Regional Intermediate Report Carinthia / Austria Test Areas Feldkirchen and Wolfsberg

Work package 5 « Regional studies » : Regional intermediate report Carinthia / Austria Test areas Feldkirchen and Wolfsberg

Eva Favry Birgit Janach Eva Karpf-Fortin

30 November 2005 Klagenfurt, Vienna

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Regional intermediate report Carinthia / Austria

Table of content

1. Introduction ...... 4 1.1 PUSEMOR: A general overview ...... 4 1.2 Workpackage 5 Regional Studies: Goals, objectives and activities ...... 5 2. Country profile...... 9 2.1 Territorial organisation ...... 9 2.2 Spatial policies in Carinthia...... 9 2.3 Roles and responsibilities in public services...... 10 Transport...... 10 Public administration...... 10 Health care and care for elderly...... 11 Child care, education and culture ...... 11 Telecommunication...... 12 Every day needs ...... 13 3. Regional and test areas profile ...... 14 3.1. Geographical situation ...... 14 Wolfsberg...... 14 Feldkirchen ...... 16 3.2. Demography and Human potential ...... 17 3.3. Socio economic situation ...... 19 4. Public services in the test areas: Description, evaluation, problems, perspectives...... 21 4.1. Methodology ...... 21 4.2. General situation for public services...... 21 Public Transport...... 22 Public administration...... 23 Health care / care for elderly...... 23 Child care, education and culture ...... 24 Telecommunication...... 25 Every day needs ...... 25

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4.3. Assessment of services in the test areas – current difficulties, worries and perspectives...... 26 Overview ...... 26 Thematic focus: transport ...... 32 Other services...... 37 4.4. Future perspectives ...... 39 5. Best practices in the test area, specifics and conditions for transferability.41 6. Conclusion and next steps...... 42 6.1 Regional level ...... 42 6.2 Next steps on transnational level...... 42

List of important legal documents / policy documents ...... 44 List of literature ...... 45 Annex: Best practice examples: ...... 46

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1. Introduction Barbara Cernic Mali, Ueli Stalder

1.1 PUSEMOR: A general overview

Project background In today's mobile society and economy, the provision with public services (or more precisely: with services of public interest) is a locational key factor. To- pographical features and frequently low population density mean that the public services in Alpine regions generally cover only a part of their costs. Market liberalisation and other factors threaten to reduce the availability of some services even further. New supply strategies are required to improve the quality of public services while reducing costs. The project “PUSEMOR” aims at developing sustainable strategies and innovative solutions for improving the provision of public services in sparsely populated mountain regions. This with the ambition to grade up these regions both as economic place and as place of residence. To reach the goals, the project has both an analytical / scientific and a strategic / political dimension. The analysis aims at gathering existing knowledge from the various regions involved, combining it in a methodical way and expanding it in specific areas. The strategic dimension is concerned with the formulation of implementation- ready concepts and pilot projects to improve provision of public services in sparsely populated areas. Consequently, the main activities of PUSEMOR are: • Workpackage 5: Regional studies (analysing the current standard of public services and its development during the last years, analysing the key factors of economic, political/institutional and technological framework conditions, identification of good ideas and best practices to improve the provision of public services.) • Workpackage 6: Transnational comparison of the results of regional studies and common inventory of best practices. • Workpackage 7a: Elaboration and development of innovative and effective new strategies and pilot projects. • Workpackage 7b and 8: Elaboration of recommendations for several stakeholders (public authorities/ policy makers, regional and local NGOs, providers of public services, consultants in regional development etc. • Workpackage 4: Permanent publicity activities about project’s findings and results. For more information about PUSEMOR (Partners, activities, news) see www.pusemor.net (in 5 languages)

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1.2 Workpackage 5 Regional studies: Goals, objectives and activities The Workpackage 5 "Regional studies" aims at: • Clarifying the development and the current standard of public services in selected sparsely populated areas (1 - 3 test areas per participating region); • Identifying the needs of different user groups in these areas; • Providing an inventory of exemplary new strategies i.e. "best practices" to improve basic provision in sparsely populated areas drawn up, including an examination of the key factors in economic, political/institutional and technological framework crucial for the implementation for the identified best practices.

Following the objectives stated, the Workpackage 5 has resulted in regional- specific statements on three issues, presented as three Outputs: • OUTPUT (1) Actual standard of public services and its development over the last years, including basic description and conditions of respective test areas • OUTPUT (2) Assessment by the users of the range of services, • OUTPUT (3) Detailed description of exemplary new strategies in the regions (inventory of „good ideas“), including and Outline of the relevant economic, political/institutional and technological framework

This REGIONAL INTERMEDIATE REPORT (RIR) summarises findings of all three outputs for each of the total 9 regional teams 1. The Slovenian partners (BSC Kranj together with Barbara Cernic Mali from the Urban Planning Institute) were responsible for leading of this WP (elaborating a methodologies and a common, standardised instruments, as- sistance to the other partners in doing regional studies, first guidelines for interpretation). They were assisted by the SAB as technical lead partner of the whole project.

1 Italy: Regione Lombardia and GAL Appennino Genovese; Austria: Bundesland Tirol and Bundesland Kärnten; France: Region Franche-Comté; Germany: Regionalverband Südl. Oberrhein; Slovenia: Gorenjska Region; Switzerland: Suisse occidentale and Canton Ticino. Each of the regional teams defined one to four so called test areas for the studies.

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Output 1: Description of methodology and activities The aim of the Output 1 was to present basic characteristics of the individual areas. In order to provide adequate input for subsequent workpackages (i.e. transnational comparisons for WP6 and Strategies for WP7) a unified structure of the Outpu1 reports was suggested. The slovenian partners, responsible for the technical lead of WP5 prepared a template. The template was then revised, based on discussion and comments by partners. The template included quantitative data, as well as qualitative descriptions. The following thematic issues were treated: • Territorial organisation, geographical situation and natural conditions within the test area / region; • Demographical situation and trends; • Economic structure and trends in general with special emphasis on agriculture and tourism (as important for sparsely populated mountain regions); • Fixed infrastructure (electricity, water, roads etc.); • First information (from existing literature) about the situation of five domains of public services (transports, public administration, education / child care, every day needs and telecommunications) .

Output 2: Description of methodology and activities The most important part of the w5, was the Output 2 where the PUSEMOR partners analysed the assessment of public services by the users of those services. As the first step the workpackage leader prepared a short questionnaire for the partners. The partners were asked to submit their plans with regard to two questions: first on the public services which will be focal in their areas and secondly, which method they intend to use (survey, workshop; expert interviews). Partners were also asked to define the end users (e.g. youth; elderly; general etc.). The workpackage lead partner suggested that the methodology used by individual partners is not very diverse. However, it has soon become evident that it will be very difficult to use the same methodology i.e. wide survey among users. The costs of designing the survey, sampling, doing the survey itself and processing the data were beyond the financial, as well as time capacities of some partners. Therefore, all methods i.e. survey, workshops and/or expert interviews were applied. The workpackage leader prepared two questionnaires for evaluation of public services: • a questionnaire for private users; • a questionnaire for managers of small and medium enterprises.

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The questionnaires were prepared in such a manner that they could be used either for face to face or phone survey, for postal survey, for workshops or for expert (=selected) interviews 2. Regardless of methodology used, the partners were asked that the results should clearly answer four sets of questions within four basic dimensions: a) Which are the domains of problematic public services as assessed by users? (= Specification of content) b) by which end user group is the problem especially felt? (private users? enterprises, esp. SME? (= Specification of demand) c) What is the geographical "location" of problematic public services? d) (zones, communities within our test areas etc. = Spatial dimension) e) Has the problem of inadequate public service already reached its full dimension or is it expected to increase (or only to appear) in the near future? / Why? (links to socio-economic and other trends of regional development) (= Temporal dimension) Despite different methodology used, the results of the assessment fulfil the stated objectives 3.

Output 3: Description of methodology and activities The Output 3 aimed at the identification and detailed presentation of exemplary new strategies in the regions (inventory of "best practices"). Special attention was given to identification and presentation of relevant economic, political/institutional and technological conditions. As the first step the lead partners prepared a list of important information on individual best practices, which was to be gathered. Upon further discussion and amendments, a standardised "PUSEMOR Best Practice Form" was prepared. The form included: • Basic information on the best practice (e.g. title; area of domain/s; target group; territorial level; time frame; basic idea and aim; background; initia- tor; functions; provider; financial issues; contact person etc.); • Specifics (e.g. innovativeness; problems encountered; plans; feedback; evaluation; whether the provision required special institutional arrange-

2 Some parts of questionnaire were prepared in alternatives to suit mentioned different modes of survey.

3 The methodology used by individual partners is further described within the chapter on the public services in the test areas.

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ments; changes in legislation, establishment of new local or regional body etc.); • Transferability issues (e.g. is the best practice transferable to other areas of domain in public services; is it transferable conditionally; under which conditions). The partners fulfilled their task in a very extensive manner. By the end of Oc- tober 2005, all together they have identified and presented 52 best practice cases, within the following domains of public services: • Health and elderly care (9 examples) • Transport and telecommunication (20) • Education and Culture (12) • Every day needs (5). • Others / several domains (6) The examples of best practices were presented and discussed during the PUSEMOR meeting (Bled, Slovenia 17th and 18th October 2005). The collection of all best practices will be available on the website www.pusemor.net and a special collection will be edited in summer 2006 after the further processing within Workpackage 6.

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2. Country profile This report deals with two test areas, the districts of Feldkirchen and Wolfsberg, within the region of Carinthia in Austria.

2.1 Territorial organisation Austria is a federal state, Carinthia one of nine Austrian federal provinces (NUTS 2 level). Carinthia comprises eight political districts and two statutory cities (having the same administrative status as political districts – these are the provincial capital Klagenfurt and the city of Villach). Carinthia has 132 municipalities. Each of the two PUSEMOR test areas, Feldkirchen and Wolfsberg, is a political district. The distribution of tasks between the national and the provincial level as well as the sphere of action of the municipalities is laid down in the Austrian Con- stitution (for the issues related to public services see also chapter 2.3). While the federal provinces have an elected political representation and fulfil as well legislative as administrative tasks, the political districts are purely administrative units. The district agencies are the first instance for many matters of federal and provincial administration, e.g. in trade law, health or security administration. The lowest level of administration is built by the municipalities which also dispose of an elected representation. The municipalities are responsible, among others, for the maintenance of schools and kindergartens, maintenance of roads and local spatial planning. During the last years the municipal tasks have augmented, e.g. related to social services and to ordering public transport services. Since several years associations of municipalities have been established for commonly fulfilling tasks of technical and social infrastructure, e.g. sewage associations or social care associations.

