Annual Report on European Activities 2014 Munich and Europe Munich‘s role in Europe 3

City Council Commission on Europe 4

After the elections: All change in Brussels and Munich 5

Strategy In demand: Munich‘s expertise In Munich, EUROCITIES strengthens the position of large cities 7

Awards for energy efficiency and sustainable power supply 9

Setting a good example 10

Local government departments contribute their expertise to EUROCITIES working groups 11

Nantes takes over EUROCITIES presidency 12

Social Forum stands up for public participation ECOPROFIT at the Economic Development Forum 13

European cities join forces to adapt to climate change News from the networks 14

New head of the Commission‘s regional representation in Munich Network meeting: Keen interest in information about Europe 16

Air pollution control: Little movement in Brussels in 2014 City Council Commission responds to planned public transport regulation 17

TTIP must not jeopardize the quality and diversity of public services 18

EU‘s Urban Agenda must respect subsidiarity 19

Balancing the needs of mobility and the environment in the Alpine space 20

We grow together – together we grow Best-practice security 21

EU Parliament gains influence 22

Committee with extended authority Setting the points for the new parliamentary term Well prepared to apply for INTERREG funds 23

A new EU funding period begins Training and development in Europe 24

Promoting openness and tolerance Applying the UN‘s Disability Rights Convention 25

Cover: Our cover picture shows a reflection of Munich‘s Theatinerkirche in the Acropolis Museum in Athens A powerful voice in defence of public services Resource-Saving Europe initiative 26

A resounding “no” to genetic engineering 27

Communication Let’s talk about Europe! More than 18,000 downloads Europe Day – Focus on the European elections 29

Want to help shape Europe? Then get informed! 30

Second-best in Germany 31

Projects Assistance with EU projects A better quality of life thanks to a smart choice of location 33

Europe moves (me) Europe for the little ones News in brief 34

How to interact successfully without a common language 35

Remeasuring Europe 36

“What’s the deal?” 37

Dialogue on energy efficiency and renewable energy Toward more tolerance in dealings with HIV and AIDS 38

Taking a stand against repression Munich’s twin cities on the Viktualienmarkt Two questions for Dieter Reiter, Mayor of Munich 39

School furniture for Subotica Helping young people to launch their career 40

Helping refugees to return home 41

DELI promotes corporate diversity 42

Ground-breaking: “Fair Move” 43

Two weeks in Stockholm – 200,000 books in 120 languages! Professional and personal enrichment through residence periods 44

Prizes and awards 45

Future High-level CEMR meeting in Munich European Year for Development 47

Annual Report on European Activities 2014 3

Munich’s role in Europe

Cities are like microcosms in which In its paper “The urban dimension of virtually every challenge known to EU policies”, the EU Commission human society can be found in con- describes the situation of cities densed form. Yet they are also the throughout the European Union, the social units within which solutions are urban policy of its member states and most likely to be found – and to be the global dimension of urban devel- found quickly. 70 percent of Europeans opment. It emphasizes that the devel- live in cities, and the number is still opment of an EU Urban Agenda is rising. Understandably, therefore, local consistent with current requirements. government officials have an espe- Munich got involved in the ongoing cially keen interest in mastering the process of developing an EU Urban urgent challenges of the future. For Agenda at a very early stage. Besides Europe’s cities, the ability to share and preparing a response to the relevant exchange knowledge and best-prac- consultation on behalf of all of the

tice projects – to reduce CO2 emis- city’s municipal departments, the sions, for example, and to improve European Affairs Team also plays a energy efficiency – is a tremendous very active part in the EUROCITIES opportunity. That is why we must network with regard to the EU Urban work together to ensure that the voice Agenda. Only recently, it drafted a of our cities continues to be heard at position paper in cooperation with EU level. other major European cities.

Urgently needed: an Urban Agenda Impact on cities Conversely, if the EU wants to achieve I believe that a future EU Urban its strategic goals for a smart, sustain- Agenda should reflect the overriding able and inclusive Europe, it is depen­ goals of the EU and complement the dent on the support of Europe’s cities. policies of member states. Fortunately, That is why an EU Urban Agenda is the relevant institutions have long needed to lay a practical and coherent been aware that foreign trade topics, foundation on which to involve cities for example, are no longer the exclu- in the process of shaping European sive preserve of central governments, policy. However, an EU Urban Agenda but that they also have an impact on must also respect the principle of cities. Accordingly, it should be per- subsidiarity – and must not confront fectly natural for Europe’s cities to be cities with new legal prescriptions.­ involved in discussions about the TTIP, CETA and TiSA. 4 Annual Report on European Activities 2014

Yet I am equally aware that an increas- Highlights of European activities The fact that the most important ingly strong role for cities goes hand in Dialogue is the key. The extent to ­governing body of the Council of Euro- hand with greater responsibility. Cities which dialogue and joint action can pean Municipalities and Regions no longer plan only for their own resi- succeed was evidenced by the (CEMR), the Policy Committee, now dents, but on a European scale and ­EUROCITIES Annual Conference in also plans to convene in Munich with sometimes even beyond. Munich lives Munich last November. There can be about 150 functionaries in June of this up to this responsibility. By way of no doubt that this event, which year comes as further confirmation of example, let me simply point to the brought recognition for the host city’s how firmly the Bavarian capital is city’s efforts to support and strengthen international commitment to date, was established in the key networks of civil society: At the recent conference the highlight of Munich’s European European activities, underscoring the on “Civil Society in Harare, Kiev and activities. Some 550 delegates, many important part we play within these Munich”, prominent actors and local of them mayors and political repre- networks. politicians from all three partner cities sentatives of EU member states and were welcomed as guests and shared EU institutions, took part in the confer- Deputy Mayor Josef Schmid their experience of citizens’ and human ence. Presentations and discussions, Head of the Department of Labor and rights activities at the municipal level. workshops and excursions all gave Economic Development these guests a clear impression of at the City of Munich how Munich is leading by example on the subject of “Energising cities – energy intelligent cities of tomorrow”. The gathering was also impressed by Simon Anholt, who elaborated on his idea of the “good city” with these words: “A successful city is a ‘good’ city, a city which turns outwards, not one which turns in on itself.”

City Council Commission on Europe

Munich‘s City Council Commission on Europe is an advisory body to the City Council. It concerns itself with EU initiatives that have a bearing on local government, applications for EU projects submitted by local govern- ment departments, funding programs and position papers on EU consultation proceedings. The City of Munich submits the latter directly to the EU Commission. In its advisory capacity, the City Council Commission is staffed by representatives of all political parties that have seats on the City Council.

Voting members are: §§Josef Schmid, Deputy Mayor and Head of the ­Department of Labor and Economic Development §§Manuel Pretzl, CSU §§Dr. Manuela Olhausen, CSU §§Ulrike Boesser, SPD §§Jens Röver, SPD §§Lydia Dietrich, Die Grünen/Rosa Liste §§Gabriele Neff, FTB §§Ursula Sabathil, AG BM/AfD Annual Report on European Activities 2014 5

After the elections: All change in Brussels and Munich

2014 was an eventful year in and for discussion and intensive networking shown that these efforts are worth- Europe. The EU’s parliamentary elec- activities once again underscored the while and that progress has been tion was held in May, and the out- city’s considerable interest in Euro- achieved in terms of greater transpar- come was for the first time critical for pean affairs. ency. In the spring, the Federal Minis- the subsequent election of the EU 2014 also marked the beginning of the try for Economic Affairs set up an Commission’s new President. This EU’s new funding period. In the advisory council of which Dr. Ulrich proved to be a victory for democracy: course of the year, the EU Commission Maly, President of the German Associ- In the person of Jean-Claude Juncker, and the member states staked out the ation of Cities, is a member. Led by the candidate was chosen whose new operational programs and pub- Deputy Mayor Josef Schmid, a public European People’s Party (EPP) lished the content of and requirements event in Munich likewise demanded attracted the most votes throughout for the individual funding programs. more transparency in November 2014. Europe. At the end of December, the Depart- Representatives of the German Asso- Regrettably, the elections also meant ment of Labor and Economic Develop- ciation of Cities, the EU Commission, that Munich now has only one local ment therefore invited its colleagues the Federal Association of Public representative in the EU Parliament. from other local government depart- ­Services and the University of Kassel Notwithstanding, we are also working ments to an information event dedi- fielded questions posed by members together with Bavaria’s EU parlia­ cated to the EU’s new INTERREG V of the public. mentarians to ensure that the inter- funding program. Representatives of Our Annual Report on European Activ- ests of the Bavarian capital are heard the program authorities outlined the ities reports on all the City of Munich’s in ­Brussels an Strasbourg. focal areas of development, the activities in relation to the EU in the Local elections in Munich in the spring requirements for successful project course of 2014 – a year in which many led to Deputy Mayor Josef Schmid applications and the deadlines by City Councillors stood up for the inter- (CSU) adding the role of new Head of which applications must be submitted. ests of the Bavarian capital both in European Affairs in Munich to his Munich itself and throughout Europe. function as Head of the Department of Extensive liberalization Numerous projects were realized with Labor and Economic Development. The Transatlantic Trade and Invest- the aid of EU funding. And a host of The City Council’s reshuffled Commis- ment Partnership (TTIP) envisages events – especially those organized by sion on European Affairs commenced extensive liberalization of international our Europe Direct Information Centre its work in the autumn. In Berlin, trade between the EU and the USA. at the Munich City Library – gave us ­Richard Kühnel now heads the EU But what will that mean for local opportunities to talk to local residents Commission’s representation in governments?­ This is a key question about topical European issues. ­Germany. By no means least, Joachim to which we have been seeking Menze is the new head of the Euro- answers since June 2013. As soon as Henriette Wägerle pean Commission’s regional represen­ it became clear that local government City of Munich tation in Munich. In response to all activities will be significantly affected Department of Labor and Economic these personnel changes, the City of by the TTIP, the Munich City Council Development Munich seized the opportunity to intro­ published a catalogue of demands in Director of European Affairs duce the newcomers to the various 2014. In collaboration with EURO­ EU actors in Munich: The former thus CITIES, we have taken the lead in outlined their plans and objectives at preparing a position paper that enjoys our network meeting in the New City the backing of many European cities. Hall at the end of October. A lively Developments in recent months have

Annual Report on European Activities 2014 7

In demand: Munich’s expertise

To represent its interests in Brussels and Strasbourg, the specific processes: Whatever the issue at stake, lobbying City of Munich once again engaged in vigorous and active is an efficient tool with which to achieve objectives in lobbying work in 2014. The aim is to involve experts from Brussels. the Bavarian capital in the political opinion-building pro- The European Affairs Team at the Department of Labor cess at EU level. Lobbying tends to be most successful and Economic Development serves all local government when we are aware of political developments that could departments and coordinates all European activities on affect Munich at an early stage, as this gives us the behalf of the City of Munich. chance to exert a real influence, find reasoned arguments Position papers compiled by the City of Munich are pub- and develop strategies. Participating in legislative pro- lished on the Internet at: cesses, taking part in consultations, seeking information www.muenchen.de / europa as early as possible or targeting direct involvement in

In Munich, EUROCITIES strengthens the position of large cities

The City of Munich’s European Anna Lisa Boni, General Secretary of Let’s work together to develop the ­activities reached their zenith to EUROCITIES, gave a positive verdict: best solutions!” This was the appeal date when the Bavarian capital was “In Munich, I met with nearly a hun- for knowledge transfer and network- chosen to host the EUROCITIES dred political representatives to share ing with which Munich’s Mayor Dieter Annual Conference 2014. A lot of successful ways in which Europe’s Reiter opened the ­EUROCITIES work went into preparing the event. cities can play a part in advancing Annual Conference 2014 in the But it was worth it, as more than sustainable energy and the efficient Gasteig’s Carl Orff Room. The theme 550 international guests discovered use of energy. The Munich conference of the conference was “Energising Munich to be a business location was an electrifying experience that ­cities – energy intelligent cities of bursting with opportunities, a city helped innovative strategies make the tomorrow”, and Reiter stressed that that is actively involved in shaping breakthrough in Europe’s cities.” Munich is setting a good example to and giving fresh direction to Europe’s others: “In 2025, we want to be energy transition, an attractive cul- Past and present ­generating as much green electricity tural metropolis – and an attentive Many guests clearly shared her enthu- as we consume. That would make us host. siasm for Munich as a city where past the first city in the world with more traditions and modern perspectives rub than a million inhabitants to achieve shoulders without generating friction. this goal.” Yet municipal utility Stadt­ Visitors convened in the historic city werke München (SWM) is aiming hall, partied in the futuristic BMW Welt, even higher with its Renewable Ener- relaxed in the venerable Hofbräuhaus gies Expansion campaign: Its goal and, over a period of two days, experi- would, by 2040, make Munich the enced the Gasteig cultural centre as first large city in Germany to generate the ideal venue for a conference. It all of its district heating from renewa- also proved the perfect setting to share ble energy sources. knowledge and, aside from intensive political debates and discussions, to How can a city become good? strengthen the family ties that bind Keynote speaker at the opening Europe’s city network together on a ­session in the Carl Orff Room was very personal level. Englishman Simon Anholt. Addressing a public event for the first time, the “Cities hold out the greatest potential independent policy advisor talked for change. We mustn’t simply rely on about the concept of “good cities” – our national governments. We must do something ourselves to improve the energy efficiency of our cities. All of us can set a lot of things in motion. 8 Annual Report on European Activities 2014

good in the sense of sustainable. How Future visions and strategies The conference was accompanied can a city become a good city? And One of the highlights of the annual by an exhibition in the Gasteig foyer why is it important for the global com- conference was the Mayors’ Debate. displaying ideas and organized in col- munity that cities do so? These and On two separate podiums, Mayors laboration with the conference part- similar questions were at the core of Vitali Klitschko (Kiev), Yorgos Kaminis ners: BICCNET,­ the Bavarian cluster his address. For Anholt, who advises (Athens), George Ferguson (Bristol), for information and communication regional and local governments in Ullrich Sierau (Dortmund), Stian technology, BMW Group, the cities of more than 50 countries, the answer Berger Røsland (Oslo), Anna-Kaisa Copenhagen, Malmö and Munich was unequivocal: Every politician must Ikonen (Tampere) and Corine Mauch (represented by the Department of clearly understand that he or she (Zurich) discussed how cities can Urban Planning and Building Regula- bears responsibility not only for his or contribute to alleviating climate tions), EUROCITIES,­ Green City e. V., her own city and citizens, but for all change and facilitate the transition to municipal housing company GWG people across the face of the Earth. sustainable energy. They also met Städtische Wohnungsgesellschaft Everyone’s actions have repercussions representatives of the conference’s München mbH, Eurhonet, local trans- beyond the local community. Anholt corporate partners, BMW, Siemens port utility Münchner Verkehrsgesell­ expressed his desire for a new culture and municipal utility SWM, as well as schaft mbH (MVG), Siemens, that doesn’t lose sight of the big with representatives of civil society. ­municipal utility SWM, Technische ­picture even when making small, local And they outlined visions and strate- Universität München, TRANSFORM decisions. gies for energy intelligent cities Transformation Agenda for Low beyond the year 2030. Other key ­Carbon Cities and Urban ­Platform questions addressed in the debate Danube Region. were who plays a pivotal role and how local citizens can be involved?

