Walz, on the occasion o the memorial at the

65th anniversary o the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. The Lord Mayor

o Bratislava and the Lady Mayor o Warsaw met again during

the European Summit o Regions and Cities in Prague in March

2009.

Prospective areas o cooperation, as with the previous

cities, include, in particular, the coordinated implementation o

common interests on the European soil and the nancing o ur-

ban projects using EU unds, which is implied by the inclusion

in the same group o EU accession countries as well as by a si-

milar initial situation. The areas o inormation exchange include

primarily territorial development and urban design concepts o

the cities, revitalisation o public areas, nancing and implemen-

tation o major investment projects, marketing and travel, and

traditional cooperation between the cities in the eld o culture.


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Ljubljana

Bilateral cooperation with the city o Ljubljana dates

back to 1967, at which time, in line with the customs o that era, a

ormal agreement on druzhba citieswas concluded. A new wave

o mutual cooperation was conrmed in 2002 by signing the

Memorandum on Strengthening Friendly Cooperation between

Ljubljana and Bratislavaand in 2007, on the occasion o the visit

o Ljubljanas Lord Mayor, Zoran Jankovi, to Bratislava, the Dec-

laration o Friendship and Cooperation between Partner Cities

was signed. Both agreements declared inormation exchange in

the elds o transport, inrastructure, environment, school sys-

tem, science and research, and travel.

The multilateral basis o cooperation includes municipal

authority directorsannual meetings which provided appropria-

te room or exchange o experience in the introduction o the

new currency, the Euro, ater the Republic o Slovenia joined the

Euro zone, and or exchange o other best practices. At the same

time, both cities participate in the international sports event, the

Five Cities Tournament.

In addition to general areas o prospective cooperati-

on, such as culture, city marketing and travel or the exchange

o experience in drawing on EU unds, other prospective areaso inormation exchange include that o transport systems and

inrastructure as well as the eld o urban design concept o the

cities and land use planning, the prerequisites being the exchan-

ge o experience in the introduction o a new land use plan into

the practice, revitalisation o river bank zones, or expanding pe-

destrian zones in city centres.

Dublin

Successul bilateral cooperation ater Slovakias acces-

sion to the EU in 2004 was exemplied by establishing closer

contacts with the capital o the Republic o Ireland, Dublin. This

was contractually conrmed by signing the Memorandum o Fri-

endship in 2005, in which both cities committed themselves to

cooperate and develop mutual contacts between local govern-

ments and their populations, commercial sectors, non-govern-

mental organisations, and manuacturers and service providers.

Areas o mutual relations include, in particular, culture,

which has a tradition o long-term cooperation o Slovak and

Irish ensembles involved in Irish music and dance. In 2008, Lord

Mayor o Bratislava, Andrej urkovsk, met Irish President Mary

McAleese in Dublin to hand her a special git as a token o coope-

ration between representatives o both cultures in several years

o the Summer o CultureBratislava estival that included a Slo-

vak Irish evening.

What can be mentioned among urther areas o coo-

peration is the social area and that o education and science and

development, as both cities operate as higher education centres

o the respective countries with support or cooperation o the

academic and private sphere.

Brno

Brno has traditionally been a long-term partner in bi-

lateral relat ions o the city o Bra tislava. An of cial meeting o

both citiesLord Mayors, Andrej urkovsk and Roman Onderka,

took place in December 2007 with the Lord Mayors ocusing on

detailing the possibilities o mutual cooperation. Subsequently,

in June 2008, the Memorandum o Cooperation between Brati-

slava and Brno in the Area o Sta Exchangeswas signed declaring support to coope-

ration in the eld o inormation, experience and human resource exchanges in social

issues.

What could be mentioned in addition to the above-mentioned area o coo-

peration is the exchange o experience in the eld o marketing and travel, land use

planning, oreign relations, and also research and development, as the city o Brno is

the Czech Republics centre or these activities. However, a priority or mutual relations

continues to be the shared partnership in the project o central European region deve-

lopment and cross-border cooperation, CENTROPE.

Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius

The starting points or deepening bilateral cooperation with the capitals o

the Baltic states are their comparable size, historical experience, and socio-economic

conditions. These imply, in a natural manner, similar interests and objectives that can

be implemented within the group o the new capitals in European structures.

The main areas o prospective cooperation and exchange o experience

between Bratislava and the capitals o the Baltic states include, or example, revitali-

sation o less developed areas and public areas, reurbishment o river bank zones and

public areas, science and development, experience in the implementation o major

investment projects , of cial support and candidac y or the European capita l o culture,

or the planned projects o trans-European transport networks, TEN T.

Other Partners

In addition to the above-mentioned cities involved in bilateral cooperation

with the city o Bratislava, one should mention cities such as Krakow, Zagreb, Turku, Stras-

bourg, Cleveland or Perugia, which are either traditional partners in the bilateral relations

o the city or represent prospective partners or the uture. However, it should be men-

tioned at the same time, that to promote Bratislavas reputation and relations, openness

to any bilateral cooperation is necessary, whether based on the long-term building o

mutual relations or on ad hoc cooperation that is advantageous or both sides.

OTHER BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH SELECTED METROPOLISES


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EXPORT OF KNOW HOW

Important elds o Bratislavas international activities include bilateral cooperation

with cities and regions located outside o the European Union. The experience in areas such

as decentralisation o public administration, harmonisation and implementation o European

legislation, introduction o the single European currency, approval o new land use plans, etc.,

orm a suf cient basis or the ex port o know how and or increas ing Bratislav as prestige.

This group includes the metropolises o the West Balkan included in the EU program-

me Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) whose goals became one o Slovakias oreign

priorities ater joining the EU. Bratislava strives to include this priority in its oreign policy;

however, it has to take into account its available capacities.

Another group comprises metropolises o countries neighbouring the EU in the ra-

mework o the European Commissions concept o the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)

which is designed to prevent the ormation o dividing lines between the integrated Euro-

pean Union and its neighbours and it can serve Bratislava as an initial point or contacts with

metropolises o 16 countries involved in this policy.

The last group comprises metropolises o the developing world. In connection with

this area, the Medium-Term Strategy or Of cial Development Assistance o the Slovak republic or

the years 2009-2013 the Slovak Aid was passed in March 2009, providing a list o territorial

and sectoral priorities or Slovak Aid. This involves 3 main programme countries Serbia, Ke-

nya, and Aghanistan, plus 16 project countries.

As an example o Bratislavas activities in the area o know how export in the period

o the last two years, one could mention the presentations or representatives o the city o

Kishinev with the topics o Possibilities o Drawing on Funds or Local Governments rom EU

Funds and Land Use Planning and Development o the City, the visit o a delegation o state

of cials rom Vietnam with the topic o Decentrali sation o State Admini stration and Its Im-

pact on Municipal Budget Financing, the participation in the Moldavian/Slovak Cooperation

in the Field o Municipal Sel-Government, the visit o a group o specialised sta in the eld

o the environment rom the PRC with the topic o Waste Handling in a City, presentations

or the representatives o local governments rom South Italy on the topics o inormatisation,

inormation systems, city website, making materials accessible to citizens, or the provision o

inormation to the representatives o the city o Tbilisi on renaming streets and squares ater

November 1989.


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MULTILATERAL COOP ERATION

Multilateral cooperation o the city is implemented in

three basic areas. What is most important is the membership in

European Union structures which provided Bratislava with the

possibility o operating in the political and economic space o 27

member countries and represents thus the broadest platorm or

the networking o cities and regions. Another group includes the

citys cross-border cooperation based directly on EU programmesocusing on the cooperation o regions in border and broader

areas o the member countries. The membership in international

organisations and projects continues to be a traditional orm o

multilateral cooperation.

BRATISLAVA IN EU STRUCTURES

The new position o Slovakias capital, Bratislava, as o 1

May 2004, provides the possibility o being involved in selected

types o relations, activities, and priorities o the European Uni-

on, through which the Slovakias metropolis not only can present

itsel more ef ciently but which enable it to draw on experienc e

as well as on relevant EU unds to ull the priorities o its develo-

pment.