2.2 Spatial policies in Carinthia Spatial planning in Austria is within the competencies of federal provinces, so Carinthian laws regulate comprehensive spatial planning on regional and local level. Local spatial planning is done by each municipality, regional spatial planning by the provincial government. For regional development 10 regional associations have been built; each with a regional management. At present, these regional management organisations are being reorganised. The Austrian legal system does not foresee a specific status for mountain areas or communities. A specific status – although not directly relevant for public services – is given to nature protection areas and national parks (which dispose of an own national park administration). In Carinthia there are two national parks, both in mountain areas: Hohe Tauern and Nockberge. The latter is partly situated in the political district of Feldkirchen (municipality of Reichenau).

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2.3 Roles and responsibilities in public services

Transport The legal regulation of public transport takes place on national level, e.g. by the Railway Act. The Local and Regional Public Transport Act (ÖPNRVG 1999) is especially important for public transport in rural areas, because it determines the organisational and financial base: The future public transport system has to be oriented towards service contracts between provinces/municipalities and transport companies (purchaser principle). Transport planning is in the national competency, as far as the high-ranking infrastructure is concerned, while regional and local transport planning is a matter of the provinces and municipalities. The Austrian General Transport Plan 2002 lays down, among others, a new high-ranking railway connection between Graz and Klagenfurt (Koralmbahn) which will enhance also Wolfsberg as a business location. Transport services are still predominantly provided by public enterprises, even if during the last years some steps towards liberalisation and privatisation have been taken. The national railway enterprise ÖBB has been restruc- tured this year, with the aim of more efficiency and competitiveness. The two biggest public bus companies of Austria have been merged some years ago; actually the privatisation of the remaining company "post bus" is in progress. In the Austrian cities, Klagenfurt among others, there are municipal transport enterprises. Since the 1980s in Austria regional combinations of transport companies (Verkehrsverbund) have been founded, who co-ordinate the different service providers and offer standardised tariffs. In Carinthia a standard tariff system exists since 1994, and in 2000 the Verkehrsverbund of Carinthia ("Carinthia Lines") has been founded. Free transport for students to their school, financed by the state since about 1970, is very important for the existence of public transport in rural areas, because the demand for bus services can largely be attributed to school trips.

Public administration The distribution of tasks between the Government of the Federal Province, the Districts and the Municipalities is laid down in the Austrian Constitution and has been existing for a long time. The Carinthian Government Pro- gramme 2004-2009 lays down, that direct democracy should be enhanced, and that administration on provincial and municipal level should be stronger oriented towards clients, performance and quality. Thereby the expansion of e-government has a specific significance. The programme also mentions the necessity of an administative reform of the municipalities. The aims of e- conomisation might be in the foreground when it will come to implement this reform.

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The Austrian security administration is regulated on national level. Recently the federal police and the "gendarmerie" have been merged (amendment 2005 of the Security Police Act). Connected closures of police stations have caused some discussion in public.

Health care and care for elderly The legislation concerning the health system and social matters is a federal competency, as regards the principles. The provinces have competencies in decreeding implementation and in administration. The supply with hospitals is regulated by plans concluded every two years between federal and provincial authorities. The supply with practising physicians is subject to the plans of the social insurance carriers. In the future a more regionally-based approach will be introduced (regional supply plans), as declared in the Austrian Structure Plan Health: It provides that new federal and provincial Health Agencies will arrange for planning, in co-operation with the social insurance carriers. The demand for social services, especially care for elderly, has significantly augmented since 1993, when "allowances for care" have been introduced on national level. The Carinthian Social Help Act comprises a.o. regulations for social services: home help for elderly and sick, help for housekeeping, advi- sory services, residential and nursing homes. According to this law the provincial government can supply social services itself or authorise other agencies. Many services are offered by associations of municipalities (Sozialhilfe- verbände). Within defined "Social and Health Districts" the organisational in- tegration of different public, private and volunteer service providers should safeguard the supply of the population. The Carinthian Government Pro- gramme 2004-2009 underlines that the supply with mobile care should be increased; as regards nursing homes more short-term places should be cre- ated. This and a targeted information policy should disburden the relatives.

Child care, education and culture: Child care is legally regulated exclusively by provincial laws. The Carinthian Kindergarten Act determines that for running a child care institution a permit of the provincial government is necessary, and financial allowances are given by the provincial government. The majority of kindergartens are run by authorities, mostly by municipalities. Furthermore, there are parishes, associations, companies and private persons acting as service providers. Addition- ally, small children are looked after in families by day mothers. In many rural areas of Austria kindergartens are run only half-day, and this makes a professional life difficult for the mothers. The Carinthian Government Pro- gramme 2004 - 2009 lays down the aim of expanding and improving child care, e.g. by reducing the number of children per group, by guidelines for day mothers, by more groups of mixed age, by a pool of mobile personnel for va- cations etc.

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The legal competences for the Austrian school system are split between the national and provincial level. The principal legislation is a national matter, as well as all regulation of higher education (general and professional high- schools, colleges, universities). For compulsory schools the implementation legislation and the administration are matters of the federal provinces. Ac- cording to the Carinthian School Act the legal providers of primary schools (for 6-10 years old children) are the municipalities; of secondary schools (10- 14 years) associations of municipalities (built by the municipalities of one district) or statutory cities. Thus, the municipalities or associations of municipalities bear the costs of construction and maintenance of schools, and the provinces the personnel costs of the teachers. The Carinthian School Act contains standards for the supply with compulsory schools (primary schools, secondary schools and schools for handicapped children). Thereby the objective of offering a "reasonable way to school" for all children in compulsory schools is pursued. The further existence of small schools (with 20 students at least) is legally granted if there are "important reasons to be taken into account" (K-SchG §11, Abs 4). In Carinthia the number of students is decreasing since 1998; and in future a further decrease must be expected. In view of the high costs for the province connected with this fact, the Government Programme 2004-2009 aims at the "examination of the maintenance of the educational offer in rural areas". In co-operation with the municipalities potentials of economisation should be detected. Beside the legal service providers (public authorities) there are also private school providers (religious communities above all); private schools are regulated on national level by the Private School Act. It lays down matters like conditions for private schools, financing and allowances (e.g. by providing provincial teachers). Adult education is organised in form of associations, with a financial support from the provincial government.

Telecommunication The legal regulation of telecommunication happens on national level. Until the 1990ies telecommunication was a state monopoly. The liberalisation of the telecommunication market started in 1993, when Austria prepared to join the EU, and was legally introduced with the Telecommunication Act 1997 (which has been amended in 2003). The Telecommunication Act lays down that a "universal service" has to be provided all over the Austrian territory at a standardised and affordable price and in a determined quality. The universal service comprises an area-wide supply with conventional telephone network. The universal service has to be tendered by the Federal Ministry of Technology. As a financial instrument the law provides the installation of a universal service fund (which is actually not yet implemented). The universal service is provided by the company Tele- kom Austria which is the successor of the former state company.

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The networks of mobile phones and the broadband supply are not subject to the regulations of universal services. Since especially for the supply with broadband technology there are big differences between urban and rural areas, and the availability of broadband technology is considered as being especially important for the attractiveness of business locations, the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology has started the broadband initiative 2003. This instrument of financial support, which is carried by federal and provincial authorities together, and co-financed by means of the EU Structural Fund, should stimulate the extension of broadband infrastructure within determined rural areas. In Carinthia the provincial government is actually starting a very ambitious project in co-operation with the Carinthian De- velopment Agency: Until 2007 all municipalities and 99% of the households and companies should be provided with a possibility of connection.

Every day needs The retail of food and non-food has always been a strictly private task. The national Trade Commerce and Industry Regulation Act regulates a.o. the preconditions for founding enterprises and for the establishment of business sites, but it does not contain regulations in the interest of safeguarding the supply of goods of every-day needs. The supply aspect is mentioned in a rather indirect way in the spatial planning laws of the Austrian provinces. For Carinthia the Spatial Planning Act and the Local Planning Act are relevant. According to these laws the construction of a shopping centre is subject to defined conditions: It must be conform to a development programme of the provincial authorities, and it must safeguard the supply with goods of every- day need. During the last years, Carinthia has issued support programmes for small retailers of daily goods. The new "Basic Goods Retail Programme 2005" designs 20% investment grants for small enterprises fulfilling a supply function with basic goods, given by the province and the municipalities. The legal frame for postal services is built by the national Post Act 1997 and the Postal Universal Services Regulation 2002. Postal services are on the way from a state monopoly to private services. The Austrian Post Corpora- tion was founded in 1999. In the frame of its politically aspired privatisation it is constrained to question uneconomic tasks. In autumn 2004 the company declared that 357 post offices in Austria, mostly in rural areas, 40 of them in Carinthia, should be closed. These very controversially discussed measures were subject to negotiations with the municipalities. The Post Act defines re- served postal services, i.e. a monopoly; furthermore the Post Act and the Postal Universal Services Regulation define for which universal services a public supply task has to be fulfilled: This concerns above all the postal delivery, the area-wide supply with postal agencies and the supply with post boxes. According to the Postal Universal Services Regulation the area-wide supply is guaranteed by the network existing in the year 2002. The regulation defines preconditions for the closure of post offices: A post office may only be closed if a cost-covering service is not possible, the universal service is guaranteed, and a consensus with the concerned municipalities is found.

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3. Regional and test areas profile

3.1. Geographical situation Carinthia is located in the south-eastern parts of the Alps. The test area of Wolfsberg is situated in the east of Carinthia, bordering on the province of Styria and on Slovenia. The test area of Feldkirchen is situated rather cen- trally in Carinthia, north of the provincial capital Klagenfurt.

Fig. 1: Situation of the test areas within Carinthia

Wolfsberg The district of Wolfsberg covers an area of 973,79 km² (10,2% of the entire area of Carinthia), and the population amounts to 56.611 (10,1 % of Carin- thia). The density amounts to 58,1 inhabitants / km². The area is characterised through its rich structure of landscapes. It is framed by mountain ranges in the east (Koralpe 2.140m) and west (Saualpe 2.080 m), the Obdach saddle (955 m) in the north and the broad riverbed of the Drau in the south. The area shows a characteristic north-south extension: The broad Lavant valley contains the main transport infrastructures, the central places and a dense commercial use. The slopes are used for agriculture, fruit-growing and forestry. Due to the rather mild climate and the good ground conditions the Lavant valley has good capacities for agriculture (fruit- and asparagus-growing, revival of viniculture). The district of Wolfsberg, being connected to the southern motorway A2, has a good accessibility for road traffic. But the railway running through the La- vant valley (Klagenfurt – Bleiburg – St.Paul – Wolfsberg – Zeltweg) is a side line, as well as the privately conducted connecting railway to Lavamünd. The settlement structure is characterised by a strong concentration within the Lavant valley, and by small and rather scattered villages in the narrow mountainous side valleys. The districts' capital Wolfsberg (25.301 inhabitants) pro-

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vides the region with central services. The second most important central place is St. Andrä im Lavanttal with 10.719 inhabitants. Thanks to the conveniently situated location (connection to the motorway) and the given infrastructure conditions, the bottom of the Lavant valley with the communities of Wolfsberg and St. Andrä and partly Frantschach - St.Gertraud is predetermined for company establishing. The region is furthermore situated within the catchment area of the two provincial capitals Klagenfurt (Carinthia) and Graz (Styria) which allows daily commuting to these cities.