Dieter Reiter, Mayor of Munich, pictured between Kiev’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko (right) and Warsaw’s Deputy Mayor Michal Olszewski. Annual Report on European Activities 2014 9

Munich’s Mayor Dieter Reiter (left), EUROCITIES General Secretary Anna Lisa Boni (above) and Deputy Mayor Josef Schmid (below) engrossed in conversation.

Awards for energy efficiency and sustainable power supply

When the EUROCITIES Awards were Nine cities made it onto the short list, measures. The project’s focus on the presented at BMW Welt, ground-­ with projects focused on energy needs of residents shows the way breaking projects that reflected the ­system modernization leading the way forward for other communities. theme of the conference – “Energis- in all categories. The winners were ing cities – energy intelligent cities ­Liverpool in the “Cooperation” cate- Vilnius was rewarded for its interactive of tomorrow” – were in the spot- gory, Vilnius in the “Innovation” cate- energy efficiency map for its municipal light. Nineteen European cities sub- gory and Malaga in the “Participation” apartment blocks. The map encour- mitted energy efficiency and sus- category. In the latter category, The ages tenants to review their own energy tainable power supply projects as Hague, which came second, received consumption patterns and supplies candidates for EUROCITIES Awards a special mention for exceptionally specific advice on how to use energy in three categories. citizen-friendly local projects for sus- more efficiently. tainable urban development. The dedicated efforts of Francisco de Liverpool won the award with a project la Torre Prados, Mayor of Malaga, are focused on energy efficiency and the main reason why one of the city’s renewable energy in social housing social hotspots was chosen as the and for low-income households. Six venue for a modernized energy system. local authorities and six public housing Residents of the social housing estate providers teamed up to improve the Los Limoneros were actively involved energy efficiency of 4,000 social in the project to improve energy effi- homes and 40 SMEs in a deprived area ciency as a way to get them on board. of the city, using a combination of low‑carbon technologies and other 10 Annual Report on European Activities 2014

Setting a good example

Munich’s showcase projects were at the need to save energy. To do so, ­pioneering role for all of Europe. To the centre of a series of workshops connections between existing trans- give participants a genuine feel for the organized by the Department of port facilities for local, urban and range of services on offer, a film about Labor and Economic Development long-distance traffic were optimized “Gscheid mobil” was specially pro- in collaboration with the Depart- while overall traffic space was reduced duced and shown at the workshop. ment of Environment and Health, to provide more leisure space and Individual aspects of the program were the Department of Public Order, the shift the focus to local mobility. The also demonstrated live, followed by a Department of Urban Planning and completely barrier-free design of discussion of how the model could be Building Regulations, the Social ­transit points at the railway station, transferred. Other items on the Services Department and a number links to tram and bus lines and access agenda included passenger training in of other partners. to the covered bicycle parking area age-simulation suits and a play about attracted special attention, as did the youth mobility entitled “Let’s go!” Energy-efficient and sustainable pedestrianized design of the shopping urban development in Munich’s areas. The latter was made possible Local networks for climate protection districts Freiham and Neuaubing only by construction of a bypass on An e‑bus brought the workshop The Freiham workshop focused on the the north edge of Pasing. ­participants to Schwabing Municipal urban development concept which Hospital, where the networks combines energy-efficient retrofitting “Munich for Climate Protection” and with social considerations and regen- “Ecoprofit” were presented as best erative energy. Links are being forged practice examples. The first example between the existing urban district of demonstrated how using a high-effi- Neuaubing and Freiham, a new district ciency heat recovery system can lead that is still under development. The to significant energy savings. The aim is to allow each to benefit from second example illustrated how the other. Participants visited the site patients can be moved between the of the future geothermal plant, which various municipal hospital locations in will feed into the district heat network the most ecofriendly way possible. and supply Freiham with the low-tem- One way is to use an e‑taxi that is perature return flow. On location, the Münchner Freiheit mobility station: recharged with green electricity from workshop discussed issues of practi- Bringing multimodal transport to life a solar installation on the premises of cal implementation, the energy pov- Munich’s first mobility station was the hospital. erty of households and involving resi- opened during the EUROCITIES dents in developing smart urban Annual Conference at Münchner Renewable Energies Expansion districts. The international participants ­Freiheit, a key local public transport campaign agreed, that whatever actions are node that brings together underground, The expansion campaign launched by taken, it is important to consider the bus and tram lines. Six parking spaces municipal utility SWM fuelled intensive needs of inhabitants (oder people) have been reserved here for car-shar- discussions and generated considera- right from the outset, to encourage ing offerings, two of which are for ble interest. Once the projects currently them to get involved in transforming electric cars. A charging station run by in progress have been added to those urban energy strategies, and to make municipal utility SWM ensures that that are already in place, SWM will good use of that involvement. these cars are always ready to roll. By have the capacity to generate more mid-2015, the public bicycle hire sys- than 3.5 billion kWH of green electric- tem “MVG Rad” will also be set up at ity at its own power stations. That is the mobility station. An information already roughly 47 percent of Munich’s point shows which modes of transport total power consumption – and sub- are currently available. The Munich stantially more than is needed by all mobility station is a pilot project that is 800,000 or so households in the city, currently one of kind in both Germany as well as all underground and tram and the whole of Europe. services. Other (mostly wind energy) projects with significant potential are “Gscheid mobil” – currently in the pipeline. The hydro- Sustainable mobility thanks to power plants Isarwerk II and Prater- mobility ­management kraftwerk visited during the workshop Traffic and urban renewal In collaboration with local public trans- were rated as exemplary. based on the example of Pasing port provider MVG and the Department The people who attended this work- of Labor and Economic Development, shop were most interested in the the Department of Public Order (KVR) question of how an urban district such is offering a wide range of mobility as Pasing, which has grown organically advice services under the brand over time, can be prepared, redesigned “München – Gscheid mobil” (“Smart and transformed to accommodate mobility in Munich”). This project new challenges – first and foremost positions the Bavarian capital in a Local government departments contribute their expertise to EUROCITIES working groups

Munich channels municipal position papers into the relationships. Within the framework of an artist-in-residence European policy-making process via the EUROCITIES program, it gives guest artists the opportunity to exhibit network. This network also allows the city’s local gov- their works at the EAAC. It also places Strasbourg-based ernment to engage in intensive consultations with its artists abroad. In light of the rising tide of refugees and peers in other cities to explore common challenges and increasing displacement, and given Strasbourg’s commit- effective solutions. In 2014, Munich’s local government ment to be a city of peace and human rights, the meeting departments once again played an active role in many discussed how more support could be given to artists from working groups. the countries affected. In this context, Munich outlined its involvement in the Writers in Exile program at Germany’s Working group on culture and young people PEN Centre. The March 2014 meeting of the working group on culture and young people was held within the framework of the Working group on integrated urban development Culture Forum at the Nerve Centre in Derry. Ranking as Munich’s Department of Urban Planning and Building Regu- Northern Ireland’s foremost independent art and medium lations chaired the working group on integrated urban plan- centre, the Nerve Centre houses a large number of rooms ning for three years. In 2014, the group stepped up its dia- and projects for all kinds of different art forms and target logue with the working group on housing (in the social groups. The working group – of which the Department of forum), focusing on the issue of how cities faced with the Arts and Culture is a member – concerns itself primarily pressures caused by growth can communicate densifica- with the Nerve Centre’s extensive program of communica- tion and transformation and realize public participation. tion and education, including the affiliated FabLab. Munich What tools must be used and which processes initiated in is particularly interested in the diversity-oriented approach order to involve all stakeholders in urban societies in the that is lived out here in activities involving local communi- development of their cities? The cities of Dresden, Stock- ties. At its second meeting in Strasbourg, the group holm, Utrecht, Munich, Vienna and Zurich presented exam- focused essentially on its agenda and working structures ples in the series of folders “In Dialogue about Urban for 2015. Central to its work for the coming year is the topic Transformation”, which was published by the Department of “quality management in cooperation between schools of Urban Planning and Building Regulations and supported and non-school partners in the field of cultural education”. by EUROCITIES. Munich outlined its plans to harmonize future development on the north-eastern edge of the city Working group on mobility of artists with the local landscape. In Derry, this working group met on the premises of the Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company. The meeting was Working group on housing used to discuss the further development of “European Cities In 2014, the Social Services Department took part in a joint and Cultural Mobility”, a study produced by the group in the conference organized in Munich by the working groups on previous year to evaluate the effectiveness of city strate- housing and integrated urban development. The topic was gies as tools to promote artistic mobility. In the months “Energy efficiency in housing construction”. Discussions after the meeting, however, it was found that the project showed that many technical solutions and development could not be financed, as most cities did not commit programs are now available for energy-efficient housing (both budget funding for this purpose. Notwithstanding, Nantes for new construction and for the modernization of existing handed over chairmanship of the working group to Turin buildings) and energy consulting, but that more must still after a four-year spell. be done to motivate owners, housing companies and ­tenants to make use of these offerings. It is also important The working group’s meeting in Strasbourg was hosted by to ensure that rents remain affordable despite energy effi- the European Centre of Contemporary Arts (EAAC). This ciency measures. respected institution fosters a large number of international 12 Annual Report on European Activities 2014

Working group on air quality, climate change and Working group on public services energy efficiency Munich has chaired this working group since 2013. The The Department of Environment and Health attended all group focuses its activities on lobbying the European Com- three meetings of this working group in 2014, each of which mission and the European Parliament in the field of compe- took place within the framework of the Culture Forum. The tition law and services. Another important aspect of its Munich department’s work in this group concentrates on work is sharing information on current European legal issues, further development of the European Air Quality Directive. especially in relation to state aid and public procurement. Urban planning and traffic-related activities alone are not Current information on the subject of assistance for social enough to allow cities to keep air pollution below the per- housing construction and local models was also of interest mitted thresholds. Accordingly, the Department of Environ- to Munich in the year under review. Cities in the Nether- ment and Health is committed in particular to more and lands and France are very active in this area. Munich was better technical solutions at the source of emissions (on also able to benefit from London’s lobbying activities, which vehicles, for example). The City of Munich’s position on this were instrumental in getting the Fourth Railway Package matter has been communicated to the relevant European and the regulation on public passenger transport by rail and Commission bodies and to the political bodies in Brussels road revised. Ultimately, dialogue on these subjects (one of which is the CEMR) via the agency of the EURO­ prompted Munich’s Deputy Mayor Josef Schmid to write CITIES network. Climate change and the adaptive meas- a letter opposing a planned ruling in the draft regulation that ures planned and implemented by local governments are could have had a negative fiscal and financial impact on another focal area. At present, the main focus here is on Munich’s public transport utility MVG. pooling information and experience to develop Munich’s plan of action. Working group on barrier-free cities for all The March 2014 meeting of this working group applied Working group on migration and integration itself primarily to the development of barrier-free accessibil- The Integrating Cities Charter was developed by the work- ity in Barcelona’s public transport system. 85 percent of the ing group on migration and integration and remains the city’s underground stations now have lifts; and those stations framework for its activities. Munich was among the first where entry to the trains is too high have had the entire cities to sign this charter in 2010. Since then, a total of platform fitted with metal ramps. Similarly, bus stops that 33 European cities have committed themselves to the have not yet been raised have been fitted with plastic plat- principles laid out in the charter. Toronto will soon become forms to bridge the vertical gap between the ground at the the first non-European city to sign up. stop and the floor of the vehicle. All ticket machines have In collaboration with the COMPAS research institute, the voice response installed for blind passengers. The second working group organized a round-table debate on the sub- conference was held during the Mobility Forum in Venice, ject of “undocumented migrants” in Barcelona. In 2014, where planners and managers from the local building work to produce a second “Integrating Cities Report” con- authority presented their concept for barrier-free access in tinued. The new report will be published in 2015. A survey the lagoon city. of the 33 signatory cities is currently in progress and will lay the foundation for this report.

Nantes takes over EUROCITIES­ presidency

The Annual Conference brought an end to Warsaw’s presi- dency of EUROCITIES. Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Mayor Warsaw, officially handed over the presidency to Johanna Rolland, Mayor of Nantes, who outlined her vision for EUROCITIES in the following terms: “A strong EUROCITIES position on an Urban Agenda within the EU will help ensure that the new Commission continues to actively concern itself with urban issues. We will continue to develop our network’s profile and make sure that cities have a louder say in political decisions that concern their residents.” Ghent, represented by Mayor Daniël Termont, now holds the vice-presidency.