The EU membership substantially inuenced Bratisla-

vas relations with the external environment. The institutional

xation in the single political and economic space ormed an

optimal and qualitatively higher ramework to ensure interests

o Bratislava and its citizens.

The involvement in shaping common European poli-

cies, the possibilities o drawing on EU unds, the actual orm o

the presence in Brussels, and promoting its reputation in Europe

all that provides Bratislava with an opportunity to gain a stron-

ger position in the broader and more open environment o the

European Union.

Committee of the Regions

Since 2008, the city o Bratis lava is of cially represente d

in the structures o European institutions in the orm o mem-bership o Bratislavas Lord Mayor, Andrej urkovsk, in the Com-

mittee o the Regions. In the Committee plenum counting 344

members, the Slovak Republic is represented by a nine-member

national delegation.

The Committee o the Regions is a consulting body

comprising regional and local representatives o EU member

countries. It was established with the main objective o involving

regions, cities and municipalities in Community policy making.

The position and importance o the Committee o the

Regions as a consulting body o the European Union is gradually

strengthening and the scope o areas or mandatory consulting

is expanding. The original ve areas mentioned in the Maastricht

Treaty that included economic and social cohesion, trans-Eu-

ropean transport networks, healthcare, education and culture,

were extended by the Amsterdam Treaty with ve more elds:

employment, social policy, environment, vocational training, and

transport. The Committee o the Regions may issue its opinions

on additional areas o interest or regions and municipalities, e.g.,

on land use planning.

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CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION

Bratislava is part o the space on the interace o 4 states the Slovak Republic, the Czech

Republic, the Republic o Austria and the Republic o Hungary. Within joint projects and activities,

there are conditions or creating a multilateral, binding, and long-term cooperation ramework

which is a clear example o present trends in uniying Europe.

The iron curtain and the subsequent barrier in the orm o state borders articially hinde-

red the natural development in the border area, which was resumed only ater the accession to the

European Union and particularly to the Schengen Area.

In the eld o cross-border cooperation, Bratislava has presently a specic position that is

given by its location close to two neighbouring countries. The elimination o borders with Austriaand Hungary thus brings Bratislava a possibility to resume its natural development into the border

area and restore the relational links with the neighbouring Austrian and Hungarian territories. The

act that the development into these areas is natural is evidenced by some border villages in the

Austrian and Hungarian territories being closer to the centre o Bratislava than some city districts

o Bratislava.

The increased border permeability has a positive impact not only on enabling more active

cross-border relations but it also has an impact on the land use plan o the city o Bratislava. By cre-

ating the state border less than three kilometres rom the city centre, the development o the city

was aected and pushed out into three quadrants only, namely to the southeast, northwest, and

northeast. However, by relaxing this border regime, Bratislava gained an opportunity to develop in

border locations including the so-called ourth quadrant the southwest development axis, which

is the Austrian territory in the direction o Berg Wolsthal Hainburg, Kittsee Parndor, or Kittsee

Bruck a/L.

The cross-border links towards the Austrian territory comprised the subject o the newly

signed Agreement on Cooperation between Bratislava and the Federal Land o Lower Austria on

Cross-Border Cooperation or 2009 to 2013 which was ceremonially signed on 15 April 2009 on the

premises o the Primates Palace o Bratislava. The Agreement aims at better coordination o cross-

border cooperation and urther deepening o activities in as many areas as possible. This should be

implemented primarily through exchange o inormation on cross-border activities which should

prevent duplicity. Activities o cross-border cooperation between both partners are to include

areas o transport inrastructure, protection rom oods and disasters, agriculture and viticulture,

health and social aairs, culture and historical heritage, science and research, land use planning,

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travel, sports, education and youth, economic cooperation, de-

mography, and labour market.

EU CrossBorder Cooperation Programme

Cross-border cooperation implemented using EU unds

or the programming period 2007 2013 takes place in the ra-

mework o the so -called European territorial cooperation, which

is the third objective o the EU cohesion policy.

It relies on the experience gained in the regional Com-

munity Initiative INTERREG and in cross-border cooperation

(CBC) programmes through support to cooperation o individualregions. The objective o the European territorial cooperation is

intended to achieve the strengthening o cross-border, internati-

onal, and interregional cooperation.