Fig. 2: Test area Wolfsberg:

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Feldkirchen The district of Feldkirchen covers an area of 558,56 km² (5,9% of Carinthia), and the population amounts to 30.273 (5,4 % of Carinthia). The density amounts to 57,6 inhabitants / km². The main geographical factors of the district, causing the ample structure of landscape, are the run of the Klagenfurt basin, the Ossiacher Tauern, the valley of Lake Ossiach and finally the Nockberge in the north of the district. The Nockberge count as an interesting low mountain range formation with a unique geomorphological shape. Unlike the surrounding precipitous high mountains the Nockberge consist of softly rounded mountains and hilltops with summits from 1.800 up to 2.400 meters.

Fig. 3: Test area Feldkirchen

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The district of Feldkirchen does not have a direct motorway access, but is made accessible by main roads in east-west (federal road of Ossiach B94) and north-south (Turrach – Klagenfurt B95) direction. The railway connects the district capital Feldkirchen and the southern parts of the district by the side line of St. Veit – Feldkirchen – Villach. The district capital Feldkirchen (14.000 inhabitants), situated at the intersec- tion between B 94 and B 95, is the most important central place for the region. The southern parts of the test area with the district capital Feldkirchen and the lake Ossiach are situated close to the economic and touristic centres of Carinthia, while the northern parts are more mountainous and sparsely populated. Within the district of Feldkirchen only the area of the district capital Feldkirchen is predetermined for company establishing, thanks to the conveniently situated (central) location. The district capital is also climatically favoured, being situated in a basin, rising in terraces.

3.2. Demography and human potential The principal demographic features of the test areas are as follows:

Table 1: Demographic data

Test area Test area Region Austria Wolfsberg Feldkirchen Carinthia Population 2001 56.611 30.273 559.404 8.032.926 Change of population 1981 - 2001 +0,3% +11,0% +4,3% +6,3% % of population <15 years 2001 17,3% 18,3% 16,8% 16,8% % of population >65 years 2001 16,2% 15,2% 16,3% 15,5% % of population (aged >15) with 77% 74% 70% 70% only primary education 2001 Sources: www.statistik.gv.at/gz/uebersichtsdaten.shtml (29.11.2005) Population development in the district of Wolfsberg is only slightly positive, in the district of Feldkirchen it is significantly positive. In both districts positive birth rates are compensating migration losses. As regards population development within the test areas, we can state that in Wolfsberg only the central areas (municipalities of Wolfsberg, St.Georgen im Lavanttal, St.Andrä and St.Paul im Lavanttal) have positive development tendencies. But, apart from the town Wolfsberg, all communities partly have considerable migration losses (Frantschach/St.Gertraud and Preitenegg even have two-digit minus balances). We can state an important out- migration from the peripheral areas of the district. But all communities of the Lavant valley have positive birth rates; the community Reichenfels with 9 % is jutting out. In the district of Feldkirchen a negative population development 1981 – 2001 can only be recognised in the peripheral communities Reichenau and Albeck, while in the more central communities Feldkirchen as well as Ossiach and Steindorf at the Lake Ossiach an increase above average can be recorded.

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Population growth of the district is based on positive birth rates (Ossiach and Glanegg with over 6%), but there are partly very negative migration rates (Reichenau and Gnesau with almost –7%). A reason for this development is the out-migration of the population of peripheral areas, caused by the lack of working places and perspectives. The districts’ capital, the communities in the outskirts and the tourism centres at the lake Ossiach are better developing. As regards the age structure of the population we see that especially the district of Feldkirchen is still somewhat “younger” than the average of Carinthia. However, for the next years and decades a significant ageing of the population will take place. The regionalised Austrian population forecast (ÖROK 2004) shows in its main scenario that in future the population in the district of Wolfsberg will decrease (-3% by 2011, -7% by 2021 and -11% by 2031 – always in comparison to the reference year 2001). Especially the number of children under 15 will decrease dramatically (-18% by 2011 and even -36% by 2031). The decrease of the number of working age population (15-64) will occur later (-3% by 2011, -21% by 2031). Only the number of old people will increase, especially the number of persons over 85 (+43% by 2011, +117% by 2031). Evi- dently the demographic changes will bring about new problems in the field of education and child care and new needs in the field of social services and care for elderly. For the district of Feldkirchen the Austrian population forecast (ÖROK 2004) shows only a small decrease of the total population (stagnation until 2011, -4% by 2031). But the number of children under 15 will decrease even more than in Wolfsberg (-24% by 2011 and -36% by 2031). The decrease of the number of working age population (15-64) will occur later (+2% by 2011, - 14% by 2031). Feldkirchen is expected to be a very strongly ageing district: the number of old people will increase significantly, especially the number of persons over 85 (+52% by 2011, +148% by 2031). Resulting from the demographic changes the same problems as mentioned above can be expected: difficulties of maintaining small schools and kindergartens and strongly rising new needs for social services for elderly. The education level in the districts of Wolfsberg and Feldkirchen is slightly below the Carinthia average: There are more graduates of primary schools and less university graduates. But in both districts efforts have been made to improve the educational standard, and now there is a good supply with educational establishments. As regards the human potential and the prevailing values in the test areas it has been stated that Wolfsberg is characterised by a rather entrepreneurial climate and by the willingness of locals to co-operate. This has already lead to some success stories of company establishing. It seems that Feldkirchen is characterised by a quite traditional climate and by a more passive attitude of the people. In both districts regional identity is very strong and stamped by the typical landscape features.

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3.3. Socio-economic situation The principal socio-economic features of the test areas are as follows:

Table 2: Socio-economic data

Test area Test area Region Austria Wolfsberg Feldkirchen Carinthia Working places* 2001 21.421 9.460 224.390 3.566.386 Primary sector 8% 7% 5% 4% Secondary sector 43% 35% 29% 28% Tertiary sector 49% 58% 66% 68% Persons in employment** 2001 23.760 12.656 234.808 3.624.116 Unemployment rate 2003 7,2% 7,4% 8,1% 7,0% Overnight stays per inhabitant 4,5 36,4 23,3 14,3 2001 Agriculture: share of full-time busi- 35,9% 36,5% 28,4% 36,9 nesses 1999 * „Erwerbstätige am Arbeitsort”; ** „Erwerbstätige am Wohnort” Sources. Statistik Austria (2004), Volkszählung 2001. Hauptergebnisse II Österreich; www.ams.or.at/neu/1400.htm www.statistik.gv.at/fachbereich_tourismus/tab1.shtml (29.11.2005) Statistik Austria (2001), Agrarstrukturerhebung 1999;

The data of working places show that in the district of Wolfsberg industry plays quite an important role, while in Feldkirchen the tourism sector is more important. Several modern industrial companies are located in the district of Wolfsberg, some of which subsidiaries of international groups, others long-established local businesses (e.g. timber and metal-working industries). Special funding targeted particularly at small and medium-sized companies is set to consoli- date and strengthen Wolfsberg’s standing as a business location. Particular attention is being paid to attracting new companies to the area. In the last few years Wolfsberg has opened up several large areas of land for businesses to locate, notably the industrial zone in the south of the town which has its own motorway exit. The level of unemployment in both districts has been above the Austrian average, but below the average of Carinthia. When comparing the number of working places within the two test areas with the number of employed persons living within these test areas we see that Wolfsberg has a slight and Feldkirchen a stronger deficit of working places. Altogether in Wolfsberg the number of working places amounts to 90% of the number of employed persons, in Feldkirchen to 75%. Especially from Feld- kirchen there are very strong commuting relations to the nearby central places of Klagenfurt and Villach, where working places are concentrated. This trend will certainly increase, as roads are steadily improved and people

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move from the urban centres to the south of Feldkirchen, but keeping their jobs in the urban agglomeration of central Carinthia. The district of Wolfsberg, being the most eastern part of Carinthia, has also strong commuting relations to Graz, the capital of the federal province Styria. Tourism is a very important part of the regional economy of Carinthia, especially summer tourism in the areas of the Carinthian lakes, but also – with growing shares – winter tourism. The two test areas are not the most important tourism regions of Carinthia: The number of overnight stays in the district of Feldkirchen attains in 2001 8,5 % of the overnight stays in Carinthia, those of Wolfsberg which is stronger stamped by industry only 2 %. Nevertheless, in the district of Feldkirchen the tourism intensity is above Carinthian average: In 2001 36,4 overnight stays per inhabitant have been recorded. In the district of Wolfsberg there were (2001) only 4,5 overnight stays per inhabitant. Nevertheless, the figures show that in Feldkirchen the number of overnight stays has decreased by a third between 1981 and 2001, while the development in Wolfsberg was more positive – even though on a lower level and with big local differences. In the test areas a majority of farm units are declared mountain farmers (re- ceiving compensation payment): 56% in Feldkirchen and 66% in Wolfsberg. In the two test areas, like in other parts of the Alps, a considerable shift from full-time farming to part-time farming has taken place in the last decades. However, the share of full-time farmers was still above Carinthian average in 1999.

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4. Public services in the test areas: Description, evaluation, problems, perspectives

4.1. Methodology The Carinthian team has analysed all fields of services proposed by the work package lead; a thematical focus has been put on public transport. The analysis of private users opinion was achieved by a survey in both test areas. We have executed the questionnaire prepared by the work package leader. According to the thematical focus “public transport”, we have added a specific part to the questionnaire, dealing with flexible forms of public transport and with children’s transport to school. It has been applied in one of the test areas, Feldkirchen. In the test area of Wolfsberg 87 persons were ques- tioned, in the test area of Feldkirchen 100 persons; in both areas all municipalities were covered. In Wolfsberg a face-to-face survey took place between 24 July and 1 August 2005: people were asked in the roads of the villages, near shops etc.. This procedure turned out to be quite difficult: many persons were in a hurry or felt bothered by the questions. So in Feldkirchen the interviews were carried out by telephone on 3 and 4 August 2005; this procedure worked quite well. For analysing the needs of SMEs we have conducted two expert interviews: with a representative of the chamber of commerce of each district (corre- sponding to a test area). The experts have also evaluated the services in their region, following the contents of the questionnaire proposed by the PUSEMOR lead partner. Furthermore, we held a workshop with mayors and representatives of local authorities of the test area Wolfsberg (7 local participants). In addition, there have been informal contacts with consultants dealing with economic and regional development in Carinthia, especially in the two test areas. This information and related literature has been considered for the compilation of this report.