Anna Lisa Boni, General Secretary of EUROCITIES (left), and Johanna Rolland, Mayor of Nantes. Annual Report on European Activities 2014 13

Social Forum stands up for public participation

Newcastle ECOPROFIT The EUROCITIES Social Forum in Campus for active ageing Barcelona in March 2014 chose When the forum convened in Newcas- at the Economic “Building inclusive cities within the tle in October, Thomas Fabian, Mayor social investment package” as its of Leipzig, was elected as its chairman. Development motto. The Social Services Depart- Irma Rognoni Viader from Barcelona is ment is currently involved in the the new vice-chairperson. The Depart- Forum working groups on housing, migra- ment of Education and Sports took tion and integration, and Roma part in the forum for the first time. Key At the EUROCITIES Economic inclusion. topics included social investment and Development Forum in Utrecht, innovative strategies for integrated the Department of Labor and Eco- The initial plenary debate devoted itself social services. More than 70 partici- nomic Development presented to issues such as local Citizen’s partici- pants were able to see a variety of the ECOPROFIT environmental pation. The delegate from Manchester, projects for themselves: a campus for and climate consulting project. for example, reported on successful active ageing and vitality; the “compe- In Munich, ECOPROFIT has “Let’s talk” discussions with local tence mill” to reach groups who are already been jointly operated residents about how the city should most strongly marginalized; education by the Department of Labor and spend its social services budget. and work programs for people with Economic Development and ­Warsaw too organizes weekly debates disabilities; youth employment and the the Department of Environment with local residents which, after a slow Youth Guarantee initiative. A variety of and Health since 1998, in col- start, are now being used and accepted formats also provided opportunities for laboration with the Chamber by more and more people. The forum delegates to talk to experts and work of Commerce and Industry for also hosted a discussion between together to develop project ideas on Munich and Upper Bavaria, Waste elected political officials in which Munich subjects such as school certificates for Management Corporation AWM City Councillor Dr. Otto Bertermann people with mental illnesses, a Roma and municipal utility Stadtwerke (Bürgerliche Mitte) took part. network, reducing inequalities in the München GmbH (SWM). In the social determinants of health, and shape of ­ECOPROFIT, the City of A number of parallel workshops were educational and work projects for young Munich seeks to help companies also held. The workshop on “Local people with behavioural issues. of all sizes and in all industries to Partnerships” referenced several improve their contribution to pro- examples from Barcelona and Ghent tecting the environment and the and centred around the need for part- climate. Supported by an external nerships between local authorities and consulting firm, companies attend private initiatives. Raval, for example, workshops and one-on-one con- is a district of Barcelona that boasts sulting sessions on location to draw around 50,000 residents, 70 different up practical measures that will nationalities and 300 organizations. reduce costs and ease the burden Working groups in this district involve on the environment once they are all of its distinct groupings. Decisions implemented. Representatives of are made jointly. Study visits to pro- the local governments in London, jects for “innovative housing models Lisbon, Oslo and Vienna showed for the elderly and homeless” were a keen interest in ECOPROFIT and organized as part of the workshop. how it might be transferred to other European countries. 14 Annual Report on European Activities 2014

European cities join forces to adapt to climate change

October 16, 2014, marked a milestone for the European The signatory cities range from smaller municipalities such Commission’s Mayors Adapt initiative to which over 100 as Agueda in Portugal and Zwijndrecht in Belgium to large European cities have already committed. The aim is to metropolises such as Barcelona, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, slow the impact of climate change by adopting ­specific Glasgow, Lisbon, Munich, Naples and Rotterdam. Michael adaptive measures. Munich is so far the only Bavarian Bloomberg, former Mayor of New York, addressed a video city to have signed up. message to the gathering, while Christiana Figures, Execu- tive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate At the official signing ceremony, European Commissioner Change, joined the launch meeting live via a video link. for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard (Denmark) welcomed Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional dedicated mayors from all over Europe, including Munich’s Policy, was also in attendance. Deputy Mayor Josef Schmid. During the day-long celebra- tions, the participants discussed how cities can better adapt Cities especially vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change. The Mayors Adapt initiative was launched in March 2014 as an offshoot of the successful Covenant of Mayors initiative. More signatories than expected While the latter concentrates on action to reduce emissions “When we launched the Mayors Adapt initiative in March of greenhouse gases, Mayors Adapt emphasizes adaptive [2014], we aimed to build a network of at least 50 cities by measures. As major centres of population and infrastruc- the end of the year. We already have 100 and more are ture, cities are especially vulnerable to extreme weather queuing up to join,” said Commissioner Hedegaard. “Our events and the negative effects of climate change. Accord- cities are building up their resilience against climate change. ingly, local authorities play a key role in implementing That is great news for citizens and businesses. Good prepa- measures to protect the climate and adapt to changes. ration will be much cheaper than cleaning up afterwards – and it can save lives.” By signing up to the Mayors Adapt initiative, local govern- ments can increase support for local climate protection activities, benefit from the initiative’s collaborative platform and raise public awareness about adaptation and the ­measures needed.

News from the networks

CEMR supports Ukraine CEMR Annual General Meeting in is the only German member. The 13th The Policy Committee of the Council 2016. International Congress of Educating of European Municipalities and Cities was held from November 13-15, Regions (CEMR) elected a new presi- Gender Equality Forum 2014, in Barcelona under the heading dent in Prague in early December Implementation of the European Char- “An educating city is an inclusive 2013, after Wolfgang Schuster, former ter for Equality of Women and Men city”. Proposals were drafted to sup- mayor of Stuttgart, had stepped down. topped the agenda at the CEMR Gen- port cities around the world in the After more than 60 years, Annemarie der Equality Forum in Stockholm. inclusive educational strategies they Jorritsma, Mayor of Almere, Nether- Many local governments throughout adopt to serve the interests of social lands, thus became the first woman Europe have now signed this charter. security and healthcare. The cities that president of the organization. The Plans of action are still lacking, how- make up this network aim to encour- individuals nominated by the national ever, as is the implementation of plans age solidarity, respect and an interest sections to sit on the Policy Commit- at the local administrative level. in public welfare. Within the frame- tee were confirmed without modifica- Munich has adopted a different work of agreements on territorial tion. As a result, City Councillor Lydia approach and plans to sign only when ­networks, the northern European Dietrich (Die Grünen) now represents the action plans for implementation member states strengthened their Munich on the Policy Committee. are signed and sealed. relationships and called for closer After its Ukrainian members had lob- cooperation. In the context of an IAEC bied for support for their country’s Nurturing interest in public welfare working group for northern Europe, pro-European course, the Policy Com- through education representatives of the cities of Goth- mittee ratified a declaration on the The Department of Education and enburg (Sweden), Ishoj (Denmark), situation in Ukraine in 2014. A further Sports has overseen the City of Munich (Germany) Espoo, Helsinki declaration was made regarding the Munich’s membership of the Interna- and Tampere (Finland) thus agreed to 2014 European elections, and Nicosia tional Association of Educating Cities intensify their collaboration, with was chosen as the venue for the (IAEC) since 2003. At present, Munich ­Helsinki coordinating their efforts. Annual Report on European Activities 2014 15

Munich’s Deputy Mayor Josef Schmid (left) on the podium in Brussels.

The challenges of growth “Climate change poses challenges to the Bavarian capital, too,” explained Deputy Mayor Schmid. “Munich is a fast-­ growing city. In the next 20 years, we expect to see its pop- ulation increase by about 200,000. The challenge is to ­reconcile this growth to optimal urban climate conditions in order to provide good and healthy living and working conditions.”­

Munich has concerned itself with the topic of adaptation for some years. In 2012, the city’s guidelines on ecology, cli- mate protection and climate change were presented to the City Council. Right now, the City of Munich is collaborating Voluntary commitment to protect the climate closely with relevant actors in the city to draft a concept for The Covenant of Mayors laid the cornerstone for the May- adaptation to climate change. “We want to build on the ors Adapt initiative by getting mayors to sign a voluntary measures already in place and make Munich fit to face the commitment to climate protection. Munich has been a climatic future,” noted Schmid, one of the participants on signatory to the Covenant since 2009. Members who sign the podium. The Deputy Mayor cited the Isar Plan to restore up commit to reducing their CO2 emissions by improving an eight-kilometre stretch of river through the city that was energy efficiency and stepping up the use of renewable canalized in the 19th century to its natural condition as a energy, exceeding the climate protection targets set by the good example of how Munich can adapt to changes in pre- EU. The Mayors Adapt initiative was instigated as an addi- cipitation patterns. tional measure, calling on cities to also commit themselves to adapting to climate changes that have already happened and those that are still expected.

One objective of the forum was to happened to be. In a survey of various encourage dialogue between repre- cities, Bologna wanted to know what sentatives of local administrations, the the most pressing problems are in scientific community, private enter- each city. According to the feedback prise and civil society. Munich was received to date, there are three main thus able to welcome 100 representa- answers: demand for housing, partici- tives of 19 nations as its guests. The pation in civil society and education. Future of Cities Forum was organized ECCAR will likewise circulate ques- jointly by the Federal Ministry of Edu- tionnaires to gain an overview of what cation and Research, the World Future cities are doing against racism. Council and Energy Cities. A speech honoured City Councillor Future of Cities Forum hosted ­Sieber before she stepped down from in Munich Fighting racism in today’s cities office, and also praised Munich’s com- Standing in for the Mayor, City Coun- Dr. Inci Sieber, City Councillor until the mitment in the fight against racism. cillor Ulrike Boesser (SPD) opened the forthcoming local government elec- World Future Council’s “Future of tions in March, deputized for then- Cities Forum” in Munich in October Mayor Christian Ude at members’ 2014. The closing conference for the meeting and a meeting of the Steering EU’s IMAGINE project coincided with Committee of the European Coalition the forum. The City of Munich was a of Cities Against Racism (ECCAR) on partner to the IMAGINE project and April 7–8 in Graz. The meeting has been a member of the Energy unveiled plans for an app that, after Cities network since 1999. IMAGINE racist attacks, would enable victims to developed ideas and concepts for the immediately know who they could future of low-carbon urban planning. turn to in whichever town or city they 16 Annual Report on European Activities 2014

New head of the Commission’s regional representation in Munich

Joachim Menze is the new head of the European Commis- parliaments in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.” sion’s regional representation in Munich. “I am very pleased ­Joachim Menze is a lawyer who worked at a law prac- that we have found such a strong personality for this impor- tice in Munich before joining the European Commission tant position,” says M a r o š Š e f cˇ o v i cˇ , Vice President of the in the field of competition policy in 1993. He has also European Commission. “Joachim Menze has a wealth of worked at the European Bank for Reconstruction and experience. That will benefit the Munich office both in Development in London and at the European Anti-Fraud terms of its communication with the public and the press, Office in Brussels. His most recent position was that of but also as we continue to build solid relationships between head of department at the European Maritime Safety the European Commission and the state governments and Agency.

Network meeting: Keen interest in information about Europe

More than 80 EU actors from in and around Munich challenges and find solutions on a day-to-day basis,” he gathered at City Hall in October for a network meeting continued. “That begins with public services and takes in to discuss current European policy issues. Munich’s everything from energy efficiency and sustainable mobil-

Deputy Mayor Josef Schmid, the new head of the ity – think of CO2 reductions – to urgent social issues such Department of Labor and Economic Development and as integration.” This, he stressed, was by no means the also the man in charge of Munich’s European activities, least reason why the cities of Europe have for years been had invited representatives of all political levels – organ- calling for a bigger role in European decision-making pro- izations, associations, educational institutes, the repre- cesses within the framework of “multi-level governance”. sentatives of the European Commission and the Euro- Though this is only a recent development, he noted that pean Parliament in Munich, and cultural and business this weightier role is increasingly being recognized by Euro- players – to attend this annual debate. pean institutions in general and by the European Commis- sion in particular. Deputy Mayor Schmid himself played a prominent role. Having only been elected to office in spring 2014, he took this opportunity to get to know Munich’s various European actors. Another important personnel decision in the course of the year under review came when Richard Kühnel took over as head of the EU Commission’s representation in Germany in Berlin. At the network meeting, Kühnel reported on the role of this representation and on significant pending topics, such as the planned free-trade agreement with the USA, labour migration and popular participation.

Calls for “multi-level governance” One of the things Deputy Mayor Schmid advocated was an Urban Agenda. Cities, he said, knew what they were able to contribute to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. “Because it is our cities that have to master all kinds of

Richard Kühnel (left) and Deputy Mayor Josef Schmid. Annual Report on European Activities 2014 17

Air pollution control: Little movement in Brussels in 2014

The “Clean Air for Europe” (CAFE) In November 2014, the Directorate-­ Both directives are important instru- program is an important tool to help General for the Environment informed ments to reduce the background con- Europe’s cities and regions – includ- the European Parliament that the Com- centrations of air pollutants throughout ing Munich – protect the quality of mission felt it had “done its home- Europe for which national emission their air. With one eye on the Euro- work”, and that it was now up to the ceilings have been set. If background pean elections, both the European member states to decide exactly how concentrations are not reduced, it is Parliament and the European ­Council they intend to ensure compliance with often not possible to comply with local were rather tentative in their the prescribed emission ceilings. As ceilings as local governments have no approach to this air quality pack- things stand, original plans to adjust way of influencing these pollutants. age – despite the fact that city net- the European air quality targets which The same goes for the City of Munich works such as EUROCITIES and the underpin national emission ceilings will and its air purity plans. Council of European Municipalities not be implemented before 2020. For and Regions (CEMR) had submitted this reason, the Commission no longer position papers stressing how had the air quality program on its important a package that seeks to agenda in the year under review. tackle this vital issue at the source is to the cities and regions of Europe. Lowering emission ceilings In response to initiatives launched by members of the European Parliament, the member states, CEMR and EURO­ CITIES, however, two directives – the National Emissions Ceiling Directive (NECD) and the Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD) – have now been put firmly back on the agenda and are to go through Parliament before the summer break in 2015.