So ar, the city o Bratislava led several projects in the

ramework o theprogramming period 2007 2013through Cross-

Border Cooperation Programmes, including the Bratislava Raj-

ka project, which will introduce a new cross-border bus line to

the Hungarian village o Rajka. This line should contribute to the

development o the adjacent regions o Slovakia and Hungary.

What could be mentioned with respect to Austrian

territory is the CIDEP project, in which a common catalogue o

potential development territories will be created and which will

be useul or the preparation o planning documentation or the

cities o Vienna and Bratislava, and the RECOM project having

the objective o improving acceptance o cross-border activities

through supporting awareness o cooperation in border regions.

CENTROPE

Centrope is a cross-border initiative o our countries:

Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, which is

built on political memoranda. Formally, it represents a platorm

or the implementation o activities and coordination o partici-

pants priorities.

The Centrope Initiative aims at developing multilateral

cooperation in public administration, companies, and public or-

ganisations in the Central European region through assisting in

coordinating, integrating, and reviving cross-border activities. Its

main objective is to create an attractive and competitive region

o Central Europe.

The city o Bratislava is a member o the CENTROPE Eu-

roregion since its establishment in 2003 when the Initiative was

institutionalised through a launching political conerence on the

establishment o a common European cross-border region oCENTROPE the Central Europe Region.

Subsequently in 2005, a Memorandum entitled We

grow together. Together we grow was signed dening Centrope

as a link or growing involvement in and support to cross-bor-

der cooperation in projects o region-wide importance. These

projects concern primarily transport inrastructure, regional

knowledge economy, integrated economic area, cross-border la-

bour market, and European research, but also common territorial

development, leisure time activities, environment, and culture.

The Memorandum was signed by representatives o the ederal

lands o Burgenland, Lower Austria, and Vienna, sel-governing

regions o Bratislava and Trnava, South Moravia, and the Gyr-

Moson-Sopron County, as well as o the cities o Vienna, Bratisla-

va, Trnava, Brno, St. Plten, Eisenstadt, Gyr, and Sopron.

Two key projects have been implemented in the ra-

mework o the Centrope Initiative:

Centrope Capacity the objective being to support integra-

tion in the region through creating a multilateral organisation

structure that will be capable o coordinated control o mem-

bersactivities in our key areas: territorial integration, human

capital, knowledge region, and culture and travel. The objecti-

ve thus is to create a structure or common control and creati-

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on o measures, common marketing strategy, as well as condi-

tions or systematic coordination o activities.

House o Centrope which is important particularly or the

Slovak partners their position and pursuing their interests

within the Initiative. The objective was to create a national

contact point that would bring together all our Slovak part

ners: the cities o Bratislava and Trnava and the sel-governing

regions o Bratislava and Trnava. The project included the esta-

blishment o a coordination centre in Bratislava representing

the interests o the Slovak members, know how transer regar-

ding all previous projects, as well as an inormation campaignocused on the private sector, institutions, and NGOs, as well

as on the population o the Bratislava and Trnava regions.

Activities o the House o Centrope included several work-

shops on the topics o land use planning, travel, automotive

cluster, etc.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND INITIATIVES

Bratislavas membership in European and global orga-

nisations associating cities and regions represents an important

means or pursuing the objectives o its oreign policy in the in-

ternational scene. According to the nature o activity and ocus

o individual international organisations, they can be divided

into two main groups: general and specialised.

General International Organisations and Initiatives

Their objectives identiy with the general objectives o

the citys oreign policy: contributing to good relations, expan-

ding the possibilities o cooperation in projects o common inte-

rest, promoting the citys reputation abroad.

Meetings of municipal authority directors

The main objective o these meetings is the exchange

o experience and maintenance o good relations among the

participating cities. This is a voluntary initiative with presently

the ollowing participating cities: Bratislava, Budapest, Dublin,

Ljubljana, Paris, Prague, Tallinn, and Vienna.