4.2. General situation for public services This chapter gives an overview of the supply situation in our two test areas, by domains of public services, using data on the supply situation as well as literature. In the survey of private users done within this study there was also a question about the accessibility of services for users (“Can you reach ... services ... within 15 minutes? By foot? By car? By public transport?”). But it turned out that the results cannot really be used as a clear indicator for the accessibility of services, because apparently the interviewees did not only refer to the possibility of reaching services within 15 minutes, but also to their habits of modes of transport. The collected data do not seem reliable for the accessibility neither by public transport nor by car. So in this chapter we will only re-

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fer to the collected data about accessibility by foot – knowing that these are individual estimations! Altogether, in our two test areas a spatial hierarchy can be observed: Many services, such as higher and specialised education, specialised medical services, foster homes for elderly, shopping centres etc., are concentrated in central places and bigger municipalities which have to supply also the outskirts of the areas. On the other hand, at present, a rather widespread supply can be noticed especially for primary schools, kindergartens and basic medical services which exist in (almost) all communities.

Public Transport Public transport has turned out to be the most problematic domain of public services, according to the assessment of private users. The perception of a deterioration during the last years stated by many interviewees can draw upon some hard facts: An Austrian-wide accessibility study (IPE GmbH 2000) has analysed if a regional centre can be reached within 30 minutes by public transport. It shows that 57% of the Carinthian population can do so – thus, the accessibility in Carinthia is at the Austrian average (also 57%). This study states a considerable degradation of accessibility between 1984 and 1997, due to a decreasing supply and to the urban sprawl causing longer ways until the next bus stop or station. Another recent study analysing (by municipality) the accessibility of working places within one hour by public transport (ÖIR 2005) shows that in Carinthia the highest accessibility of working places occurs in the area between the cities Villach, Klagenfurt and St. Veit/Glan, while accessibilities in the mountainous west, north and east of Carinthia are much lower. The south of the district of Feldkirchen (with the district capital) also profits from the proximity to these areas of high accessibility, while from the municipalities Albeck, Steuerberg, Reichenau and Gnesau in the mountainous north only few working places can be reached within one hour by public transport. The whole district of Wolfsberg is characterised by a low accessibility of working places within one hour by public transport (compared to the central areas), but unlike the rest of Carinthia, accessibility has increased between 1991 and 2001. This has been achieved by a good co-ordination of regional and local bus services, based on a regional transport concept. The supply with railway services is rather poor, compared to cities along the main railway lines. Within the two test areas the best railway connections are existing in the Lavant valley south of Wolfsberg (St. Andrä, St. Paul im La- vanttal) along the connection Wolfsberg – Völkermarkt – Klagenfurt (several connections for students and commuters), while north of Wolfsberg (Frantschach/St. Gertraud, Bad St. Leonhard, Reichenfels) services are rare and mostly effectuated by bus, although a railway line is existing. But even the railway connection Wolfsberg – Klagenfurt takes about 1,5 h – more than the double of the travel time by car. In the south of the district of Feldkirchen the railway line Villach – Feldirchen – St. Veit/Glan connects the districts

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capital Feldkirchen and the villages along the Lake Ossiach. The services are focussing on the needs of students and commuters. The rest of both test areas is connected by some bus services. In the Wolfsberg district 60% of the interviewed persons indicated that they can reach a bus stop within 15 minutes by foot, and also 60% a railway station. In the Feldkirchen district 80% can reach a bus stop and 20% a railway station. In spite of these rather good accessibilities, the users are rather dissatisfied with the services, especially with frequencies. Some unprofitable bus connections have indeed been put down during the last years, especially outside of school times. Services of transport on demand (“Go-mobil” – see also best practices) are existing in the communities of Lavamünd (district Wolfsberg) and Al- beck/Siernitz (district Feldkirchen). From the ten persons interviewed from the municipality Albeck/Sierntz for PUSEMOR, seven indicated that Go-mobil exists, and three of them are users (one regularly, two occasionnally).

Public administration Local administration exists in each municipality, regional (district) administration in the two district capitals, Feldkirchen and Wolfsberg. 56% of the interviewed persons in the Wolfsberg district, and 44% in the Feldkirchen district can reach the local administration by foot. This indicates the widespread situation of many settlements.

Health care / care for elderly The survey of private users shows that 46% can reach a general physician by foot within 15 minutes in the Wolfsberg district, and 23% in the district of Feldkirchen. A pharmacy can be reached by 22% in Wolfsberg and 15% in Feldkirchen. In the PUSEMOR test areas there is one hospital, the LKH Wolfsberg, which serves for “basic supply”. The further "focus supply" in Carinthia is only as- sured in the provincial capital Klagenfurt. The Carinthian Government Pro- gramme 2004-2009 lays down, that the provincial government advocates the long-term safeguarding of all hospital locations. In the health system "existing and justifiable reserves of economisation" should be exploited, maintaining an optimal supply quality. The expansion of e-medicine should contribute to build networks between hospitals, physicians and social insurances, and it should "bring high quality medicine to the regions". Care for elderly has been characterised by a trend towards decentralisation, mobile care and quality assurance during the last years, in Carinthia as well as in the rest of Austria. All over Carinthia there are 56 foster homes for elderly – that is 1 home for about 10.000 inhabitants. In the Feldkirchen district there are 4 foster homes for elderly, 3 of them situated in the district capital Feldkirchen, and one in Steindorf, there is no home in the northern municipalities. Numerically, the

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supply of the district is better than on Carinthian average: there is 1 home for 7.568 inhabitants. In the Wolfsberg district there are 4 foster homes for elderly, well distributed to the municipalities of Wolfsberg, St. Andrä, Lavamünd and Bad St. Leonhard. Numerically, the supply is not as good as Carinthian average: 14.154 inhabitants per home. In both test areas social institutions (non-profit organisations) effecting mobile care services are located in the district capitals, they operate all over the district. “Meal on wheels” is mostly organised by the municipalities, often with the help of non-profit organisations.

Child care, education and culture Child care facilities can be reached by 64% of the interviewed persons by foot within 15 minutes in Wolfsberg, and by 52% in Feldkirchen. All over Carinthia there are 237 kindergartens with 548 classes, that means a supply of 2.360 inhabitants per kindergarten. Carinthia has more kindergartens offering all-day-care (84%) than on Austrian average (73%). In the district of Feldkirchen the supply with child care facilities is slightly better than on Carinthian average: there are 15 kindergartens, i.e. 2.018 inhabitants per kindergarten. There is at least one kindergarten in each municipality, 5 in the district capital Feldkirchen, and 2 in Steuerberg. In the Wolfsberg district the supply with child care facilities is not as good as Carinthian average: There are 19 kindergartens, i.e. 2.980 inhabitants per kindergarten. Only one municipality, Preitenegg (1.129 inhabitants) does not have a kindergarten at all, everywhere else there is at least one per municipalitiy, 2 in Lavamünd, St. Andrä and St. Paul, 9 in the district capital Wolfsberg. Primary schools can be reached by 61% of the interviewed persons by foot within 15 minutes in Wolfsberg, and by 54% in Feldkirchen. Altogether the district of Wolfsberg disposes of 55, the district of Feldkirchen of 35 educational establishments. There are 20 primary schools (6-10 years) in the Feldkirchen district, at least one in each municipality, 7 in the district capital Feldkirchen, 3 in Steindorf, 2 in Reichenau and Steuerberg. The 10-14-years-old have to travel further to school: from the 5 secondary schools there are 4 in the district capital Feld- kirchen and one in Reichenau. In the Wolfsberg district there are 29 primary schools (6-10 years), well distributed all over the district; also the secondary schools (for 10-14years) are more evenly distributed than in the district of Feldkirchen. While the supply with primary schools (6-10 years) is (still) almost area-wide, and also for compulsory secondary schools (10-14 years) a broad dispersal is aimed at, the higher or specialised educational institutions are concentrated in the central places. The main cities of our test areas, Wolfsberg and Feldkirchen, are important school locations for general and specialised high schools. Feldkirchen also has a college of higher education (engineering, health and social management).

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The adult education centres are located in the main cities of the districts, in our test areas in Wolfsberg and Feldkirchen. Classes for professional training, but also for personal training, health, creativity and leisure are offered.

Telecommunication While the supply with conventional telephone network, with radio and TV is given every-where in Carinthia, the supply with broadband technology is very unequal. While at present the central areas and main valleys are well equipped, there is no broadband technology in mountainous areas, especially in the west and north of Carinthia. Feldkirchen: While in the south (in and near the district capital Feldkirchen) there is a good supply with broadband technology, parts of the municipalities of Reichenau, Gnesau, Albeck and Steuerberg are not yet connected. Wolfsberg: While the settlements in the main Lavant Valley are well connected, parts of the more peripheral municipalities Lavamünd, Preitenegg and Reichenfels, and also more peripheral areas of the district capital Wolfsberg are not yet connected. Since the supply with broadband technology is a political priority on national and provincial level, in the next years efforts will take place for improving the supply in peripheral areas (by programmes of financial support for investment).

Every day needs Carinthia, same as other regions, is affected by the strong trend towards spatial concentration In retail and bigger shopping surfaces which has already appeared in the 1970s and is still ongoing. Many small independent shop- keepers have already gone or are approaching the age of retirement. Thus, retail mostly has become a matter of a few supermarket chains. It can be noticed that often shops in very peripheral areas are more persistant than those in villages within the commuter distance to the cities. The trend towards bigger shopping units needing a larger catchment area is expected to continue. So further closures of shops in small villages can be expected. Feldkirchen: According to the census of work places, between 1991 and 2001 the number of food retail shops has decreased by 15%. There are even several villages with more than 1.000 inhabitants without a shop (especially near Feldkirchen). Nevertheless, regarding the whole district, the number of persons employed in food retail has considerably increased within this period. Wolfsberg: Altogether, the number of food retail shops in the district has increased by 9% between 1991 and 2001, and the number of persons employed in food retail has even strongly increased. In the district of Wolfsberg the villages without shops are mostly small villages (with often not more than 500 inhabitants). So these data do not indicate severe deficits for Wolfsberg.

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Postal services have been a matter of public discussion since autumn 2004 when the Austrian post company announced its intention to close many post offices all over Austria, mostly in rural areas. In Carinthia 40 post offices are to be closed (and 59 have already been closed since 2002). In the district of Wolfsberg the post offices in St. Georgen, Frantschach/St. Gertraud, Preite- negg and Reichenfels have been closed. In the district of Feldkirchen the post offices of Gnesau, Steindorf and Ossiach. The suggestion of replacing post offices by postal services in shops (“post partners”) is not easy to implement. However, in Carinthia several postal service points have been in- stalled in local administration buildings. As to the PUSEMOR survey of private users, 60% of the interviewed persons in Wolfsberg can reach a grocery within 15 minutes by foot, 43% in Feld- kirchen; the data for supermarkets are: 47% Wolfsberg, 33% Feldkirchen; for post offices: 45% Wolfsberg, 20% Feldkirchen.