City Council Commission backs opposition to planned public transport regulation

During its revision of the EU regulation on public pas- municipal organizational and financing sovereignty senger transport by road and rail, the EU Parliament ­contravenes the principle of subsidiarity. Deputy Mayor inserted a proposed amendment that would have a Josef Schmid thus penned a letter to the German-speaking negative impact on the financing of local public trans- members of the Transport Committee of the European port services. The proposal concerns the introduction Parliament, the relevant department at the EU Commission of a ban on under-compensation for compensatory and Germany’s permanent representation, pointing out this payments made to the operators of local public trans- unfavourable consequence and asking for the support port services. Ultimately, this ban would make a non- of these bodies. In their written replies, both the European sense of “tax umbrella” organizational structures. Commission and a number of European parliamentarians Since this would also affect the financing of local public promised that they would critically examine the proposed transport in Munich, the City Council Commission on amendment and provide assistance. In a resolution dated Europe, at its meeting in October 2014, welcomed a November 28, 2014, which was forwarded to both the proposal to oppose the planned amendment in order to EU Commission and the European Parliament, the Bundes- represent the city’s interests in a focused manner. rat (Germany’s upper house) has now expressly opposed The commission also believes that such intervention in the introduction of a ban on under-compensation. 18 Annual Report on European Activities 2014

TTIP must not jeopardize the quality and diversity of public services

The City of Munich oversees a unique spectrum of The City of Munich and its partners, including the Bavarian municipal public service entities. Few other German Association of Cities, have consistently highlighted the need cities can offer a comparable service bandwidth. Yet it for cities to be more closely involved in the process of is also important to safeguard these services for the negotiation. On behalf of the EUROCITIES network, Munich future. In 2014, Munich therefore once again played an has taken the lead in preparing a position paper that enjoys active part in discussions about the proposed Transat- the backing of many European cities. lantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) to ensure that Europe’s public services are not liberalized. Developments to date have shown that these efforts are worthwhile, and that some of Munich’s demands have been The EU is currently negotiating with the USA on the TTIP, heard. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, for exam- which, it is hoped, will tear down barriers to trade and ple, has set up an advisory council of which Dr. Ulrich Maly, make life easier for industry and the economy. However, President of the German Association of Cities, is a mem- one aspect of the draft agreement involves the liberalization ber. The advisory council not only constitutes an important of public services. In reference to international agreements, step towards greater transparency, it also gives Germany’s­ it would thus be possible for public services in Europe to local governments a say in the ministry’s activities. Simi- be privatized in the future. The City of Munich is deeply larly, publication of negotiation documents by the EU Com- concerned about the fact that negotiations have been taking mission can at least be seen as a partial approach to trans- place behind closed doors since summer 2013. Local gov- parency and public accessibility. ernments – including Munich – are therefore calling for a transparent process, and for exemptions for public services in all future agreements.

City resolves position paper At its plenary session in October 2014, the Munich City Council resolved a position paper containing eleven demands. One of these demands is that negotiations on all international free-trade agreements – i.e. including the ­service agreement (TiSA) and the agreement with Canada (CETA) – should explicitly exclude non-liberalized activities such as the public water supply, waste management, local public transport, social services and all public cultural services.­ Annual Report on European Activities 2014 19

EU’s Urban Agenda must respect subsidiarity

The important role played by cities is receiving ever For this reason, the City of Munich has adopted a clear greater recognition within the EU. This was the verdict stance backing the development of an Urban Agenda – not of EUROCITIES General Secretary Anna Lisa Boni at the only in the context of the EU Commission’s public consulta- organization’s annual conference in Munich. Accordingly, tion, but also in the shape of its heavy involvement in macro­ cities need to play a more active part than ever. One regional strategies for the Alpine and Danube regions. The recent example are the EU Commission’s consultation Bavarian capital also participated in drafting EUROCITIES’ proceedings on what is referred to as the Urban Agenda, position paper in response to the Urban Agenda, playing an in which Munich was involved. active part in formulating individual positions.

If the EU is serious about achieving its strategic targets Demands at a glance for a smart, sustainable and inclusive Europe, it has to be §§Appoint an urban envoy to reinforce the practical coordi- able to rely on the support of Europe’s cities. That is why nation of city-related policy areas within the EU Commis- an EU Urban Agenda is needed to integrate cities in the sion. This urban envoy should build bridges between process of shaping European policy. Munich’s position, policies in different sectors, subject to due provision for the however, stresses that the EU’s Urban Agenda must respect various levels of governance (from local to supranational). the principle of subsidiarity and must not confront cities §§ Strengthen cities’ direct participation in EU policies in with new legal prescriptions. order to improve collaboration and partnership with cities, above and beyond public consultations. Giving cities a voice §§ Arrange meetings with mayors, on-site visits by commis- In recent years, a long list of EU initiatives have indirectly sioners and periods of residence for EU commission staff targeted urban areas. Directives on noise and air pollution, at local government administrations. targets and limits for particulate matter, and migration‑related activities such as the creation of a Common European ­Asylum System are just a few examples. However, given that cities are actively shouldering their responsibility for EU policy, especially regarding implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy, they must also be given a commen- surate voice in policy development activities at the Euro- pean level. 20 Annual Report on European Activities 2014

Balancing the needs of mobility and the environment in the Alpine region

Flexible definition of project focuses The European Affairs Team is coordi- nating the City of Munich’s involve- ment in the Macroregional Strategy for the Alpine Region. Munich wants EUSALP to adopt a holistic approach, meaning that challenges to the moun- tainous areas should be taken into consideration just as much as inter­ dependencies between mountainous areas and adjacent agglomerations such as Munich and Milan. For this reason, the designated areas of coop- eration need to be narrowed or ­widened depending on the precise topic. The geographic scope must be defined flexibly and functionally, with a differ- ent approach needed for Trans­alpine traffic than for agriculture in mountain- ous regions.

Munich has for years given strong The hope is that the new EU Strategy In addition, Munich has teamed up backing to the idea of a European for the Alpine Region (EUSALP) will with the Bavarian State Ministry of the partnership project to meet the chal- give fresh impetus to cooperative Environment and the Bavarian State lenges facing the Alpine region. ventures and investments that will Chancellery to develop ideas for a Munich’s primary focus in this regard benefit all stakeholders: countries, future Alpine strategy. Their delibera- is on competitiveness, environmental­ regions, actors in civil society and, tions focused as much on urban matters, transportation and mobility above all, the citizens of Europe. ­considerations as on future priorities in the Alpine region. Accordingly, in The strategy is to focus exclusively on for the City of Munich within the 2014, the City of Munich took part in topics – both challenges and opportu- future Alpine region strategy. the EU Commission’s public consul- nities – that are of strategic signifi- tation on the EU’s latest macrore- cance to the macroregion and that In December, the Italian presidency gional strategy, which is to be imple- cannot be fully mastered within exist- of the European Council joined the mented in 2015. ing structures. European Commission in organizing a stakeholders’ conference at which the The aim is to trigger innovative, sus- findings of the consultation were tainable development that leads to more ­discussed. Here again, the City of growth and employment, yet at the Munich made its position known and same time to conserve the region’s initiated an exchange of ideas with the natural and cultural heritage. The EU various actors in the Alpine region. In strategy for the Alpine region covers 2015, the European Commission will 48 regions that are inhabited by about prepare the plan of action and the 70 million people in seven countries – announcement of EUSALP so that the five EU member states (Austria, European Council can formally accept France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia) it in June 2015. plus Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Annual Report on European Activities 2014 21

We grow together – together we grow

The aim of the EU’s strategy for the Strengthening the municipal level Munich is participating in the “Urban Danube region is, between now and Back in 2013, Munich presented urban Platform Danube Region” (UPDR) 2020, to give everyone who lives in issues in their European context at a program within the framework of pri- this region better chances of enter- Vienna conference on “Building the ority area 10: “Institutional Capacity ing higher education, finding employ- Urban Future of the Danube Region”. and Cooperation”. UPDR is an instru- ment and achieving prosperity. In 2014, it took this commitment a ment for the exchange of information Munich’s commitment expresses step further when more than 1000 and for in‑depth cooperation between itself first and foremost in intercity representatives of Danube countries – the cities in the Danube macroregion. cooperation. including Munich itself – convened in Its core topics are the “Smart City” Vienna for the third Annual Forum on (transport/mobility, energy), the “Sus- At the request of the European Council the Danube Strategy. Under the motto tainable City” (waste management, in June 2009, the European Commis- “We grow together – together we tourism) and the “Inclusive City” sion drafted the EU Strategy for the grow”, the forum discussed the strate- (migration, civil participation). To date, Danube Region (EUSDR) as a coopera- gic orientation, the outlook and the Munich has played an active role pri- tive process and approved it as a Com- challenges ahead of the Danube region. marily on the subject of education. mission Communication, including a Representatives of the EU Commis- plan of action, in December 2010. sion stressed that strengthening the Since its acceptance by the Council for municipal level was a cause worth General Affairs in April 2011 and by the promoting. At the same time, they European Council in June 2011, work highlighted the responsibility of local to implement the strategy in the governments themselves to step up ­Danube region has been in progress. their own role.

Best-practice security

Taking Munich’s Tollwood summer which Munich has participated with festival as a case study, security security activities that lead the field experts from as far afield as Paris, in Europe. By May 2015, the Forum’s Rome, Brussels, Barcelona and experts will draft a set of recommen- ­Ljubljana analyzed how the Bavarian dations for action to make Europe’s capital implements its security con- cities safer. Concerted action by all cept for large events. Responding to parties involved in implementing the an invitation by the Department of Munich concept is one reason why Public Order and the Department of the more than 900,000 people who Labor and Economic Development, visit the Tollwood festival every year local government security experts can do so in safety and harmony. from nine European cities converged ­Wilfried Blume-Beyerle, head of the on Munich to pool their experience. Department of Public Order, is a This meeting of the European Forum ­member of the Executive Committee for Urban Security (EFUS) was organ- of EFUS and Deputy Chairman of the ized within the framework of the German-European Forum on Urban EU project “Security & Tourism”, in Security (DEFUS). 22 Annual Report on European Activities 2014

Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament.

EU Parliament gains influence

More power was given to the European Parliament in The lead candidate for the Social Democrats, Martin Schulz, May 2014. For the first time, the European elections in was re-elected as President of the European Parliament at 2014 were crucial to the choice of a successor for José its constituent assembly on July 1, 2014. Schulz won 409 Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. of the 612 valid votes cast. By arrangement with the Chris- The heads of government who appoint the holder of tian Democrats, the presidency will pass to the latter after this office for the first time based their decision on two and a half years. existing majorities in the newly elected EU Parliament. In other words, voters were able to influence who will In Munich, the number of members of the European Parlia- preside over the next EU Commission. ment shrank from four to one: Professor Klaus Büchner (ÖDP, Munich). Accordingly, Munich will seek to maintain Around 400 million citizens from 28 EU member states close dialogue with all of Bavaria’s other MEPs, who are: were called on to participate in the European elections. §§ Albert Dess (CSU, Neumarkt/Oberpfalz) One exciting aspect was the process of appointing a new §§ Ismail Ertug (SPD, Regensburg) Commission President, which was completed only at the §§ Markus Ferber (CSU, Augsburg) EU summit on June 27, 2014. It had looked like a clear-cut §§ Thomas Händel (DIE LINKE, Fürth) case: The conservatives in the European People’s Party §§ Monika Hohlmeier (CSU, Lichtenfels) (EPP), headed by front runner Jean-Claude Juncker, had §§ Barbara Lochbihler (Die Grünen, Kaufbeuren) emerged from the European elections in 28 countries as §§ Ulrike Müller (Freie Wähler, Missen-Wilhams) the strongest party. However, their lead over the Social §§ Dr. Angelika Niebler (CSU, Ebersberg) Democrats, who wanted to support Juncker in the parlia- §§ Maria Noichl (SPD, Rosenheim) ment, ended up shrinking. §§ Manfred Weber (CSU, Wildenberg) §§ Kerstin Westphal (SPD, Schweinfurt) Nail-biting presidential election The contracts state that the EU Parliament must confirm (or elect) the Commission President. Yet the same contracts also clearly insist that the proposal for a President must be made by the European Council, i. e. the heads of govern- ment, with a qualified majority. In reaching this decision, the heads of government are supposed to “take account” of the outcomes of the European elections. And ultimately, this was indeed enough to give Jean-Claude Juncker the requisite majority of the 28 heads of government. In the end, only the UK and Hungary voted against him. On July 15, 2014, the European Parliament’s first ballot duly elected Juncker as the new President of the EU Commission. Juncker received 422 out of 729 votes from the MEPs who were present. 250 voted against the former Minister-Presi- dent of Luxembourg.

Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the EU Commission. Annual Report on European Activities 2014 23 Committee with extended authority

Munich has already been intensifying its cooperation with the Bavarian State Parliament Committee on European Leading municipal associa- Affairs for some years – one example being the initiative to place funding for Bavaria’s Europe Direct Centres on a tions present their demands sound footing. Following the 17th state parliament elections in November 2014, this committee has now been reconsti- to new EU parliamentarians tuted. Several former Munich City Councillors (including Diana Stachowitz and Hans-Ulrich Pfaffmann) now sit on the committee, which has also been tasked with new Local governments must play a more forceful role in the assignments: Pursuant to an amendment to the Bavarian EU’s decision-making processes than they have done in the Constitution with effect from January 1, 2014, the right of past. Germany’s leading municipal associations (Deutscher the state parliament to participate in the affairs of the EU is Städtetag [the Association of German Cities], Deutscher to be strengthened. In future, for example, the state parlia- Landkreistag [the Association of German Counties] and ment will, by law, be able to prescribe to the federal gov- Deutscher Städte- und Gemeindebund [the Association of ernment how the Free State of Bavaria votes when the German Cities and Municipalities]) have now addressed a federal government seeks to transfer the sovereign rights paper entitled “Demands on the Newly Elected European of states to the EU. This means that, in final voting at the Parliament” to the new German MEPs. The paper lists the Bundesrat (upper house) on a violation of subsidiarity by an European topics and projects that are of special importance EU ruling, the federal government must always uphold to local governments and which they want to help shape in votes decreed by the committee. Depending on the rele- collaboration with the European Parliament. EUROCITIES­ vance of the issues at hand, the European Affairs Team at too will raise the subject of the Urban Agenda in talks with the Department of Labor and Economic Development will the EU Commission. To this end, the ­EUROCITIES network participate in meetings of the committee. The City of has set up a dedicated task force in which Munich is Munich will, for example, contribute to a meeting of the actively involved. An initial official statement has also been Bavarian State Parliament Committee on European Affairs submitted. planned for 2015 to deal with local government topics. Public Services intergroup At its meeting on December 11, 2014, a conference of the presidents of the various political groups represented in the European Parliament approved the formation of an intergroup on “Common Goods and Public Services” for the new parliamentary term. EUROCITIES’­ working group on public services, headed by the City of Munich, had argued in favour of continuing this intergroup, as it consti- tutes a solid platform on which to bring concerns about (municipal) public services before the European Parliament on a broad front. The organizational structure was defined before the end of December.