In 2007, the meeting took place in Bratislava and cul-

minated in the of cial signature o the Memorandum o Unders-

tanding, which set the main objectives o cooperation or the

orthcoming period such as support to cooperation, exchange

o experience, and improvement o communication among in-dividual authorities with the aim o assisting them in the peror-

mance o their tasks in the area o economy, education, sports,

youth, social aairs, culture, sustainable mobility, crisis manage-

ment, etc. These objectives were conrmed in 2008 at a meeting

in Budapest.

Union of Capitals of the European Union (UCEU)

The organisation associating all capitals o the EU was

ormed in 1961 as a platorm or annual meetings o Lord Mayors

or supreme political representatives o the cities with the objecti-

ve o extending active and long-term cooperation among indivi-

dual cities. It is presently one o the most prestigious international

ora o expert inormation exchange and networking among EU

capitals. The mission o the organisation includes reecting met-

ropolisesspecic problems in EU regional policy and supporting

the citiesdevelopment in economic, social, and cultural areas.

Strasbourg Club

The organisation was established in 2003 and presently

it associates 39 national and regional centres and metropolises

o new and uture member states o the EU. Its objectives include

primarily enabling exchange o experience at the level o muni-

cipal policy (in the elds o urban design, transport, use o the

Structural Funds, culture and education), solutions to common

problems o European agglomerations, building international

relations, and developing cooperation at the level o local go-

vernments, increasing the interest o EU institutions in specic

challenges and problems aced by major European cities.

Union of Central and Southeastern European Capitals (UCSEEC)

The organisation was established in 1995 with the obje-

ctive o achieving an environment o cooperation and assistance

through city diplomacy. The primary objective was to strengthensocial, economic, and cultural relations and to achieve stability

and progress in the Southeast European region through local

governments.

Specialised International Organisations and Initiatives

The membership in these organisations brings the

possibility o specialised exchange o best practices. According

to their ocus, they can be divided into organisations in indivi-

dual spheres o action:

Sphere o marketing and travel:

European Cities Marketing (ECM)

Stars o Central Europe (SCE)

Sphere o culture, school system, and sports:

League o Historical Cities (LHC)

European Mozart Ways

International City Forum Graz (ISG)

Sphere o transport:

International Association o Public Transport ( UITP)

Main Line or Europe

Sphere o land use planning:

International Federation or Housing and Planning (IFHP)

International projects

These are ocused on creating bridges o riendship and

exchange o international contacts primarily among pupils and

sports persons o the participating cities who, at the same time,

become amiliar with individual cities, their people, cultural mo-

numents, customs, and traditions. These international projects

are thus not important only with respect to sports and social as-

pects but also with respect to gaining knowledge o culture and

history.

Christmas Bridges between Cities (Bratislava, Brno, Krakow,

Prague, Vienna) Five Cities Tournament (Bratislava, Budapest, Ljubljana, Vien-

na, Zagreb)

International Childrens Games (ICG)

Vienna Bratislava Budapest Supermarathon

Prague Vienna Bratislava Maniestation Bicycle Ride on the

Anniversary o 11/9

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FOREIGN MARKETING

In the contemporary globalised world, where emphasis

is laid on the tertiary sector and the quality o lie, it is necessary

to become involved in the global city marketas one o the 21st

centurys phenomena resulting rom the growing mobility o the

worlds population. Any country, region, or city must actively stri-

ve or its share o global consumers, tourists, investors, students,

sports or cultural events, or the interest o international media.One o the key prerequisites or Bratislavas image

building and brand control is the cooperation and the seeking o

relevant partnerships not only at the level o the city itsel, its ci-

vil interest groups, business entities or associations that operate

here, but also at the level o the region, cross-border cooperation

with Austria, Hungary, with the Czech Republic, and cooperation

in international organisations and in international projects. Cre-

ating a competitive identity o Bratislava is one o the objectives

o the citys oreign policy.

CITY BRAND

A city brand comprises all associations coming into

ones mind in connection with the city all reerences and expe-

rience, nature and behaviour o the people, known and amous

personalities in the media, etc. However, most oten a city brand

is connected with the citys logo and slogan, even i these are

only a part o it.