4.3. Assessment of services in the test areas – current difficulties, worries and perspectives This chapter shows a detailed interpretation of the results of the surveys un- dertaken in the two test areas of Wolfsberg and Feldkirchen within the PUSEMOR project, supplemented by the outcomes of workshops and expert interviews. Thereby we have put an emphasis on public transport issues.

Overview The assessment of services by private users The overview of all domains of public services shows very clearly that for private users in both areas public transport seems to be the most problematic sector. On a scale between 1 (very dissatisfied) to 4 (very satisfied) bus and railway services are assessed with average values around 2 (dissatisfied), while all other services are assessed at least with average values of over 2,5, that means that satisfaction prevails over dissatisfaction. People in both test areas are especially satisfied with mobile health care and mobile services for elderly, as well as with child care and primary schools. As regards public administration, telecommunication and shopping facilities, the inhabitants of Wolfsberg were more satisfied than those of Wolfsberg, while for physicians Feldkirchen ranges better.

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Fig. 4: Satisfaction with services in test area Feldkirchen (private users)

Accessibility Quality

3,60 3,40 3,20 3,00 2,80 2,60 2,40 2,20 2,00 1,80 1,60 Police Library Hospital Grocery Pharmacy Telephony Post office Post Gasstation Bus services Bus Supermarket TV andradio TV Mobile nursing Mobile Quality of roads Qualityof Railwayservices Personalservices Physiciansgeneral - Home for the elderly Homethe for Localadministration Bank / cash Bank/ dispenser Physiciansspecialists - Internet and ICT networks andICT Internet Primaryschool elementary) (= Secondaryschool lower- level Districtregional- administration Secondaryschool upper- level Kindergartenchildcare / services Meeting room / facilities for events forfacilities roomMeeting/ Healthcare centre/outpatientclinic Opportunitiesprofessionalfor training Otherservicesmobile elderly) (forthe

Fig. 5: Satisfaction with services in test area Wolfsberg (private users)

Accessibility Quality

3,60

3,40

3,20

3,00

2,80

2,60

2,40

2,20

2,00

1,80

1,60 Police Library Hospital Grocery Pharmacy Telephony Post office Post Gas station Gas Bus services Bus Supermarket TV and radio TV Mobilenursing Quality of roads of Quality Railwayservices Personalservices Physicians -general Physicians Homeelderly thefor Local administrationLocal Bank / cash dispenser cash / Bank Physicians -specialists Physicians Internet andInternetnetworks ICT Primary school (= elementary) (= school Primary Secondary school -lowerSecondary school level District -regional District administration Secondary school -upperSecondary school level Kindergartencareservices child / Meeting room / facilities for events for facilities Meetingroom / Healthcareclinic centre/outpatient Opportunitiesprofessionalfortraining Other mobile services (forelderly) the Other mobileservices

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The majority of private users also feel that public transport services have worsened during the last five years, while for other services there have not been so many changes. Amelioration has been perceived for services for elderly and for telecommunication, especially in the Wolfsberg district. For daily needs and – in Feldkirchen – administration there is also a considerable part of the population concerned by deterioration.

Fig. 6: Changes of satisfaction with services during the last five years in Feldkirchen (assessment of private users)

90,0 80,0 70,0 60,0 50,0 40,0 30,0 20,0 10,0 0,0 Daily needs Administration Health services Public transport Education / culture Services elderly for Telecommunication

worse now no change better now don't know / not concerned

Fig. 7: Changes of satisfaction with services during the last five years in Wolfsberg (assessment of private users)

90,0 80,0 70,0 60,0 50,0 40,0 30,0 20,0 10,0 0,0 Daily needs Administration Health services Public transport Education / culture Services elderly for Telecommunication

worse now no change better now don't know / not concerned

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As regards the geographical location of problematic services, we can notice that satisfaction of private users does not necessarily have a strong correla- tion with the quantitative supply or with the size of communities. The following two figures show the average level of satisfaction with all services, by communities (from 1 = very dissatisfied to 4 = very satisfied). In both test areas, the most important central places (the cities of Wolfsberg and Feld- kirchen) are generally assessed as being satisfactory, but they are not the places with the best marks. The differences between communities seem to be stronger in the test area of Wolfsberg than in Feldkirchen. The community of Lavamünd, located quite marginally in the south-east of the district of Wolfsberg at the Slovenian border, is the only one which is assessed as being generally unsatisfactory. Otherwise, also smaller communities, such as Gnesau or Reichenfels, may achieve high levels of satisfaction. These rather unexpected results may on the one hand be explained by the fact that in general a community consists of several villages with different local situa- tions, and that even bigger towns contain also more remote settlements. On the other hand the survey represents subjective estimations; and several interviewees pointed out that local identity and “feeling at home” contributes very much to their satisfaction with living conditions.

Fig. 8: Satisfaction with services in communities of test area Feldkirchen (private users, average level for all services)

Accessibility Quality

3,40 3,20 3,00 2,80 2,60 2,40 2,20 2,00

tz rg rf g n u ch au gg o er a en en ne be ne esa elb er teind . Urb kirch Ossia Sier eu Gla S t Gn t S eld Reich S Himm F e eck - en lb b A E

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Fig. 9: Satisfaction with services in communities of test area Wolfsberg (private users, average level for all services)

Accessibility Quality

3,40 3,20 3,00 2,80 2,60 2,40 2,20 2,00

d g l g s d n rä l ch eg er fe ar mü . Pau en nh iten t . And e S t eo tscha ava r S Wolfsb L an L P t. r Reich S F d a B

Generally speaking for private users in both test areas, we can conclude that at present, apart from public transport, the level of satisfaction with services is rather high. Nevertheless, we must be aware that the forecasted demographic changes – ageing of the population and decrease of the number of children and young people – will bring about challenges for municipalities and regions in the near future: While the maintenance of small village schools becomes more and more difficult, and some closures have already taken place this year in Carinthia, the demand for services for elderly will strongly increase for the next years. During the PUSEMOR workshop with mayors and representatives of municipalities of the district of Wolfsberg the subject of forthcoming school closures has been discussed in quite a contro- versial way: While some locals favoured bigger school units with higher quality standards, others pointed out the importance of village schools for social life in the villages and for local identity.

The assessment of services for small and medium enterprises A survey of SMEs could not be carried out in the Carinthian test areas, so the assessment was done with the help of two expert interviews and of literature review. Two representatives of the Chamber of Commerce have been interviewed, one for the district (= test area) Feldkirchen and one for the district (= test area) Wolfsberg. According to literature (GREMA, Grenzüberschreitender Masterplan für Un- terkärnten, 2005) the most important locational factors for enterprises are:

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• Accessibility of markets and suppliers; connection to high-ranking transport infrastructures (highway, railway) • Labour force (number and qualification level) • Networks of complementary enterprises and R&D facilities (within short spatial distance) • Guiding enterprises increasing the image of a location • Availability of adequate surfaces Evidently these needs will better be satisfied in central regions, such as in the area of Wolfsberg / St. Andrä along the highway A2 which has been rather successful in the last years, or also in the area Klagenfurt / Feld- kirchen / Villach. In the GREMA study the hindrances for the development of the regional economy in the district of Wolfsberg have been characterised as follows: Lack of highly qualified labour force, not enough R&D and orientation towards high-tech, absence of a technical college, not enough services for enterprises (such as lawyers, consultants, architects etc.), large number of out- commuters and thus loss of purchasing power. A recent structural analysis of the district of Feldkirchen (Strasser & Strasser 2004) states the following weaknesses of the regional economy of the district of Feldkirchen: The enterprises are very small; there are only few activities of establishing new enterprises; the lack of qualified workers makes the establishment of industrial enterprises difficult. The share of employees in administration, health and social sector is below Carinthian average. Not even half of the employed persons living in Feldkirchen are also working within the district. These studies do not directly mention public services as being especially relevant for the establishment of new or the maintenance of existing SMEs – with the exception of colleges and qualification facilities. Furthermore, the majority of SMEs are located in the central places of the test areas, while the PUSEMOR questions are focusing on sparsely populated mountain regions and small villages. So we estimated that the suggested questions of the survey are more relevant for private users than for businesses; and we did not carry out a survey of SMEs in our test areas. But anyway, public services (as analysed in the PUSEMOR project) can be considered as important for SMEs by the way they contribute to the quality of the above locational factors, especially to labour force. For instance, good bus services may be a prerequisite for enabling employees even in remote villages to come to their work places. Furthermore, it is evident that high quality telecommunication services (broadband internet) are a prerequisite for business activities. However, we asked the experts from the Chamber of Commerce of Feld- kirchen and Wolfsberg to assess the accessibility and quality of services for SMEs in their district. The representative of Feldkirchen discerned the strongest deficits in the accessibility of bus and railway services, of police

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stations and of shopping facilities, post offices and gas station (assessed as “very dissatisfying”). Furthermore he considered the accessibility of the district administration, of child care services, of opportunities for professional training, of internet/ICT networks and of banking services as “dissatisfying”. The representative of Wolfsberg was more optimistic: she considered only the railway services (accessibility and quality) and the accessibility of opportunities for professional training as “very dissatisfying”. She estimated the quality of local administration, police, retail, internet/ICT services and childcare services as “dissatisfying” (the latter because of dissatisfactory opening hours). As regards the changes within the last five years, both experts ob- serve a deterioration for railway services, police, food shops, post offices and gas stations, the representative of Feldkirchen also for bus services, professional training and libraries. The state of roads is assessed very differently: While the representative of Wolfsberg notices a deterioration, the representative of Feldkirchen remarks an amelioration. Both experts see a need for action in improving public transport and making it more flexible, in improving telecommunication quality and enhancing broadband technology, and in improving all-day childcare services. The representative of Wolfsberg also points out the need for improving the road network and for counteracting the lack of qualified workers by improving the training offer. The representative of Feldkirchen additionnally sees the need of improving the care for elderly (by private or public services).

Thematic focus: transport Road transport The quality of roads has by far been the most important subject for the mayors and representatives of local administration at the PUSEMOR workshop in June 2005. They explained that the state of local roads is deteriorating, and that municipalities with their limited budgets will not be able to do the necessary investment for maintaining the local roads. The workshop participants wished more support by the government of Carinthia, especially an input to the categorisation of roads (measurement, investigation of the state of the roads, etc.). They also wished that road maintenance should be considered in the distribution of regional funds and in the new programme for rural development. It is evident that municipalities who are responsible for the maintenance of roads are very concerned by this subject, but in the survey of private users the predominance of the road quality subject has not been confirmed. Any- way, dissatisfaction with the quality of roads seems to be higher in Wolfsberg (32%) than in Feldkirchen (25%). While 47% of the interviewees in Feld- kirchen realise an improvement of the state of the roads during the last five years, this goes only for 10% of the interviewees in Wolfsberg. The expert of the Chamber of Commerce in Wolfsberg also noticed a deterioration and pointed out the need for improving the road network.