Well prepared to apply for INTERREG funds

At an event in December, the be possible for the challenges and participates in three designated areas: ­European Affairs Team from the opportunities facing Munich in all kinds the Alpine region, the Danube region Department of Labor and Eco- of areas – such as climate change, and Central Europe. A report was also nomic Development informed biodiversity, air purity, environmental submitted on interregional cooperation employees of the City of Munich and resource efficiency, reductions in under the aegis of INTERREG­ EUROPE,­

about the INTERREG program, CO2 emissions, sustainable mobility which focuses especially on coopera- which will run from 2014–2020. etc. – to be tackled energetically with tion between public institutions to The specific people to contact for the aid of EU funding. drive regional development throughout the programs and for the Free the whole of Europe, including Norway State of Bavaria also attended this The main focus was on transnational and Switzerland. EUR 359 million from event and were therefore able to cooperation (INTERREG B) within the European Regional Development provide first-hand information. Now large areas of the EU and in neigh- Fund is available to the INTERREG­ that the city is well prepared for bouring non-member states (“desig- ­EUROPE ­program. calls for projects in 2015, it should nated areas of cooperation”). Munich 24 Annual Report on European Activities 2014

A new EU funding period begins

The European Union supplies its Before most of the new funding pro- To date, the Free State of Bavaria has member states’ local governments grams launched calls for projects in welcomed these ideas. In 2015, the with substantial resources for spring 2015, 2014 was used mostly to European Affairs Team will again focus ­projects and activities in business, get the Operational Programs com- its active involvement on the same research, employment, education, pleted and ratified by the European areas. Together with the Planning consumer protection and environ- Commission. The year was thus largely Department and other partners, con- mental protection. In 2014, a new shaped by kick‑off events for the new cepts are being drafted to advance the funding period began that will now programs, preparations for forthcom- development and implementation of run until 2020. Munich is among ing calls for projects in 2015, confer- smart city technologies. those cities that can benefit from ences on macroregional strategies and multi-year financing totalling contributions made by Munich to the around EUR 960 billion. EU Commission’s consultations.

While much remained unchanged, Platform for information there were some new developments The European Affairs Team at the in the year under review. Existing Department of Labor and Economic funding programs were renamed and/ Development concerned itself inten- Training and or merged, while new ones were sively with the EU Strategy for the added. The new Research Framework Alpine Region (EUSALP) and the development in Program, for example, is called EU Strategy for the Danube Region ­Horizon 2020. Similarly, Erasmus+ has (EUSDR). Alongside focal issues for Europe brought the former EU programs in Munich itself, such as developing the fields of general and vocational relationships between the city and the education, youth and sports together surrounding region, the Bavarian capi- For some years, Munich’s fire at the European level. tal also proposed a platform for the department has been taking part pooling of information and experience in training sessions and exer- Funds for energy efficiency across metropolitan regions in the cises organized by what is The focus of the Structural Funds Alpine and Danube regions, as well as known as the EU Civil Protection (ESF and ERDF) has also shifted and is the formation of action groups com- Mechanism. In this context, now closely aligned with the goals of prising project developers, institutions selected fire department execu- the Europe 2020 strategy. For the first and administrations, all of which tives receive development and time, parts of Bavaria’s ERDF program should accompany implementation of training enabling them to pre- too have now been opened to plan- the new macroregional strategies. pare for coordinated disaster ning region 14 – thanks to successfully relief operations both within and lobbying work. As a result, Munich outside the EU. The EU’s aim is and the surrounding region now qualify for this mechanism to promote for funding in the “energy savings in mutual support in response to public infrastructures” segment and disaster situations. In 2014, two can, for example, apply for EU funds staff of the fire department each for local government energy efficiency attended a one-week training projects. and development course. Annual Report on European Activities 2014 25

Promoting openness and tolerance

Munich competes with other major European law in the context of European cities to attract the best ­personnel management Applying the UN’s employees. The HR and Personnel As in other areas, European law Management Department takes care ­influences the City of Munich’s per- Disability Rights of providing the best working condi- sonnel management activities, too. tions. Over and above European norms with Convention regard to labour and civil service law, One aspect is a concerted effort by Munich’s local government also aligns the City of Munich to increase the its responsibility for employees with One aim of the City of Munich’s number of young employees with a current European standards. For personnel policy is to overcome migration background. Ramped-up instance, acting on behalf of the whole prejudices among able-bodied marketing activities, visits to consu- of Munich’s administrative apparatus, employees and improve educa- lates, embassies and European partner the HR and Personnel Management tional and career opportunities for countries, and focused efforts to tar- Department constantly monitors the people with disabilities, enabling get multipliers had already met with consequences of changes to ­European the latter to live as independent a ­considerable success on this score in legislation, decisions by the European life as possible. In 2014, Munich, 2013. This trend then continued as Court of Justice, and national court in its capacity as an employer, was 2014 brought an even more positive judgements on the interpretation and instrumental in driving forward result: In 2014, the City of Munich application of European labour and the initial action plan to apply the took on 105 trainees with a migration civil service laws. UN’s Disability Rights Convention. background. More development and training, One key topic in 2014 was the possi- improved working conditions for This number accounts for nearly bility of age discrimination against civil employees with disabilities and 21 percent of all newly recruited train- servants as a result of past salary steps to overcome other people’s ees (up from 19.3 percent in 2013). provisions and the transitional rules fears in the context of routine work In administrative activities in particular, put in place to align these provisions are now sustainably reinforcing the proportion of trainees with a with the current system. A supreme the equal participation of people migration background is as high as court decision at the end of October with disabilities within Munich’s 22.96 percent. Marketing activities are 2014 found that the statutory ruling on local administration. The City now constantly being broadened to civil servants’ salaries, which was in Council approved the personnel ensure that the positive trend continues.­ place until 2010 and was based on and financial­ resources needed to A flyer targeting parents is ­currently seniority, led to illegal disadvantages press ahead with this plan. As a being developed. Advertising appren- due to age. The HR and Personnel result, further progress will be ticeships with Munich’s local govern- Management Department has kept made in 2015 on top of the ment, the flyer will be translated into a the city’s civil servants up to date on improvements already realized for number of languages. developments to date. As soon as the employees with disabilities. Free State of Bavaria publishes its ­People with disabilities­ currently analysis of this court decision, the account for 7.35 percent of the department will critically examine this City of Munich’s administrative position and then circulate all relevant workforce – well above the legally information about the necessary ­prescribed threshold of five ­percent. ­consequences. 26 Annual Report on European Activities 2014

A powerful voice in defence of public services

80 percent of all waste management these into all relevant decision-­making regulations now come from Brus- bodies. In the stakeholder process for sels – and affect local governments. the EU’s waste legislation package, the However, since the Department of VKU has, over the past two years, thus Communal Services (via the agency been able to get involved as a relevant of Waste Management Corporation player in the opinion-forming process AWM) took over the chairmanship via the agency of the EU’s institutions. of the Expert Committee on European This body oversees the various aspects Resource-­ Waste Management at the VKU of the work of umbrella associations Association of Municipal Companies, (CEEP, MWE, ISWA, CEWEP, EURO­ Saving Europe Munich has been able to engage in CITIES, RGRE and ACR+) in collabora- active lobbying work in the field of tion with VKU’s head office in Berlin and initiative waste management. its European office in Brussels.

The City of Munich is one of the most Optimized association work In light of current endeavours to vociferous advocates of public ser- Stronger networks help to optimize overhaul Europe’s waste legisla- vices. Thanks to the VKU’s European municipal association work. At the IFAT tion, the European Union pro- Affairs Office, AWM can now quickly trade fair for water, sewage, waste and claimed 2014 as “The Year of identify political developments in Brus- raw materials management in Munich in Green and Circular Economy”. sels and respond accordingly. In the May 2014, the Expert Committee on On July 2, 2014, the EU Commis- year under review, for instance, AWM European Waste Management organ- sion then unveiled its legislative took part in an EU Commission stake- ized a special day for its European part- package on the circular economy, holder dialogue session on extended ner associations. Speakers from the including proposals on how the product responsibility in Brussels, as European Commission and from Greece, ambitious goals defined in its flag- well as attending the OPEN DAYS in Hungary and Poland discussed­ the ship initiative for a “Resource-Sav- Brussels. At the Bavarian representa- current challenges and opportunities ing Europe” can be met by 2020. tion, the VKU’s Technical Committee inherent in Europe’s ­policy on waste. Alongside waste avoidance, higher brought representatives of the EU’s recycling rates and a ban on dump- Directorate-General for the Environ- The committee’s European activities also ing untreated waste, the EU Com- ment together with waste manage- initiated a panel debate on the subject of mission sees imposing greater ment associations and municipal “Golden Rules for a Green and Circular responsibility on the producer as a ­decision-makers. Economy – the Example of Plastic pivotal tool to drive resource effi- Waste”. Here again, the IFAT trade fair ciency. The aim was for a study Early positioning gave representatives of Europe’s key produced on behalf of the EU Com- Nor is that the only success story: In waste management associations the mission to develop guidelines for response to publication of the EU Com- opportunity to meet together for the first producer responsibility, which was mission’s draft amendment to its waste time to discuss the entire reusable mate- also the subject of a panel debate legislation, a VKU project group was set rial chain in the context of plastic waste – during Europe’s Green Week in up in July 2014 to track the legislative from production through collection to Brussels in June. The title of the package right from the draft phase. An recycling and thermal use – in front of a debate was “Extended Producer initial position paper has already been trade audience. This debate set in motion Responsibility in Europe: Short prepared. Early positioning by the VKU an industry-wide discussion of the topic Cuts to Circular Economy”. Having on key topics in the draft has enabled of plastic waste in Europe. conducted 36 case studies in European umbrella associations to 17 member states, Bio Intelligence, quickly discuss the points raised. Some German model taken on board the consulting institute commis- have even been opinion-leading, espe- The committee’s efforts enabled the sioned to produce the study, advo- cially among municipal partners. In this German municipal waste management cated the clear assignment of context, AWM’s membership of model to be presented and serve as the responsibility and ongoing dialogue EUROCITIES’ working group on waste basis for ongoing local discussion in EU between stakeholders. The cost-­ and of the CEMR have enabled it to member states such as Poland, the recovery principle should be taken exploit synergies and take due account Czech Republic and Romania. Involve- into account, as should the needs of various perspectives. ment in European conferences and for fair competition, transparency events such as Europe’s Green Week and system monitoring. The primary task of the Technical Com- likewise helped to extend networks and mittee on Europe is to identify, track broaden dialogue with actors in the Euro- and actively accompany environmental pean waste management industry, as and waste-specific EU topics and feed did the organization of the committee’s own events in Brussels. Annual Report on European Activities 2014 27

A resounding “no” to genetic engineering

Munich ist the biggest organic farmer in bavaria with an ­problem. Despite even the highest quality and safety unequivocal perception on genetic engineering. Munich’s ­standards, it will not be fully possible to prevent genetically local government is saying ‘yes’ to GMO-free agriculture ­modified plants from unintentionally contaminating and in Europe and thereby making consumer protection a damaging the crops of farmers, which are not cultivated by top priority – a standpoint to defend vigorously at Euro- themselves. pean Ievel. This will impose concrete limitations on the sale of products Local government-owned farmland is part of the action grown on Munich’s local government-owned land. Addition- group “Gentechnikfreie Zone München” (“GMO-Free Zone ally, the City of Munich’s organic farm operations may be Munich”). Beginning years back in 2005, the City Council exposed to the risk of organic certification being questioned strongly facilitated the petition “GMO‑Free Regions and due to possible traces of genetically modified material on Areas”, which was submitted to the European Comission. farmland. Even though, the use of genetically modified A large majority of political parties support the Bavarian material strongly contradicts the development concept for capital’s efforts to keep genetically modified organisms Munich’s farmland. The Department of Communal Services (GMOs) out of both animal feed and seeds within the City will continue to refrain from the use of GMOs and will of Munich’s sphere of influence, whereby no exceptions further­more remain committed towards the practice of are to be tolerated. Due to current developments in Euro- responsible nature conservation in terms of the biodiversity pean genetic engineerung law this theme has once again of flora and fauna. come to the fore.

Inconsistent implementation The actual difficulty of ensuring the withdrawal of genetically modified plants in the future is illustrated by negotiations between representatives of national governments and the EU Parliament. A compromise introducing the “opt‑out mechanism” was nevertheless reached in December 2014. In future, national governments will, for example, be able to prohibit the cultivation of genetically engineered plants without necessarily having to negotiate waivers with corpo- rate groups. lf the EU Parliament proceeds in confirming the negotiated compromise early in this year, the EU Com- missioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, states the possibility of applying the opt‑out mechanism as of spring 2015. However, the reaction of various political camps in Germany suggests that the implementation will deviate or at least be inconsistent.