In the issue o building the so-called brand identity, Slo-

vakias capital Bratislava made signicant progress in the last 4 to

5 years. The new logo that the city introduced, whose shape is

intended to reect the perception o Bratislava as a dynamic city,

has been generally well accepted and the city is presently using

it in all necessary outputs. An especially appropriate method o

increasing the general awareness o the logo and slogan o the

city o Bratislava has been their placement on the means o pub-

lic transport.

Bratislavas slogan used presently in external communi-

cation is the expression Little Big City. This slogan is used par-ticularly or the sectors o tourism and travel, culture and mar-

keting, or, where appropriate, when entering oreign markets.

In other areas, e.g., in relation to investors or in the knowledge

economy sector, presenting Bratislava simply as the capital o

the country appe ars to be most ef cient.

However, the notion o city branding is not meant to

include only the citys logo and slogan but rather its general

organisational principle preceded by a thorough knowledge o

the customer, their perception o the product, as well as the time

consuming ormulating o a vision o the city, its comparative

advantage, and brand personality. Brand personality should ac-

company each contact o the client with the city, its people and

services. Also in the uture, city branding will thereore require

rom the city and its authorities close cooperation o many enti-

ties and bilateral communication with individual representatives

o the most important sectors o the citys economy and, o cour-

se, with the public.

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City Brand Evaluation

Presence (how well known the city is; its visit rate)

Bratislavas annual visit rate: 760,000 (including nearly 500,000

rom abroad)

Over 60% o oreign guests come rom 7 unchanging origin

countries: Germany, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Poland,

Austria, France, and Italy

The city is presently o business nature: the ratio o businessclientele to tourist clientele is 70:30 (three- to our-star hotels)

The city is known particularly in the eld o investor relations

as the capital o Slovakia with a high per capita GDP

Relatively low awareness o the city perceived as a tourist des-

tination (however, the growth o oreign visitors is accelerating)

The place (perception o citys position and atmosphere)

Bratislava: a typical central European city with a rich cultural

heritage (the coronation city o Hungarian kings)

Evaluation o Bratislava rom the viewpoint o oreign guests:

A livable city(pleasant climate, numerous events in public areas)

Potential (potential in the eld o education and business)

Bratislava: a strong tradition in the eld o education, school

system, science and research (unctioning as an administrative

centre o the country)

Over 10 higher education institutions with 60,000 students

The seat o the Slovak Academy o Sciences and o several

research institutions

Supporting the image o an educational city

Pulse o the city (eelings that the city evokes in a visitor)

High rating: visitor satised with the stay, recommending their

acquaintances to visit it

Low rating: wishing to see the city again a one-visit city

People(orthcoming, riendly, prejudice to other races, citys saety)

Bratislavians are perceived by oreign guests as kind, riendly,

orthcoming, and polite

Bratislava is perceived as a sae city: non-existence o socialghettos, no target or international terrorism

Prerequisites (prerequisites or living the availability o housing,

public transport, the standard o public institutions schools,

hospitals, etc.)

With respect to expatriateslives and establishing companies,

Bratislavas position is steadily improving according to interna-

tional research

Bratislava is thus viewed mostly positively by oreign

visitors; it is perceived primarily as a cheerul city, a dynamic,

open, soothing and careless one. Lower importance attributes

included historic, modern, young, modest, and worldly city. The

only unique characteristic eature o Bratislava appears to be its

compactness. In a short time, without unnecessary transers, one

can very well become amiliar with Bratislava, cover its culture,

history, its leisure opportunities, and night lie. This represents

a comparative and competitive advantage on which the urther

building o the citys identity may be based.

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FOREIGN MARKETING FOCUS

On the basis o analyses and research, a need was dened to iden-

tiy the target markets and segments on which Bratislavas external commu-

nication should ocus with respect to oreign countries. It is necessary in the

process to thoroughly analyse the demand, to create the citys own product,

to know the competition and development in international markets, as well

as to thoroughly evaluate as to which states, regions or towns should be

aimed at, which are interesting or promising or the city, what the target

groups are. The ollowing markets and segments have been identied or

the tourism sector:Target markets:

Primary markets: Czech Republic, Germany, United Kingdom, and Repub-

lic o Ireland

Secondary markets: Italy, Poland, Austria, France

Growth markets: Spain, the Netherlands, Hungary, Russia

Target segments:

1. Sightseers & Culture Seekers culture and history tourism

2nd generation Y age between 15 and 24 years

On the basis o analyses and knowledge o individual actors (de-

mand, development in international markets, target segments and the like)

it is subsequently possible to compile the citys own product:

Cool Bratislava Bratislava or the Young

Target group: Generation Y

Topics: riendly town, club scene, people Bratislavians, experience tourism

Bratislavas Live Heritage

Target group: 25+ (a person interested in culture and context)

Topic: history in architecture, culture, and traditions in their contemporary,

authentic, live quality

MICE (congress and conerence hotel acilities)

Target group: corporate clients, congress and conerence organisers

Bratislava as the host o corporate meetings.

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As Bratislava continues to be a seasonal city, the main

communication activities intended or oreign countries should

ocus primarily on its traditional peak season, i.e., on the period

o April to September. Increasing the awareness o Bratislava re-

quires coordination with state specialised agencies such as the

Slovak Agency or Tourism (SACR) or the Slovak Investment and

Trade Development Agency (SARIO). At the same time, it is re-

commended to cooperate closely with the private sector which

presently generates numerous publications or visitors and po-

tential customers o Slovakias capital, Bratislava.

Although in recent years, Bratislava has had a rich ca-lendar o marketing events in the eld o culture, leisure time

and sports, most o them ailed to generate more than a regional

response and to gain the potential o becoming the carrier o

good image and reputation o Bratislavas brand abroad. Howe-

ver, some o the traditional events do have such a chance: the

city marathon, the Wilsonic progressive music estival, the Viva

Musica!open air estival o classical music, the Coronation Cere-

monies, Bratislava Jazz Days, Christmas Markets or the Welcome

to Partylsava!New Years Eve celebrations.

I Bratislava wishes to be competitive on an internatio-

nal scale with other capitals and regional centres o Europe, it is

necessary that it takes part in the most important airs and exhi-

bitions, above all, in the eld o tourism, the so called meeting

industry, and investor relations. Bratislava presently takes part in

such actions and events in two ways:

Through direct participation with its own exposition:

at tourism airs: Slovakiatour Bratislava, Holiday World Prague,

F.RE.E. Munich, City Break Expo

at airs o investment opportunities and real estate: MIPIMCannes, Real Vienna in Vienna, and Expo Real in Munich

Through direct participation with a national exposition

of the Slovak Agency for Tourism:

at the ollowing airs: Regiontour Go! in Brno, Ferien Messe in

Vienna, Salon de Vacances in Brussels, Utzs in Budapest, BIT

in Milan, ITB in Berlin, Lato in Warsaw, road show Stars o Cen-

tral Europe in the USA, RDA in Cologne, Otdych in Moscow,

Tour Salon in Pozna, WTM in London, and EIBTM in Barcelona.

FORMAL RECEP TIONS

The capital hosts a pproximatel y 30 of cial events

per year, o which about two thirds a re of cial initial vis its o am-

bassador s accredited in Slovakia . For of cial state visit s, a visit to

the City Hall and a reception by the Lord Mayor o the capital are

traditiona lly included in the of cial programmes o these vis its.

The most important receptions at the City Hall include an entry

in the Golden Book o Bratislava. Other less important, i.e., wor-king meetings o the Lord Mayo r and other municipal o f cials,

e.g., bilateral discussions at the level o partner capitals or wor-

king discussions concerning the organisation o various events,

conerences, etc., run into dozens.