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Public transport Public transport turned out to be the most problematic domain of public services, in Wolfsberg as well as in Feldkirchen. In both test areas dissatisfaction with railway services is higher than with bus services. About the half of interviewed persons have noticed a deterioration of services during the last five years. The share of persons who do not feel concerned by public transport services is not higher than 15-30%, although most households dispose of one or more cars.

Fig. 10: Satisfaction with public transport in Feldkirchen

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Accessibility Quality Accessibility Quality Bus services Railwey services

very dissatisfied dissatisfied satisfied very satisfied don't know/not concerned

Fig. 11: Satisfaction with public transport in Wolfsberg

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Accessibility Quality Accessibility Quality Bus services Railway services

very dissatisfied dissatisfied satisfied very satisfied don't know/not concerned

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Fig. 12: Changes of satisfaction with public transport since five years

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Bus services Railway services Bus services Railway services Feldkirchen Wolfsberg

worse now no change better now don't know / not concerned

We also have analysed if public transport was assessed differently by men and women, by persons disposing of a car in their household or not. One difference we can notice between the attitudes of men and women (in both test areas) is that men state more often that they do not know or are not concerned. Women seem to use public transport more often, especially buses. Men are also more critical, they are more often “very dissatisfied” and less often “satisfied”.

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Fig. 13: Satisfaction with the accessibility of public transport (both test areas)

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% man women man women Bus services Railway service

very dissatisfied dissatisfied satisfied very satisfied don't know/not concerned

Fig. 14: Satisfaction with the quality of public transport (both test areas)

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% man women man women Bus services Railway services

very dissatisfied dissatisfied satisfied very satisfied don't know/not concerned

Persons who do not dispose of an own car in the household are more often dissatisfied with public transport than others. They state less often that they don’t know / are not concerned. On the other hand, also the majority of persons living in households with cars feels concerned by public transport questions. Among the seven persons in the test area Feldkirchen who declare be-

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ing users of flexible forms of public transport there are three with one car in the household and two with two cars. Transport on demand and children’s transport to school The survey of private users was complemented by a section dealing with flexible forms of public transport (transport on demand) and children’s transport to school. These additional questions have been answered only in the test area of Feldkirchen. 68 interviewees state that they do not have flexible forms of public transport at their disposition; 23 persons have it. They specify the offer: Go-mobil (see best practice examples), school transports organised by the municipalities, different taxi services (such as night taxi for young people, medical taxi once a week, discount on taxi tariffs), bus services for hikers, food delivery services, school transport by fire brigade. Among the interviewees there is only one person who uses the offer “often or regularly”. 6 persons use it occa- sionally, e.g. for events, and 12 declare explicitly that they never use it. Al- though only 7 persons declare themselves as users, 11 answer the questions for satisfaction with the offer. While 5 declare themselves “very satisfied” and 1 “satisfied”, 5 persons declare being “very dissatisfied”. They criticise the high prices and refer to missing needs. For the case that at present there is no offer the interviewees were asked if they would wish such services. 30 persons answer “no” and 11 “yes”. Nega- tive answers are justified by the lack of needs: The interviewees refer to the own car, to the bus or to relatives driving them.

The questions about children’s transport to school or kindergarten and apprentice’s transport to their work place addressed to students, apprentices and parents (33 persons, almost all parents). But the questions were not answered by all of them. As regards the offer for transport to school, kindergarten or apprentice’s work place 18 persons indicate public busses and 11 others (private busses, taxi services, transport by municipalities). While 13 interviewees (or their children) use the offer “always” or “almost always” and 2 “sometimes”, 8 persons declare that they use it “rarely or never”. Reasons for non-users are: School hours do not correspond to bus schedule, interviewees drive or go by foot. While 8 persons declare being “very satisfied” and 2 “satisfied”, 6 are “dissatisfied” and 4 “very dissatisfied”. Reasons for dissatisfaction are low frequencies, long waiting times and unflexible schedules.

In the PUSEMOR workshop with mayors and local administration in the district of Wolfsberg the subject of flexible public transport was also discussed. Locals declared that the municipalities have to bear high costs for children’s

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transport. They also observed that self organisation is hindered by administrative requirements (permit for suppliers). The specific part of the survey has clearly indicated that wishes about transport on demand are often formulated, but only a small part of the population is ready to use it. Existing services seem to be used not very intensively. We can conclude that in sparsely populated areas it is most important to adapt offers to the existing demand. Wishes and suggestions of locals The mayors and representatives of local authorities of the Wolfsberg district, during the workshop, focused strongly on the need for better maintaining local roads. They wished that financial means from the regional fund should be used, and that road maintenance should also be considered in the new programme for rural development (EU means). As regards public transport, in the workshop of local representatives the need for better considering small and peripheral communities in the policy of the traffic association (Verkehrsverbund “Kärntner Linien”) was expressed. At present, connections between Wolfsberg and Klagenfurt have been improved, but the small peripheral communities obtain less services – in spite of their financial contribution to the traffic association. The representatives of businesses of both districts during the expert interviews advanced the opinion that it is necessary to improve public transport and especially to enhance flexibility of services. For that it will be necessary to solve conflicts between subsidised and private suppliers (taxi business). The representative of the Chamber of Commerce of Wolfsberg also wished an improvement of the road network. Many private users interviewed expressed several wishes for improving bus services – in all communities of both test areas. In the concerned communities there were also wishes for better railway connections. The suggestions were mainly about frequencies and connection between lines, but also about tariffs and the state of vehicles. Especially in the district of Feldkirchen there were also wishes for more flexible transport forms, such as “Go-mobil”. In the district of Wolfsberg some wishes for better maintaining local roads were expressed, especially mountain roads or roads outside of settlements.

4.3.1. Other services Public administration There are no major problems. In both test areas a large majority of interviewees (76%-91%) are satisfied or very satisfied with the accessibility and quality of local and regional administration and of police. Also satisfaction with services has not changed very much during the last five years. Only in the Feldkirchen district 18% of interviewees are less satisfied with police than five years ago (closure of police station).

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The mayors and representatives of local authorities participating in the PUSEMOR workshop in Wolfsberg underlined that local administration has to fill some gaps which have opened because of the withdrawing of the state and the federal province. They see themselves as all-round service providers for the local population. Health care / care for elderly Health care services were by the majority of interviewed persons assessed as being satisfactory. However, about 30% are not satisfied with the accessibility of specialists, hospitals and health centres. Satisfaction with the accessibility of general physicians seems to be higher in Feldkirchen (10% dissatisfied or very dissatisfied) than in Wolfsberg (21% dissatisfied or very dissatisfied). The accessibility of pharmacies is problematic for 15-20%. A large majority of interviewed persons does not perceive changes in service quality during the last five years. The questions about services for elderly had the highest share of people an- swering with “don’t know / not concerned” of all questions (near 60% of interviewed persons). But by the persons concerned services for elderly people are generally assessed as being satisfactory or very satisfactory. Many have perceived an improvement of services during the last five years, especially for mobile services, and in Wolfsberg more than in Feldkirchen. Also the workshop participants in Wolfsberg (local authorities) expressed their satisfaction, especially with mobile services. Nevertheless, they think that there could be further efforts for more effectiveness and co-ordination. Childcare, education and culture A large majority of interviewed persons has assessed childcare and schools as being satisfactory or even very satisfactory, especially in the Feldkirchen district. In Wolfsberg there was some dissatisfaction with the accessibility of secondary schools (15%). The interviewed persons did not perceive many changes of service quality during the last years. Adult education was assessed less positive, especially in the Wolfsberg district: About 20% think that the quality of training opportunities is not satisfactory. The experts of the Chamber of Commerce also pointed out that adult education is not satisfactory; the expert of Wolfsberg also underlined the necessity to improve the level of qualification of the employees. The private users interviewed also expressed some wishes for more communication facilities: meeting points for young people and for elderly, events etc.. Telecommunication As regards telecommunication, only the lack of broadband internet is perceived as a problem by some persons (about 15% of interviewees), but many of them reported that an amelioration is planned. The share of persons who do not feel concerned by internet questions is high, especially in Wolfsberg (about 40%). As a matter of fact for businesses the improvement of broadband internet ranges within the most important requests.

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Every day needs Within this category the accessibility of post offices is the most problematic one: almost a third of interviewed persons are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. Almost half of the interviewees in Wolfsberg and about a third in Feld- kirchen perceive a degradation during the last five years. However, for businesses this does not seem to be a major problem. For the other services of every day needs a large majority is satisfied or very satisfied; about 15-20% are dissatisfied with the accessibility of groceries and supermarkets.

4.4. Future perspectives For the development of public services we can say that already until now changing supply structures, such as privatisation, liberalisation and the claim for more cost efficiency, meet changing needs and demands: The growing motorization increases the range of action for big parts of the population and reduces the demand for public transport services. The stronger participation of women in professional life increases the demand for child care services. The ageing of the population increases the demand for care and social services. Growing wealth also means a higher demand for high quality services. For the future we also must be aware of changing needs and demands. The major future challenge will be the forecasted demographic changes – the ageing of the population and the decrease of the number of children and young people. Public transport: In future the supply structures will be characterised by the purchaser principle. If transport services have to be ordered by financially weak municipalities, service quality may be threatened. In addition the ongoing flexibilisation of working and opening hours will make it still more difficult to operate public transport in an effective way. Furthermore the financial basis of public bus transport may also be endangered by the forecasted strong decrease of the number of students who are at present the most important user group in rural areas. According to the recent population forecast (ÖROK 2004) by 2031 the population under 15 will decrease by 32% in Carinthia, and even by 36% as well in the district of Feldkirchen as Wolfsberg. We can assume that these factors will lead to a further reduction of public transport services. This will affect above all people who cannot dispose of an own car. Although the non-motorised part of the population is becoming smaller with the years (more households with two or more cars, more edlerly people with drivers licences), there will always be people who are dependent on transport services. Lacking public transports services require more unpaid private services: parents (mostly mothers) have to accompany their children, old peo- ples’ relatives and neighbours (mostly women) have to do their shopping or bring them to the doctor’s practise. Services for elderly: In future, the strongly increasing number of old people will be a challenge for the providers of care for elderly and social services, such as home help or “meals on wheels”. Already by 2011 an increase of

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population above 85 by 41% is forecasted for Carinthia (Wolfsberg +43%, Feldkirchen +52%). By 2031 the number of over-85-years-old will more than double: +115% in Carinthia, +117% in Wolfsberg and even +148% in Feld- kirchen. Child care and schools: While at present the (numeric) supply with kindergartens and primary schools is good, the demographic trend leads to the as- sumption that several kindergartens and primary schools in small villages will not be maintained any more in the next years. For these small villages local identity is at stake. Even if it is easily possible to teach children elsewhere, schools have also a function as local communication centres and are important for the vitality of the village. As a result of the PISA educational study the Austrian school system has been intensively discussed in public during the last months. For the next years structural and organisational reforms are probable. Proposed measures, such as the implementation of all-day-schools and the building of a comprehensive school for all 10-14 years old, would need in-depth analyses of their territorial impacts.