Irrespective of the discussion surrounding the European standards, however, plans for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) are now also threatening to soften Europe’s insistence on clearly labelling products made with genetically modified organisms (with the excep- tion of meat, eggs and dairy products). To enable genetically modified products to gain a foothold on the critical European market, the USA reinforces Europe to refrain from unambig- uous labelling.

General hazards remain The Department of Communal Services regards the planned EU rulings (see above) as a step in the right direction. Yet these rulings alone will not be enough to ward off the gen- eral hazards that arise from the use of genetically modified organisms. ln Germariy the expected debate of possibly establishing a national prohibition or the federal states ­individually reaching a decision highlights a fundamental

Annual Report on European Activities 2014 29 Let’s talk about Europe! More than 18,000 downloads One aim of the City of Munich’s European activities is to keep local residents well informed and encourage Europa-Jahresbericht 2013 their active participation in Europe. After all, the English and German versions of the EU influences as many as 80 percent of all local govern- Annual Report on European Activities can ment decisions, from particulate matter to the energy-­ be downloaded from www.muenchen.de/ efficient modernization of old buildings to the bidding europa. And plenty of people are already process for public contracts. Many decisions have a doing so! The ­German version has already direct impact on the people of Munich. At a series of been accessed 11,400 times and the public events, the City of Munich therefore provided a 07.03.14 09:36 ­English version 6,700 times in 2014. One

21377-012_lhm_europabericht_2013_us.indd 2-3 wealth of information about current developments in user of the English version is Professor Honda Europe in 2014. Dialogue with local residents was par- from Osaka Sangyo University. After reading the report, ticularly intensive in the year under review, especially the Japanese academic visited the Department of Labor with a view to the European elections. and Economic Development to obtain more information from the European Affairs Team, mainly on the subject of the privatization of drinking water.

Europe Day – Focus on the European elections

The European elections were the Representatives of the European Par- Children aged five to twelve took a central theme on Europe Day in liament and the European Commission more playful approach to discovering 2014. Anyone who came looking for in Munich joined forces with Europa- Europe: journeying through the conti- information found plenty of it on Union-München e. V. and the City of nent armed with needle and thread, Munich’s Marienplatz on May 9. Munich itself to lay on an attractive piecing together a giant puzzle and, in Animated discussions prevailed at program for young and old, europhiles the art atelier, creating an outsized information booths set up by the and eurosceptics alike. collage of photographs, figures, sym- European Parliament, the Europe bols and souvenirs. This “European Direct Information Centre for Who knows what about Europe? fairground” was free of charge and Munich and Upper Bavaria, and City Councillor Ulrike Boesser (SPD) was sponsored by Münchner Verein other organizations. stood in for the mayor to open Europe Kultur & Spielraum e. V. Day 2014, before various groups gave demonstrations of Greek and Polish Shaking the Marienplatz folk dancing on the stage and at ground Three local bands took the stage in level on the Marienplatz. After that, the the afternoon. Stray Colors set the event hosted Bavarian broadcasting tone with Bosnian folk music mixed company Bayerischer Rundfunk’s with sixties-style pop elements. public participation program “Jetzt Their show was a potent blend of red I – Europa” (“My turn to talk – pulsating energy and easy-going dyna- Europe”). Spectators wrote down their mism. Samy Danger, guitarist with the questions in advance, and these were Munich band Jamaram, stepped up then answered on the stage by Munich next with a solo fusion of African and MEPs Thomas Händel (Die Linke), South American influences. The last Nadja Hirsch (FDP), Barbara Lochbihler word then went to Tula Troubles, (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) and Bernd whose band members hail from vari- Posselt (CSU). Dr. Linus Förster (SPD), ous cultural backgrounds and bring Deputy Chairman of the Bavarian Par- all kinds of musical influences together liamentary Committee on Federal and to form a distinctive style known as European Affairs, and Peter Martin, chanson/ska. Everything from belly then head of the EU Commission’s dance to waltzes to heavy metal went Munich representation, contributed into the mix. And the common information about the forthcoming ­denominator? Dance rhythms that got elections. A news quiz organized by everyone’s feet moving and shook radio broadcaster B5 gave visitors the Marienplatz! the chance to win attractive prizes by testing their knowledge of Europe and its elections. 30 Annual Report on European Activities 2014

Want to help shape Europe? Then get informed!

There are many ways to play a part In its “Europe Forum” program series, European Sharing Fair in shaping Europe. But people can the EDI once again tackled controver- In the course of the year, the EDI also only play an active role if they know sial subjects in 2014, inviting the pub- zoomed in on creative new forms of what is going on. For precisely this lic to join in what were at times heated public participation. One fair, for exam- reason, the Europe Direct Informa- debates on European policy. Staged in ple, provided information about shar- tion Centre for Munich and Upper the Europe Lounge at Munich’s ing, swapping and lending in what has Bavaria (EDI) provides information Gasteig City Library, this series of been termed the sharing economy. and advice on EU-related subjects. events featured 16 evenings of lectures The event also encouraged visitors to Dialogue with EU citizens has been and discussions that were attended by take action, reduce their consumption particularly intensive this year, not around 2,000 visitors in total. The and explore alternative forms of eco- only because of the European elec- main focus was on the 2014 European nomic activity. The popularity of the tions, but also because of topical elections, negotiations between the sharing economy and related develop- issues such as the TTIP. EU and the USA with regard to the ments is continuing to grow. Platforms proposed free-trade agreement, and initiatives relating to cars, house- ­poverty immigration from Southeast hold items, workspaces, clothes, Europe, the EU’s relationship with urban garden allotments, open work- Russia, the EU’s policy on asylum, and shops, FabLabs, crowdfunding, open human rights. source software, you name it: They are all attracting more and more users 2014 European elections and changing the way we consume, The guiding principle for the work of produce, acquire funding and share the Europe Direct Information Centre what we know. is to make Europe and the EU more transparent and cultivate a greater To improve visibility for the growing awareness of Europe. In the first half collaborative economy and bring play- of 2014, the European elections occu- ers in the various initiatives and inter- pied much of its attention and were ested parties together, the Europe the focus of many of the centre’s Direct Information Centre invited one activities. Numerous events gave and all to attend the European Sharing room for a vigorous European policy Fair at Gasteig in Munich. The fair was debate. To keep local residents organized in cooperation with Munich’s informed about the work of the Euro- Gasteig City Library and OuiShare, a pean Parliament, regular citizens’ global community that seeks to build a ­consultations entitled “Is Europe too collaborative society by connecting remote from its people? Ask your people, organizations and ideas around MEP!” were held with members of fairness, openness and trust. Some the European Parliament representing 1,300 people attended the fair on Bavaria. In addition, a European work- October 20 to learn about different shop for first-time MEP voters raised aspects of collaborative living and awareness of the 2014 European working, and to discover the possibili- ­elections among young Europeans. ties and relevant activities in Munich. Annual Report on European Activities 2014 31

A program specially designed for already proven themselves in existing young people enabled school classes free trade agreements. Inge Reichert to try out the collaborative economy assured the gathering that the Federal for themselves in the context of work- Association of Public Services will shops (on subjects such as 3D printing examine the legal ramifications of the and collaborative consumption). negotiated Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in great Europe Forum on the Transatlantic detail, and that the insights gained will Trade and Investment Partnership flow into the ongoing TTIP negotia- (TTIP) tions. About 100 guests accepted the ­invitation issued by the Europe Direct Showing what life for young Information Centre for Munich and ­refugees is like Upper Bavaria to attend this forum. On December 8, the EDI hosted the Second-best in The podium discussion involved the opening of an exhibition entitled “15 European Commission’s Lutz Güllner, years’ SchlaU School – Collages of Germany Inge Reichert from the Bundesver- Everyday Life for Young Refugees in band Öffentliche Dienstleistungen Munich”. The exhibition marked the (Federal Association of Public Services) 15th anniversary of the SchlaU School, The plan of action implemented by in Berlin, Christoph Scherrer, Profes- a supplementary school for young the Europe Direct Information sor of Globalization and Politics at the refugees in Munich. Jointly conceived Centre (EDI) in Munich came second University of Kassel, and Walter by the SchlaU School itself, photogra- out of 55 Europe Direct offices Leiter­mann from Deutscher Städtetag pher Patrick Frost and the EDI, the throughout Germany. Every year, (the Association of German Cities) in multimedia project portraits young the European Commission presents ­Brussels. Dr. Clemens Verenkotte people who have ended up in the prizes in recognition of special from Bavarian broadcaster Bayerischer Bavarian capital after fleeing from their achievements and exceptional Rundfunk moderated the debate, home country. commitment. The EDI for Munich which centred primarily around the and Upper Bavaria is the first port provision of services of general inter- Details of forthcoming events are of call for local residents who have est by local government. posted on the web at: questions about anything to do www.muenchen.de/europe-direct with the European Union. The EDI Some participants feared that the TTIP is a project subsidized by the could add to the pressure on public Europe Direct Informationszentrum ­European Commission and run by services. Lutz Güllner from the EU München & Oberbayern the European Affairs Team at the Commission’s Directorate General for Münchner Stadtbibliothek Am Gasteig Department of Labor and Eco- Trade contradicted this view, however, Rosenheimer Straße 5 nomic Development in conjunction arguing that the EU Commission has 81667 München with Munich’s City Library, an specific rules to exclude public ser- Phone: +49 (0)89 480 98 33 79 institution operated by the City of vices and to uphold existing provisions [email protected] Munich’s Department of Arts and designed to safeguard public services. Culture. These rules, he continued, have

Annual Report on European Activities 2014 33 Assistance with EU projects

The EU provides funding for numerous projects covering a Munich’s various municipal departments independently over- wide range of disciplines in Munich. Social welfare is pro- see a whole raft of EU projects. To help them with their project vided in this way, activities to help job seekers are imple- work and with the choice of suitable EU support programs, the mented and concepts to optimize urban mobility are devel- European Affairs Team at the Department of Labor and Eco- oped, to name but a few examples. All these activities and nomic Development provides advice and assistance on issues initiatives would be difficult or impossible to realize without such as the application process, identifying the right partners, money from Brussels. Most of the projects have a pan-­ project costing, financial management and project management. European focus, which in turn fosters dialogue that enables participants to learn from the experience of others.

A better quality of life thanks to a smart choice of location

At first glance, a house in the coun- of information for private households partner SIR (the Salzburg Institute for try may appear less expensive than who are looking for somewhere to Spatial Planning and Housing), living in the city. In the long run, live, but also with a catalogue of rec- ­project partner iSPACE and the City of however, the cost of daily travel to ommendations to enable public play- ­Ljubljana, some 70 participants from and from work, to go shopping and ers to respond to the rising cost of the political community, the construc- to get the kids to school adds up. mobility. tion industry, retail, housing planning, So where should people live? Where transport planning, transport services should houses be built and housing Sustainable housing development and the Chamber of Commerce and estates be planned? These were the MORECO stood for “Mobility and Industry were informed of the key questions tackled by the EU funded Residential Costs” and was an interna- findings of the MORECO project for project MORECO, which was seen tional collaborative project involving Munich. The various observers them- through from start to finish (2011 – ten partners from five countries in the selves became supporters who are 2014) by Munich’s Department of Alpine region. The focus was on sus- continuing the work of implementation. Urban Planning and Building tainable housing development in cen- Regulations. tral locations and within the catchment For more information, please visit area of public transport stops. In the http://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/ “A better quality of life thanks to a Bavarian capital, Munich’s Transport Stadtverwaltung/Referat-fuer-­ smart choice of location” was the and Tariff Association MVV was one Stadtplanung-und-Bauordnung/­ motto of this project. In keeping with of several players involved, primarily Stadtentwicklung/Regionale-Themen/ this vision, the project provided plenty with its mobility and residential cost EU-Projekt-MORECO.html calculator.

On June 26, 2014, the project con- cluded with a final conference in Munich. With the support of the lead

Salzburg cartoonist Thomas Wizany used his trademark subtle humour to good effect to illustrate the topics of living, working, education, leisure, local supplies and waste disposal addressed by “MORECO”. 34 Annual Report on European Activities 2014

Europe for the little ones

Europe is a big place. A whole continent. A union of sovereign states. An institution. All of which makes it rather abstract and difficult to grasp for many citizens. Yet there is also a very small side to Europe – as the nursery in Munich’s Auenstrasse has discovered.

The inclusive municipal nursery spent two years taking part in COMENIUS, the European program for school education. Its participation was supported by the Unit for European and International Exchanges and Projects at Munich’s Department of Education and Sports. In the course of the project, the Auenstrasse team visited nurseries in Sweden, England, Latvia and Turkey. They discovered differences, found common ground – and learned that educational strat- egies in Germany are good and make sense. Each country they visited also gave them fresh ideas. For example, the “outdoor education” approach in Sweden inspired the ­preschool teachers to factor more movement and exercise “Europe moves (me)” into preparatory learning.

The 90 children in the Auenstrasse likewise learned more How and why does Europe move people? How can you about habits and customs at nurseries in other countries. move around Europe? Why should Europe move you? Two major favourites were “Pancake Day” in England, Questions such as these were discussed at a multinational where children devour as many pancakes as they can and seminar “Europe moves (me)” in Babenhausen on the even run “pancake races”, and St. Lucy’s Day, the winter northwestern tip of Bavaria. Young people from Spain, Italy, solstice festival of light celebrated in Scandinavia. The Croatia, Munich and Babenhausen itself spent a week COMENIUS program helped many children – especially together exploring how the EU and its electoral system those with a migration background – to gain a deeper works. Organized by the Department of Education and appreciation of their own origins and culture. Sports in the period from March through September, the project also featured a day trip to Strasbourg, including a COMENIUS was an EU program that ran until 2014. Its aim visit to the European Parliament and a debate with Barbara was to encourage collaboration between all levels and Lochbihler. types of school within the European Union and promote the mobility of schoolchildren and teachers. Within the framework of early education, nurseries throughout ­Germany took part in the development program. In 2015, COMENIUS was replaced by ERASMUS+.