Selected formal receptions in the capital of Slovakia,

Bratislava:

State visits:

Dr. Vaira Vike Freiberga, President o the Republic o Latvia,

7 July 2006

Mirek Topolnek, Prime Minister o the Czech Republic, 14 Sep-

tember 2006

His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom

Sihamoni, King o Cambodia, 25 September 2006 His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince o Monaco, Albert II,

24 October 2006

Her Majesty Queen Beatrix o The Netherlands, 22 May 2007

Luka Bebi, Speaker o the Parliament o the Republic o Croa-

tia, 8 July 2008

Vclav Klaus, President o the Czech Republic, joint laying o a

wreath to the Danka Koanovs commemorative tablet on the

occasion o the 40th anniversary o the August events o 1968,

21 August 2008

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II o the United Kingdom o Great

Britain and Northern Ireland and His Royal Highness The Prin-

ce Philip, Duke o Edinburgh, 23 October 2008

Dr. Jan Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister o the Kingdom o

the Netherlands, 12 November 2008Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michalle Jean, Gover

nor General o Canada, and her husband, His Excellency

Mr. Jean Daniel Laond, 27 November 2008

Zoheir Garranah, Minister o Tourism o the Arab Republic o

Egypt, 21 January 2009

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wie, 29 April 2009

Mons. Dominique Mamberti, Secretary o the Holy See or

Relations with States, 14 May 2009

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Municipal Receptions:

Municipal authority directors rom Prague, Budapest, Vienna,

Ljubljana, Bratislava, and Paris, 7 8 June 2007

Zoran Jankovi, Mayor o the Capital o the Republic o Slove-

nia, Ljubljana, 30 November 2007

Roman Onderka, Mayor o the City o Brno, 12 December

2007

Milan Brandi, Mayor o the Capital o the Republic o Croatia,

Zagreb, 5 March 2008

Michael Hupl, Mayor o the Capital o the Republic o Austria,

Vienna, 16 May 2008 Dr. Guy Morin, President o the Basel Canton Executive Coun-

cil, 6 October 2008

Gbor Demszky, Mayor o the Capital o the Republic o

Hungary, Budapest, 19 February 2009

Erwin Prll, Governor o Lower Austria, 15 April 2009

Important Delegations and Personalities

Angel Gurria, Secretary General o the Organisation or Econo-

mic Cooperation and Development OECD, 4 April 2007

Delegation o chancellors o Europes important universities,

9 May 2008

Joseph Daul, Member o the European Parliament, Chairman o

the Group o the European Peoples Party (Christian Democrats)

and European Democrats in the European Parliament (the

EPP-ED Group), 21 June 2008 Ren Fasel, President o the International Ice Hockey Federa-

tion (IIHF), 19 September 2008

Jean Michel Jarre, French musician, 28 November 2008

Georgina Fitzalan-Howard, Duchess o Norolk, 7 May 2009


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CONCLUSION

The achievement o oreign policy objectives o Slova-

kias capital, Bratislava, through oreign marketing, bilateral and

multilateral cooperation represents a long-term, targeted and

systematic process that runs in accordance with the main deve-

lopment priorities o the city.

With this in mind, it is necessary particularly to pursue

the interests and needs o the capital at the international level,to develop oreign contacts with cities, regions and internatio-

nal organisations, and to increase mutual awareness in the cen-

tral and pan-Europea n region through ef cient inormation and

marketing activities.

Considering Bratislavas position as the capital o the

country, it is benecial to maintain good relations particularly

with capitals and regions o countries that are members o the

European Union as well as with metropolises o prospective EU

members. The cooperation requires preparedness or participa-

tion in drawing on EU unds as well as seeking partners or joint

projects.

Exchange o experience, mutual coordination o oreign

relations, and awareness o activities is benecial or all parties

involved. The search or new partners should ocus on cities with

interests, objectives, experience and problems similar to those oBratislava, or on cities whose know how in certain areas may be

benecial or the capital.

To keep abreast with the latest trends in the urban eld,

it is also benecial to maintain adequate contacts with important

centres outside o the institutionalised space o the European

Union.

International activities o the city thereore need to be

balanced, ef cient, open to any advantageous oer, and need to

be adequate to the potential and capacities o the capital.

An analysis and the present orientation o Bratislavas

oreign relations are provided in a comprehensive document

entitled the Overview o International Activities o the Capital

o the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, in 2007 2008 with an Outlo-

ok or 2010, whose ull te xt is availabl e on the of cial website atwww.bratislava.sk. The uture direction and the more long-term

strategy o Bratislavas oreign policy will subsequently be dealt

with by the Programme o Economic Development and Social

Development o the Capital o the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, or

2010 2020, which is in preparation.


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