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5. Best practices in the test area, their specifics and conditions for transferability This is an overview about the best practice examples of Carinthia, compiled with the help of some expert interviews in summer/autumn 2005. For more information please see the detailed description in the appendix.

Table 3: Seven best practice examples from Carinthia: Territorial Name Domain Locality/Region extent Household – Family Integrative socio- District of 82.533 and Company Ser- economic and re- Spittal/Drau habitants vice gional project Go-Mobil Flexible personal 27 Carinthian 9.535,97 transportation service Communities, km² 10 districts Home Doctor Cab Flexible personal Community of 1.300 transportation service Gnesau – 78,68 habitants for elderly persons km² Ingolsthal active Integrative local pro- Incorporated vil- 415 ject – networking for lage within the habitants the quality of life in community of the villlage (Leader+) Friesach New ways Employment policy Carnica region- Length of project – re-entering along Drau river the bicycle working life by main- (btw. communi- lane: about taining a bicycle lane ties Rosegg and 100 km Lavamünd) Goods from the farm Rural direct sellers Carinthia – Shop in the Shop Carinthian talent ex- Socio economic con- Carinthia change cept: Extended neighbourly help by a system of cashless exchange

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6. Conclusion and next steps

6.1 Regional level The results of the analyses carried out in the two Carinthian test areas indicate clearly for which domains of public services the need for action is most important. Public transport was assessed as most problematic by private users, and there are future trends indicating a further deterioration within the next years. So for the development of pilot projects (PUSEMOR work package 7) a thematic focus should be put on safeguarding the mobility of non- motorised parts of the population in rural communities. Other (minor) detected deficits, such as medical services, retail and postal services or adult education may also be issues for pilot projects. Furthermore, in view of the expected demographic changes, it might also be important to deal with the effective organisation of child care and schools meeting the needs of rural population. On the other hand, for developing pilot projects it will also be necessary to build upon existing strengths. Social services for elderly people were assessed as very positive in the survey. Nevertheless, the expected demographic ageing of the population is a big future challenge. The existing potential may be useful for developing pilot projects for more effective and well-co- ordinated social services. This goes especially for the district of Feldkirchen, where a college for social management exists which might be a valuable partner. The collected best practice examples indicate the importance of the non- profit sector for the supply of high-quality services well-adapted to local needs. Non-profit organisations should be involved in the development of pilot projects, and probably we will have to deal with the question of how public policies should support non-profit activities. For the development of pilot projects for Carinthia we intend a good co- ordination of PUSEMOR with other regional concepts and an extensive inte- gration of various project executing organisations. As a first step of developing ideas for pilot projects we intend to invite regional actors to workshops in spring 2006.

6.2 Next steps on transnational level Barbara Cernic Mali, Ueli Stalder

This report is one of totally 9 regional intermediate reports, which were finished by all regional partners of PUSEMOR project by the beginning of year 2006. The results, compiled in these reports, provide a sound basis for the further proceeding in the transnational project.

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Two workpackages were started in January 2006 and will run simultane- ously. The Workpackage 6 “Transnational comparison”, led by PV Südlicher Oberrhein assisted by BL Tirol, aims – based on the findings of the regional studies – to answer the following questions: • What are similarities and differences between the situation of public services in the different regions / countries? • Which are the needs and expectations of the user groups (population and SME)? • What are the characteristics of “best practices”? • Which are the framework conditions for transfer and implementation of best practices? • Which are new strategies for policies of spatial development? The results of workpackage 6 shall be edited in a “Transnational intermediate Report” and in a "Collection of best practices". Both papers shall be finished by summer 2006.

The results of present report will further serve as an input for the Workpack- age 7 i.e. "The elaboration and development of innovative and effective new strategies and pilot projects to improve the provision of the participating mountain areas with public services". The workpackage will be led by BL Carinthia assisted by GAL Appennino Genovese. The following outputs are expected: • One to three implementation-ready pilot projects per participating region, which have to be both of transnational interest (innovative, exemplary) and well integrated into regional development strategy. • Strategic recommendations for developing new projects in other mountain regions. More and updated information about the proceedings can be found at www.pusemor.net

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List of important legal documents / policy documents:

National level: Austria Regional level: Federal Province of Carinthia

Austrian Constitution ( Bundesverfas- Carinthian Government Programme sungsgesetz ) BGBl. 1/1930 idgF 2004-2009 ( Kärntner Regierungspro- gramm ) Local and Regional Public Transport Act 1999 ( Öffentlicher Personennah- und Draft Regional Development Concept Regionalverkehrsgesetz ÖPNRVG), Feldkirchen 2005 ( Regionales Entwick- BGBl. 204/1999 idgF lungsleitbild Feldkirchen. Entwurf ) Austrian General Transport Plan 2002 Carinthian Spatial Planning Act ( Kärntner (Generalverkehrsplan Österreich ) Raumordnungsgesetz ), LGBl. 76/1969 idgF Security Police Act ( Sicherheitspolizeige- setz ) BGBl. 566/1991 idgF Carinthian Local Planning Act ( Kärntner Gemeindeplanungsgesetz ), LGBl. Austrian Structure Plan Health ( Öster- 23/1995 idgF. reichischer Strukturplan Gesundheit ) Carinthian Social Help Act ( Kärntner School Acts ( Schulorganisationsgesetz; Sozialhilfegesetz ) LGBl 30/1996 idgF. Pflichtschulerhaltungs-Grundsatzgesetz; Schulpflichtgesetz; Privatschulgesetz ) Carinthian Kindergarten Act ( Kärntner BGBl. 242/1962 idgF.; 163/1955 idgF.; Kindergartengesetz ) LGBl. 1986/92 idgF. 76/1985 idgF.; 244/1962 idgF. Carinthian School Act ( Kärntner Schulge- Telecommunication Act ( Telekommunika- setz ) LGBl 58/2000 idF 27/2003 tionsgesetz ) BGBl. 70/2003

Guideline for broadband initiative 2003 (BMVIT, Sonderrichtlinie Breitbandinitia- tive ) Trade Commerce and Industry Regula- tion Act ( Gewerbeordnung ) BGBl. 194/1994 idgF. Post Act 1997 ( Postgesetz ) BGBl. Nr. 18/1998 idgF Postal Universal Services Regulation 2002 ( Post-Universaldienstverordnung des BMVIT )

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List of literature: GREMA 2005, Grenzüberschreitender Masterplan für Unterkärnten. Im Auf- trag der Kärntner Landesregierung. Unpublished working paper. IPE GmbH (2000), Erreichbarkeitsverhältnisse im öffentlichen Verkehr und im Individualverkehr 1997/98. ÖROK Schriftenreihe 155. Vienna. ÖIR (2005), Erreichbarkeit der Arbeitsplätze. Contribution to: Tecnoman perspectives, focus 1 “Räumliches Leitbild und Strukturen” – Interreg IIB CADSES. Unpublished working paper. ÖROK (Hrsg.) (2004), ÖROK Prognosen 2001-2031, Teil1: Bevölkerung und Arbeitskräfte nach Regionen und Bezirken Österreichs. Teil 2 Haushalte und Wohnungsbedarf nach Regionen und Bezirken Österreichs. ÖROK Schriften- reihe 166/I, 166/II. Vienna. PUSEMOR (2005), Work Package 5, Regional Studies Output 1: Facts and Figures Carinthia. Unpublished working paper. Strasser & Strasser Consulting (2004), Strukturanalyse Bezirk Feldkirchen. Unpublished working paper.

Data sources: www.statistik.gv.at , www.ams.or.at/neu/1400.htm

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Appendix : Best practice examples

HOUSEHOLD , FAMILY AND COMPANY SERVICE ( LEADER+ PROJECT )

1. Domain(s) of public services involved This project is an integrative socio-economic regional project within the LEADER+ programme. 2. Locality / region / Country The territorial level of this project is located in the district of Spittal/Drau. 3. Territorial level / extent The surface of the district of Spittal is about 2.763,66 km². 4. Target groups • Teenagers (school project Drauhofen) • Families who are living in structurally backward region • Responsible persons within the economic and labour market 5. Basic idea / aims / how does it work Impulse for this project was the discussion about the significance of housework within families and working life and the status of women within society. Within the framework of the project this topic has been analysed on a personal, social and educational level taking into account the situation of the labour market. Trough special measures the project offered the possibility to emancipate domestic economy tasks in order to emancipate also the person doing these tasks. It was an aim of the project to encounter the personal and social political devaluation of housework: • The structure of the family is more and more falling apart • Service of a ‘village assistant’ (a person of the village responsible for all social aspects) • Social network for an economic value The project focuses on the problem of services being underpaid on the black market and don’t have any social and legal protection. The acceptance of domestic economy should become a topic also on political level. Focuses: • Village management, Case management and Care management • Upper Carinthian women farmers – enjoy creativity • School going for economy • Qualification of being a village assistant

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6. Why it is considered innovative The project focuses on new structures in the area of family and village life. The result of a survey of demand showed that the social system within these areas have enormous deficit. The project applies exactly to these problems. 7. Start / how long it has been running The project has been realised between the years 2001 – 2003. 8. Costs / funding It is a supported LEADER+ project. 9. Transferability to other regions / conditions for a transfer The idea of a regional platform is transferable to any other region. 10. More information (website, contact person) Mag. Eva Altenmarkter-Fritzer Association ‚Household, Family and Company Service’ [email protected]

GO-MOBIL

1. Domain(s) of public services involved This project is a flexible personal transportation service. 2. Locality / region / Country More than 25 Carinthian communities without professional taxi-companies have decided to offer this flexible transportation service. Right now there are discussions to transfer the idea of the Go-Mobil into the region of Styria. 3. Territorial level / extent The size of Carinthia is about 9.535,97 km2 (10 districts) 4. Target groups • Teenagers • Families with one or no car in their household • Seniors 5. Basic idea / aims / how does it work The Go Mobil is a shuttle car which can be hired for rides within a defined area sometimes even beyond the borders of the communities like a normal taxi service. Alternative personal transportation services become more and more important in peripheral regions. Especially in rural communities people who are not mobile are offered a flexible possibility to get around. Go Mobil is a project which includes the topics like mobility, social service or local supply.