News in brief

Qualified staff for Munich’s day group of participants. This series has concept at the Universitat Autònoma nurseries – An impressive success now become an integral part of the de Barcelona. The aim in 2015 is to rate project. The qualified Spanish staff transform the initial project into a regu- Munich is keen to recruit qualified were thus able to compare and con- lar program. educators for its municipal nurseries trast the theoretical foundations of from Spain. The collaborative project their study with the educational stand- Exchange visit with Spanish educa- launched in 2013 was thus continued ards applied at Munich’s nurseries and tional facilities successfully in 2014. Since December, the approaches anchored in the city’s The Unit for European and International four more Spanish preschool teachers Education and Preschool Plan. Exchanges and Projects at Munich’s have been added to the ranks of the Twelve students of child education in Department of Education and Sports City of Munich’s permanent staff. ­Barcelona are currently preparing has added a new tool to its range of Based on experience gained in the themselves for jobs in Munich as of service offerings. Inspired by the tradi- pilot phase in 2013, an advanced train- July 2015. To ensure the sustainability tional contact seminars organized by ing series was developed that is tai- of the project, work is currently in the National Agency of the Federal lored specially to the needs of this progress to establish the collaborative Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB) How to interact successfully without a common language

Multilingual friendships and learning to build peace and Communicating without language resolve conflicts have long been lived out as regular Sitting in on a number of nurseries in and around Bruneck aspects of life in Munich’s nurseries. But what do other gave the preschool teachers from Munich an array of European countries do? As part of the EU pilot project ­different impressions. Discussions about early education “formatione”, preschool teachers from Munich visited strategies primarily centred around the intercultural context. the German-Italian nursery in Bruneck to see how their The various nurseries are located in districts with different peers from South Tyrol approach the same topics. social structures. Bruder Willram, the one in Bruneck, has a large proportion of children with migration backgrounds. Working together and sharing thoughts about common Fifteen kilometres away in Gais, the opposite is true. “Applied ground and differences in relation to both these topics and theatre education work with migrant children” was a light- national education systems made for fruitful cross-border house project that one educator at the Bruder Willram dialogue. Christopher Oberhuemer, Munich-based art philos- ­nursery illustrated very vividly but with only very simple opher and founder of the art workshop KUK, tried to keep means: Migrant children presented a play involving nothing the barriers as low as possible. Philosophical observations but music and dance. This example very poignantly con- about personal dealings with conflicts and responses to firmed the link between theory and practice. Even with migration flows were an integral part of his poetic artistry, as only rudimentary language skills, children can still be was the concrete act of working side by side to paint large- addressed in this way and integrated in a group’s everyday scale artworks. Using language as a rich, multi-faceted tool routine in a context of social interaction. of reflection, a means of expressing oneself, Christoph ­Oberhuemer succeeded in giving fresh impetus and new This cooperative venture was made possible by the ideas to the preschool teachers from both Munich and South ­Bruneck nursery (operated by the German Office of School- Tyrol. ing in South Tyrol) and the Unit for European and Interna- tional Exchanges and Projects at Munich’s Department of Education and Sports.

and the German Academic Exchange visits to the Agència de Salut Pública Himbsel­strasse 1, Sandstrasse 22 and Service (DAAD), a delegation from and Bayer MaterialScience, and the Stielerstrasse 6 all launched starter Munich travelled to Spain to visit the conditions governing further coopera- courses in French that give the children Municipal Vocational School for tion. A 16-strong delegation of a playful introduction to the language ­Dental Technology, Chemical, Biologi- ­teachers and other educators is and culture of Germany’s European cal and Pharmaceutical Technicians in already planning a return visit in 2016. neighbour. The courses were adapted ­Barcelona from November 9 – 12, to the educational concepts in place at 2014. Starter courses in French each nursery and also fitted in with the Parlez-vous français? Some of the girls children’s routine and familiar living The seminar agenda included the and boys at five Munich nurseries will environment. The courses are intended Spanish vocational education system soon be able to answer this question for German-speaking children and and the curriculum for Spanish with a confident “oui” or “non”. In ­children with a bilingual or multilingual ­chemical laboratory technicians, tech- collaboration with the Institut Français background. The aim is to develop nical dialogue with the partner school in Munich, the nurseries at Müller- ­bilingual nurseries and build intercultural IES Narcís Monturiol in Barcelona, strasse 5, Corneliusstrasse 17, bridges. 36 Annual Report on European Activities 2014

“Anonymous”: A living memorial by Susanne Wagner on Munich’s Odeonsplatz. Photos: Thomas Splett

Remeasuring Europe

Last year, many cities throughout Europe commemorated between World War I and the extensive changes Europe the outbreak of World War I a hundred years previously. has seen over the past century. Implicitly, the program also Among them was the City of Munich, whose Department underscored the importance of the European idea. of Arts and Culture initiated a program that was put together and made possible by nearly 70 partners – a unique That is precisely why many projects were put together by achievement. Museums, cultural institutes, archives, initia- multiple partners, some of them working across borders. tives, scientific organizations, religious communities, trade Top speakers were invited from twelve countries. The con- unions, clubs and many other groups all closed ranks to cept of looking beyond one’s own city, one’s own country contribute more than 170 items to the program entitled was pivotal to a program commemorating such a literally “1914 | 2014. Remeasuring Europe”. Earth-shaking event. Major themes of European policy were incorporated, too: the “displacement of peoples” that The primary focus was on the tremendous upheavals that came with the outbreak of World War I, the ties to the accompanied the start of the 20th century. The outcome east that unravelled as a result and, of course, the traumas was a topical program that sought to highlight the links that are still in evidence generations later.

Bringing suppressed perspectives to light Bringing suppressed perspectives to light was a common thread throughout the entire cycle. The Department of Arts and Culture, the Goethe Institute and the Institut Français, for example, together explored “Other People’s Memo- ries”, while the performance of “Anonymous” on Munich’s Odeonsplatz put the spotlight on a dimension of warfare that was long regarded as taboo. This living memorial, cho- reographed by Munich artist Susanne Wagner, remem- bered the victims of sexual violence in the war, reminding spectators that sexual violence remains a weapon of war- fare to this day.

Guided tours, exhibitions, concerts, radio broadcasts, art campaigns, study trips and weekend seminars were only some of the large number of items on the agenda. Without so many partners among Munich’s civic society, this huge project would never have been possible. What all the part- ners had in common was the will to engage in dialogue or, to put that another way, a European-style openness. Today, that is clearly more important than ever. Annual Report on European Activities 2014 37

“What’s the deal?”

The cultural project “What’s the deal?” aims to sensitize Since September 2013, this EU-subsidized international Europe’s urban youth scene to a sustainable lifestyle project has been headed by Munich’s Department of Arts and inspire youngsters to discover new perspectives. A and Culture in collaboration with Kunstzentrat e. V. (Munich), broad spectrum of tools is being used to get the mes- Kino Šiška (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Schmiede Hallein (near sage across. One of them – a mobile sculpture made of Salzburg, Austria) and Coolpolitics (Amsterdam, Nether­ recycled wood that can be moved on skateboards – lands). Artistic and cultural activities will be planned and spent the months from April to December 2014 making realized in these four European cities until mid‑2015. Urban its way around Munich. Others include sustainably pro- biking and mural art (Ljubljana), design (Amsterdam) and duced bicycles, stylish fashions and furniture made from media art (Hallein/Salzburg) are the genres on which textile waste, and mural art ­campaigns in Ljubljana as the partners are focused. International guest artists will an artistic counterweight to ubiquitous advertising. also be involved in local project processes.

Presentation of outcomes At the closing event in June 2015, a collection of the ­artwork and outcomes of the project will be presented to the public in Munich’s future Dachauerstrasse creative quarter. In addition, creative individuals and experts from all four partner cities will take part in talks and discussions, performances and workshops to encourage people to think for themselves about topics such as social sustainability, creative freedom, winning back public spaces for mural art, recycling and upcycling. 38 Annual Report on European Activities 2014

Toward more tolerance in dealings with HIV and AIDS

Dialogue on energy efficiency­ and renewable

­energy Munich and Kiev have been actively uals. In 2014, a multiplier development pooling their experience on the program and training materials were topic of HIV prevention for over four produced, and training was provided in The City of Munich is supporting years. To improve Kiev’s long-term Kiev. Experts from Munich trained 20 Kiev’s commitment to climate and handling of HIV/AIDS and overcome of their colleagues in Kiev to serve as environmental protection with local the stigma attached to the diseases, multipliers. environmental organizations. In concrete steps to train and raise collaboration with Women in awareness among both medical A specialized one-week program fol- Europe for a Common Future staff and social workers have now lowed by a week in residence in Munich (WECF) e. V., a series of exchange been agreed as the focus of ongoing allowed the team from Kiev to deepen activities were organized in order cooperation in the Ukrainian capital. their knowledge. It also gave them the to transfer knowledge about chance to discuss ways to implement energy efficiency and renewable According to United Nations data, some of Munich’s models in the energy and to discuss climate Ukraine suffers the highest new infec- Ukrainian capital. These discussions protection measures and projects. tion rate in Europe. Munich’s twin city were based on a stocktaking exercise, In 2014, a training and develop- in particular is an agglomeration that is performed in early 2014, which inven- ment program for experts at PIU, especially hard hit by HIV and AIDS. toried the current situation of medical the Kiev municipal company The number of people who are not and social advisory and care services responsible for energy efficiency, even aware that they are infected is for HIV patients and high-risk groups, was held in Munich with the sup- believed to be high. Large swathes of as well as analyzing the cooperation port of GIZ, the German Society the population tend to be intolerant of structures in place in Kiev. The City of for International Cooperation. To and stigmatize infected individuals and Munich and its partners in Kiev applied this end, Munich’s municipal voca- groups – such as homosexuals and for support from the Federal Ministry tional school for environmental prostitutes – whose behaviour can put for Economic Cooperation and Devel- protection technology and renewa- them at risk. Prejudices and a literal opment, which provides funds total- ble energy provided a several-day fear of contact are encountered even ling EUR 53,000 under the aegis of intensive course. The Ukrainian in medical facilities and organizations. the program “Sustainable Municipal specialists talked to Bauzentrum The biggest challenge is thus posed Development Based on Partnership München, Munich’s Construction by the way society ostracizes both Projects”. Centre, about subsidy programs patients and the diseases themselves. and energy-efficient building tech- nologies. They held talks with the Better networking needed BAYERNenergie association of One new two-year project now aims energy consultants, with the to raise awareness and provide training­ BENG energy cooperative and with to local government-employed medi- the Department of Environment cal staff and social workers to improve and Health. Cooperation in the the way HIV is handled. Another aim field of energy efficiency and of the project is to improve collabora- energy consulting was agreed as a tion and networking between munici- result. Plans now exist for a con- pal and civil care facilities and advisory sulting centre in Kiev based on the centres in Kiev. Existing offerings are model of the Munich Construction to be tailored more closely to the Centre. needs of patients and infected individ- Taking a stand against repression­

The partnership between Munich and Kiev was further enriched when the cities’ LGBT communities signed an agreement on ongoing collaboration. In Bavaria and Ukraine, the group is actively defending the rights of the Vadym Kostiuk (Ukrainian Consul-General, second from left) and his wife (left), lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGTB) community. Munich’s Mayor Dieter Reiter (centre) and Edwin Grodeke, representing the Department of Communal Services. This partnership in the LGBT scene will use art and cultural programs, discussions, workshops and the development of voluntary structures to highlight the importance of human Guest appearances from rights, individual freedoms and sexual self-determination in both cities. The aim is to play an ongoing part in shaping Munich’s twin cities on the and preserving a free, tolerant society that is committed to European values. Viktualienmarkt

A plethora of activities One of many activities in 2014 was a photographic exhibi- 2014 was an exciting year for Munich and its twin cities, tion entitled “No right to be themselves”, which could not with anniversaries due to four of its seven partnerships be shown in Ukraine itself but was presented as a sign of The local population was more than happy to get into the solidarity and resistance to repression in Munich. The aim spirit of things. The market hall operator run by the Depart- was to attract widespread attention to the situation of lesbi- ment of Communal Services made a prominently posi- ans in Ukraine. Cooperation partners included Sub (a gay tioned stand available to its international guests on the communication and cultural centre), LeTra (a lesbian advice city’s venerable Viktualienmarkt (food market) from May centre), Gasteig Munchen GmbH (a cultural and educational until autumn. This stand powerfully illustrated what active centre), the City of Munich, Arbeitsforum Ukraine e. V. city partnerships are all about: bringing people from differ- (a grass-roots networking organization), the Cherson-based ent countries together and getting them to talk to and learn Ukrainian organization New Wave for a Better Future, and from each other. LesKult (a Munich-based lesbian cultural association). Edinburgh, Bordeaux, Cincinnati and Kiev all took their place Support from the Department of Arts and Culture allowed a on the Viktualienmarkt, with the Ukrainian capital conclud- dedicated cultural to be integrated in the annual KyivPride ing the anniversary celebrations. Given the current political march for the first time. The organization team and the tensions in Ukraine, it was unclear whether Kiev would be Munich Kiev Queer contact group thus arranged meetings able to accept Munich’s invitation. On September 5, how- with key LGBT groups such as Nash Mir (which archives ever, the guests were welcomed by the mayor, Dieter cases of discrimination), Insight (transgender, refugees), Reiter. Precisely because of the political situation, this visit Gay Alliance Ukraine (whole LGBT scene, queer homes) and to Munich testified a partnership that has now lasted 25 Fulcrum (work with parents, for instance), as well as the years. Numerous valuable projects and initiatives have Heinrich Böll Foundation (gender work) and GIZ, the Ger- already been created by mutual visits between Munich and man Society for International Cooperation (HIV prevention). Kiev.