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It gives persons or families without cars the chance to get to the doctors, banc, supermarket or even to restaurants and pubs during day and night. The idea is a model for mobility which can be realised within communities with insufficient public transport and without normal taxi companies. Further- more it should help people who are not mobile to get out of their isolation and possible dependencies. Each community which is interested in establishing a Go-Mobil project has to found a non-profit association. In the first year the communities get a financial help of about €35.000 from federal and govern- mental funds. Companies like pubs, restaurants, supermarkets, hairdressers, doctors, associations etc. have the possibility to become Go-Mobil member companies. These member companies support through their membership payments the ongoing service. They also have the possibility to use the Go- Mobil as an advertising space. One Go (= ticket, à € 2,50) per person is be paid for • One ride from home to a member • from member to member • non member to member • or from a member back home. Two Go`s per person are necessary, for • from home to a non member • from member to non member • from non member back home. 6. Why it is considered innovative • The use of public funds in relation to the quality of the public service is low • The system is a very intelligent product • The efficiency is enormous • It can be integrated in already existing offers 7. Start / how long it has been running The Go-Mobil was founded in 2001. 8. Costs / funding Generally a starting payment of € 35.000 is submitted by federal and gov- ernmental offices. 9. Transferability to other regions / conditions for a transfer This project is transferable to any other region and communities.

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10. More information (website, contact person) Maximilian Goritschnig Am Steinkogel 1 A-9062-Moosburg Tel. u. Fax: 0043 (0) 4272 83 000 Mobil: 0043 (0) 664 603 603 1000 E-Mail: [email protected] Homepage: www.go-mobil.at

HOME-DOCTOR-CAB „GNESAUER FOR GNESAUER“

1. Domain(s) of public services involved This project is a flexible personal transportation service for elderly solitary persons. 2. Locality / region / Country This project works on a local level in the community of Gnesau. 3. Territorial level / extent The size of the community of Gnesau is about 78,68 km². 4. Target groups • elderly solitary persons • seniors/pensioners without a car 5. Basic idea / aims / how does it work Volunteers offer elderly persons who do not have an own car or a drivers li- cence, a taxi-service to their doctor (practitioner or specialist) in the neigh- bouring community or in the next main city. For many solitary elderly persons without a car it is often a problem getting to the doctor’s practice especially regarding the bad situation of the provided public services (bus connection, timetable etc.). The idea was originated by a member of the community council of Gnesau. Working as a doctor assistant she is very often confronted with elderly persons having problems getting to the doctor's practice. 6. Why it is considered innovative • This project is based on volunteers and doesn’t need any public funding. • The volunteers offer their time and car and don’t get a refund for their charges (motor liability insurance, gas etc.). • Elderly persons have the time they need for the doctor’s visit.

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• It’s an innovative respond to the weak pubic transport system in pe- riphery regions. 7. Start / how long it has been running The house-doctor-taxi was founded in 2003. 8. Costs / funding There are no costs. 9. Transferability to other regions / conditions for a transfer This project is transferable to any other region and communities. 10. More information (website, contact person) Community of Gnesau [email protected] Gerda Berger Tel. u. Fax: 0043 (0) 04278 271-11 Mobil: 0043 (0) 664 5709702

INGOLSTHAL ACTIVE ( LEADER+ PROJECT )

1. Domain(s) of public services involved This project is an integrative regional project within the Leader+ programme. 2. Locality / region / Country Ingolsthal is an incorporated village within the community of Friesach and is directly affected by the project. The exemplary function of this project should act on a regional level and as an impulse for other local project activities. 3. Territorial level / extent The territorial level includes the village Ingolsthal. 4. Target groups • farmers • tourism • habitation • school • local supplier • citizens 5. Basic idea / aims / how does it work The project is based on the networking of main focuses for the securing of life quality, by structuring the community in a new way. Agriculture, forestry,

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tourism, living, school as well as local suppliers are key words for this inter- disciplinary realisation of the project. Ingolsthal is an incorporated village within the community of Friesach and is directly affected by the project. The exemplary function of this project should act on a regional level and as an impulse for other local project activities. Ingolsthal in the community of Frie- sach is like many other rural regions affected by migration and confronted with the task of local farmers. That’s the reason why a very committed group of habitants has started a counteroffensive. • Living in Ingolsthal as an alternative to living in the city • Ecological cultivation of the agricultural spaces should be guaranteed • The future of the village should be secured 6. Why it is considered innovative • Educational exchange programme • Qualification of the participation processes of habitants within the village • Local suppliers create a product catalogue • Establishment of a farmers shop with local products • Last but not least the networking of the above mentioned points. 7. Start / how long it has been running The project Ingolsthal active was founded in 2002. 8. Costs / funding It is a supported LEADER+ project. 9. Transferability to other regions / conditions for a transfer The idea of a regional platform is transferable to any other region. 10. More information (website, contact person) ARGE Ingolsthal active Peter Kreuzer Project co-ordination Tel.: 0043 (0) 664 – 61 27 926

NEW WAYS – DRAU BICYCLE LANE - SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE

1. Domain(s) of public services involved The Drau bicycle lane is an employment policy project for unemployed people. It works within a network including manpower market, local regional as well as socio-economic policy.

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2. Locality / region / Country This project has been established within the Regional Management CARNICA-Region (southern part of Carinthia) and is realised in between the communities Rosegg and Lavamünd - along the Drau-river. 3. Territorial level / extent This section of the Drau bicycle lane is about 100 km long. 4. Target groups The target groups of this projects are long term unemployed people and people who are in danger of being long term unemployed. 5. Basic idea / aims / how does it work The project is based on labour policy and has the aim to offer long term unemployed the chance to re-enter working life. The project leader assists the long term unemployed persons to get into contact with the working world and supports them re-entering into the labour market. The project leader accom- panies them trough eight month and helps them to regain their working abil- ity. The above mentioned measures are being realised by the communities in southern Carinthia within the framework of a non profit employment project. The representatives of the communities support the project leader by choos- ing the long term unemployed persons. These persons are employed for the period of eight month in order to maintain the bicycle lane along the river Drau. They have to cultivate the lane by maintaining the road surface, cutting trees alongside the lane etc. The project leader helps them to get into a regulated day schedule and trains their staying power. 6. Why it is considered innovative This project has an added value for the region and helps long term unemployed and people who are difficult to place into a job to find their way back into the working world. Having worked within this project these chosen persons will be integrated within the community and do have better chances to get employed either within the public services and companies within the community. 7. Start / how long it has been running This project is organised within INTERREG III A and started in 2003. 8. Costs / funding The personal costs of the project are paid for 2/3 by the Carinthian Employ- ment Office, 1/6 by the Office of the Carinthian Government and 1/6 by the communities involved. 9. Transferability to other regions / conditions for a transfer This project is transferable to any other region.

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10. More information (website, contact person) Carinica – Region Rosental Mrs. Iris Binder A-9170 Ferlach E-Mail: [email protected] Internet: www.carnica-rosental.at Tel.: 0043 (0) 664 3129799

GOODS FROM THE FARM’ - THE SHOP IN THE SHOP

1. Domain(s) of public services involved This project is especially for rural direct sellers as well as farmers. 2. Locality / region / Country This project works on local and regional level within Carinthia 3. Territorial level / extent The size of Carinthia is about 9.535,97 km2 (10 districts) 4. Target groups The target group includes farmers as well as local suppliers in peripheral regions. 5. Basic idea / aims / how does it work With ‘the shop in the shop’ the shop owner gives local farmers the chance to sell their own goods in a special decorated corner within the store. The „Goods from the farm“ has been established for store promotion by the pro- ducer (tasting sessions, farmers markets etc.) ‘Goods from the farmers’ is a seal of quality well known in Austria. Local farmers willing to sell their goods within the shop in the shop have to undergo special quality checks in order to be allowed to take part. Once being chosen the local farmers are supported in marketing questions by the shop owner. In order to sell his products and goods within the shop in the shop the farmer has to pay the shop owner a certain kind of payment, depending on the rack area as well as a part of the personal costs. The payment depends also on the operating expenses and amounts 25 % for dry assortments and 30 % for fresh assortments. All products are especially defined by codes so that the electronic point of sale can recognise the business done by the farmer. At the end of the month, the farmer gets his earned money less the operating expenses. 6. Why it is considered innovative The basic idea of this regional platform is the use of the existing infrastructure. The farmer as well as the shop owner do have profit from this system (win-win-situation). A further advantage are the low investment costs.

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7. Start / how long it has been running In Carinthia initialised in the year 2005. 8. Costs / funding • The initial costs depend on the existing facilities and decorating ele- ments • Delivery by goods received note • monthly settlement • flat adjustment 9. Transferability to other regions / conditions for a transfer This project is transferable to any other region. 10. More information (website, contact person) Chamber for Agriculture and Forestry DI H. Gernig Museumgasse 5 A-9020 Klagenfurt Tel.: 0043 (0) 5850 – 1392 [email protected] www.lk-kaernten.at

CARINTHIAN TALENT EXCHANGE

1. Domain(s) of public services involved Socio-economic concept 2. Locality / region / Country This project works on local and regional level within Carinthia 3. Territorial level / extent The size of Carinthia is about 9.535,97 km2 (10 districts) 4. Target groups The Carinthian talent exchange is especially a help for people with economic problems and for people having difficulties getting in contact with other persons. 5. Basic idea / aims / how does it work The talent exchange has been established to help people with short economic resources. Especially unemployed people are being motivated not to lose contact with the working world and to gain self-confidence in offering their valuable talents. The Carinthian talent exchange supports the working

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and living together in terms of extended neighbourly help and gives live to regional structures. The Carinthian talent exchange is an association which offers a system for cashless exchange. The currency for goods and services is called a ‘talent’. Basically 100 talents correspond to one hour of work. All members of this association do have their own account of talents which is managed by a central office. All kinds of physical and psychical abilities can be offered regardless of age nationality or social status. 6. Why it is considered innovative • „help to help yourself“ – arrangements for helping and getting helped • not depending on any funds • is only working in a functioning community • possibility to reactivate peripheral regions • especially applicable in economically underdeveloped areas 7. Start / how long it has been running In Carinthia the talent exchange has been established in 1996. 8. Costs / funding Each member has to pay a membership fee of € 14,50 per year and the amount of 200 ‘talents’ for the accountant who is responsible for the management of the association and the ‘talent accounts’. 9. Transferability to other regions / conditions for a transfer The idea of a regional platform is transferable to any other region. 10. More information (website, contact person) Carinthian talent exchange c/o Christa Zwitter Karawankenblickstr. 3/2 9020 Klagenfurt Tel.: 0043 (0) 249 83 20 www.tauschkreis-kaernten.at

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