Two questions for Dieter Reiter, mayor of Munich

The partnership that exists between Does it still make sense to twin each other. Especially at a time of Munich and Kiev dates back to 1989, cities today? political crisis, that is hugely when it was launched primarily to Dieter Reiter: Of course it does! It important.­ encourage rapprochement between makes more sense than ever. This east and west. In the early years, year, for example, the City of Kiev had How can the Bavarian capital sup- world events preceding its inception a stand on the Viktualienmarkt to par- port the City of Kiev? largely shaped the focus of the part- ticipate in the anniversary celebrations Dieter Reiter: Above all by demon- nership: support for former Ukrainian for our partnership. That alone shows strating solidarity when people are victims of forced labour under the how important our partnership is to discriminated against and oppressed – National Socialist regime and aid for the Ukrainian capital. Twin cities do because of their sexual identity, for the victims of the Chernobyl disaster. more than just boost the exchange of example. We are also pursuing inten- At the same, school partnerships and goods and services: They open our sive dialogue in education and sports. exchange programs for teachers also eyes to what life is like in other coun- Schoolchildren, students and teachers sprung up that are still in existence tries. For me, such partnerships are a have regularly changed places today. In recent years, great impor- wonderful opportunity to bring people between Kiev and Munich over the tance has been attached to coopera- from very different cities together, past 25 years, and these visits have tion in the fields of healthcare and the to get them talking and learning from led to a number of valuable projects environment. each other, to learn to trust and help and initiatives. 40 Annual Report on European Activities 2014

were able to take part in the street football tournament School furniture “bunt kickt gut” (“Colourful Kickers”), as well as attend- ing a holiday camp in Bavaria. The most important part- for Subotica ners to the adoption project are the volunteers who work for the Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) work group “Hilfe für Menschen in Not” (“Help for People in Need”). Thanks Munich “adopted” the Serbian city of Subotica 15 years ago. to their depot for collecting donations and the experience Though Serbia is now a candidate for accession to the Euro- they have gained delivering aid on many occasions, the pean Union, large swathes of its population still live in pov- BRK has in the past been possible to supply schools, erty. The need for outside assistance remains acute. In 2014, social welfare facilities, the local senior citizens’ care Munich’s Social Services Department provided support home and the hospital in Subotica with urgently needed mainly for young people and in the cultural sector, drawing furniture and technical equipment. In March 2014, the on EU funds to do so. As a result, children from Subotica volunteers took donated school furniture to Subotica.

Helping young people to launch their career

The following objectives were defined for the project: §§To provide qualifications, develop- ment and training to disadvantaged youngsters and young adults with and without a migration background §§To strengthen intercultural skills in order to improve individuals’ chances on the labour market §§To raise awareness of intercultural and social diversity topics among players on the labour and education markets §§To prevent exclusion and discrimina- tion on the labour market and in society­ §§To foster networking and coopera- ViSA – an acronym derived from the The ViSA project was conducted by tion with migrant organizations German for “diversity in schools four collaborative partners: Munich’s and education” – was an EU-subsi- adult education centre (MVHS), the Munich’s adult education centre dized project realized in Munich Berufliche Fortbildungszentren der played the role of lead partner in this (among other cities) until the end of Bayerischen Wirtschaft gGmbH (train- collaborative project. The four partners 2014. Young people were given ing and development centres operated each took charge of different aspects advice and the chance to obtain by the Bavarian Employers’ Associa- of the overall project. Skills such as qualifications to help them success- tion), the Euro-Trainings-Centre e. V. teamwork, self-confidence and perse- fully make the leap from school to and the Evangelical Migration Centre verance were reinforced in a variety of vocational training, and from voca- in Munich’s “Greek House”. A wide projects. The various offerings were tional training to a career. This range of cooperation and networking also suitable for young people with ­collaborative project targeted disad- channels gave rise to fresh stimulus special needs for whom German is vantaged youngsters and young for ongoing conceptual development their second language. adults with and without a migration and the sustainable impact of the background in Munich. project in the form of transitional sys- Experience gained from and the results tems. The project was financed by the of this nearly three-year flagship project Young people who drop out of school, European Social Fund, the Federal were channelled into the project organi- achieve no qualifications and do not Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, zations’ subject area standards. The yet feel prepared to take up vocational the City of Munich and the resources guidelines, curriculums and recommen- training are a classic example. ViSA of the cooperation partners. dations for action produced in the offered tuition with a practical focus, course of the project will be circulated filling in gaps in basic theoretical to all cooperation and network partners knowledge and giving youngsters a and can be accessed on the project chance to put it into practice in the website www.vielfalt-muenchen.de. context of internships. Annual Report on European Activities 2014 41

Helping refugees to return home

Refugees were a dominant theme in The FiBA network project for refugees Coming Home project has so far pro- Europe in 2014. The number of refu- in employment and education receives vided help to around 10,000 people. gees and asylum seekers in Germany 90 percent of its funding from the In 2014, more than 300 individuals came doubled year on year, presenting European Social Fund (ESF). This pro- for advice, with half of them deciding major challenges to some local gov- ject focuses on improving the situation to return to their home country and ernments. At the same time, this of young refugees with regard to receiving the necessary assistance. development triggered a wave of ­education and training and the situation solidarity and willingness to help of adult refugees with regard to work One aim of the EU’s funding policy is among the population, causing the qualifications and integration in the to try out innovative ideas and to public and the political community labour market. ­facilitate and improve suitable projects. alike to rethink the issues involved. Projects that prove their worth can For refugees who have the prospect Despite political and economic uncer- then serve as a model for other local of staying in Germany, there is a tainties in many refugees’ home governments and be adapted for need to significantly improve inte- ­countries, there is strong demand for nationwide or even pan‑European use. gration services. support for voluntary repatriation. The Coming Home is a good example of Coming Home project therefore pro- this principle: The project ultimately The City of Munich’s Social Services vides migrants with individual advice produced professional quality stand- Department has for some years been and assistance to help them prepare ards and training concepts for repatria- drawing on various EU funding pools for and organize their return journey. tion advice. Today, Coming Home is for its integration projects. “Schule für Many aspects must be considered to responsible for training and develop- Alle” (“School for All”) is one such get them off to a good start. Exam- ment consulting staff throughout project, which has been subsidized by ples include translating school reports ­Germany. The experience gained in the Integration Fund since July 2012. and work references, vaccinations the course of the EU project is chan- Supplementary language courses are and health protection, the assertion of nelled into the development of an provided to schoolchildren with a pension entitlements and the proper integrated repatriation management migration background, while the pro- termination of housing and other con- system that is currently being built at ject also aims to establish German as tracts. Thanks to EU funding, financial the Federal Office for Migration and a second language in advanced support can be provided to these Refugees. teacher training and to promote inter- home-comers. This can take the form cultural school development. of initial aid, educational subsidies, payment of healthcare fees and contri- butions to the cost of starting a busi- ness. Launched in 2000, the EU’s DELI promotes corporate diversity

Giving entrepreneurs with a migration background Munich was chosen to participate in the DELI project greater visibility and better access to networks and because the city has already initiated extensive networking platforms in the Munich economy: These are the goals activities to integrate migrant companies in the local busi- of the European DELI project. In practice, that means ness community. Alongside Munich, nine other European tearing down the barriers that hinder migrant compa- cities are taking part in the program: Dublin, Vienna, nies’ access to procurement processes and helping ­London’s borough of Lewisham, Bucharest, Getxo, these firms to become permanently established on the ­Cartagena, Lisbon, Rotterdam and Reggio Emilia. In seek- market. The acronym DELI stands for “Diversity in the ing to encourage greater diversity and the integration of Economy and Local Integration”. migrant-owned companies, these cities face widely differ- ing challenges. One key aspect of the project is therefore Diversity in the local economy is an important location to facilitate the sharing of best practices. factor. In Munich, this international base is reflected in both social and entrepreneurial activities. Nearly every second DELI is funded by European Union and European Council new business is registered by Munich residents of foreign resources. In Munich, the Department of Labor and Eco- extraction. More than 28,000 companies that give work to nomic Development supports DELI within the framework around 100,000 people in Munich are run by migrants. of the Munich Employment and Qualification Program For its part, the City of Munich has for years been helping (MBQ). Launched jointly by the European Council and the migrant-owned companies to gain a firm foothold on the European Commission in 2014, the DELI project is sched- market. uled to run until June 2015.

Fostering integration In signing up to the DELI project, Munich’s local ­government has broadened its activities and adopted a ­multi-stake­holder approach: The project supports existing partnership platforms, builds new ones and brings repre- sentatives of the relevant branches of local industry together. DELI thus tackles two key European economic topics at once: the need to bolster entrepreneurship and the social integration of people with a migration back- ground. Annual Report on European Activities 2014 43

Ground-breaking: “Fair Move”

The “Do the Right Mix” campaign is one of many ways An option open to everyone in which the EU Commission is supporting efforts to “In the course of this campaign, Europe has shown itself to cultivate sustainable urban mobility. Munich’s “Fair be incredibly innovative in developing a sustainable urban Move – Mobility Moves Schools” project, developed by mobility culture,” EU Commissioner for Transport Siim MobilSpiel [“MobileGame”] on behalf of the Department Kallas told the winners at the prize-giving ceremony in of Public Order, is the only German project – out of Brussels. “The different activities make it clear that sustain- 19 international projects – that was selected to receive able transport is an option that is open to everyone. Our financial backing as part of the campaign. hope is that the funds provided will help the project partici- pants to continue their excellent work at grass-roots level.” The project aims to encourage fifth- and sixth‑grade schoolchildren and their teachers to think more critically EU funding of EUR 7,000 also enabled new materials such about mobility, consider how they use modes of transport as posters on the topics of climate change, ecofriendly and, ultimately, encourage them to adopt a sustainable mobility and electromobility, puzzles relating to different approach to mobility in the future. To this end, MobilSpiel is modes of transport and campaign booklets for the children working together with the Verkehrszentrum (“Transportation to be designed and printed professionally. Centre”) run by the Deutsches Museum in Munich. At the museum, ten- to twelve-year-olds work in small groups on key topics such as ecofriendly mobility, local public transport and the impact of traffic on people and the environment. The teachers receive special training and teaching materials for the project. Even getting to the Verkehrszentrum is part of the learning process: The children are asked to complete various assignments along the way, and the results flow into the project. Two weeks in Stockholm – surrounded by 200,000 books in 120 languages!

In March 2014, Margareta Lindner Priority service from Munich City Library’s Depart- In January 2014, a new Library Act ment of Intercultural Library Work came into force in Sweden under spent two weeks in Stockholm which all libraries must give priority ­getting to know the international service to certain groups. These annex of the Stockholm City Library. groups include people with disabilities, Residence Under the aegis of the EU’s Leon- people whose mother tongue is not ardo “Go Europe” development Swedish and Swedish minority ­periods – program, Ms. Lindner was able to groups. For the latter two groups, the gain an insight into how the library law explicitly prescribes the provision A source of works, what it has to offer and the of literature in the relevant languages legal framework within which it and in simplified Swedish. professional and operates. This is her report: Media offerings for migrants are the personal More than 200,000 books and other focus of the International Library. media in 120 languages: That is the Its 31 staff members have a native ­enrichment impressive multilingual selection avail- command of a total of 27 different able at the “Internationella biblioteket” languages and are committed to (“International Library”) in Stockholm. sourcing media for migrants who live The City of Munich gives its full All these languages are more than in Sweden. Barrier-free access and backing to lifelong learning in a just a contribution to integration in the specially tailored offerings for people European context by enabling sense of helping non-Swedish nation- with disabilities are likewise standard residence periods throughout als to understand the society in which practice. For example, right in the Europe with the support of the they live and find their way around. entrance hall to Stockholm’s main ERASMUS+ program. Periods of They are also a logical and consistent library, in the historic Asplund Building, residence at other local authorities response to the right to uphold one’s one large department provides special and organizations are highly condu- native language. During the two audio books for the visually impaired, cive to professional development, weeks I spent in Sweden, I repeatedly as well as an array of literature in sim- while also fostering an understand- encountered this philosophy: public ple language (“Lättläst”). ing of collaborative work at the institutions actively shouldering European level. This program is responsibility for allowing all elements therefore an excellent opportunity of the population to participate in to advance employees’ profes- ­society, defend their rights and thus sional, language and, above all, become part of the democratic personal development. The experi- system.­ ence of using another language and being immersed in a different culture is especially beneficial – witness the accounts written by two local government employees and published here by way of example. Annual Report on European Activities 2014 45

Prizes and awards

Encouraging the switch from private­ “Corporate Health Award 2014” Quality seal for equal opportunities to public transport Positive confirmation: In November Promoting women: For the sixth year in Well informed: If you know what you 2014, the City of Munich won what is a row, the City of Munich won the Total need to know, you can take sensible now its second Corporate Health E‑Quality award for its commitment to decisions. That, for example, can Award (having already won it once in more equal opportunities in 2014. This mean making better use of the differ- 2012) in the public administration quality seal is presented to businesses, ent modes of public transport – and ­category. The award is presented by political and administrative organiza- easing the burden of traffic on the influential German business daily tions that attach great importance to roads. Munich’s Department of Public ­Handelsblatt, technical service organi- equal opportunities between women Order has won an award for its exem- zation TÜV Süd and market research and men. Throughout ­Germany, a total plary information and motivation institute EuPD Research Sustainable of 58 organizations currently bear this ­activities in precisely this field. At the Management. Since 2009, the Corpo- seal. Of these, however, only two – European Conference on Mobility rate Health Award has been given Munich and Dortmund – are municipal Management in Florence, the Best once a year to the German companies employers. The jury pointed to gender International Policy Transfer Award with the best corporate health man- equality activities that go far beyond the 2014 was thus shared by Munich and agement performance. In explaining requirements of Germany’s Equal Almada in Portugal. Within the frame- its decision, the jury stressed that Opportunities Act as the reason for this work of the EU’s SEGMENT project, benefits provided by Munich’s corpo- repeat award. The City of Munich, the the two cities worked together on rate health management are extremely jury members noted, was thus demon- strategies to make traffic as city- well attuned to the needs of the local strating a convincing commitment to friendly and environmentally compati- government’s employees – one exam- equal opportunities. Nearly half of all ble as possible. In this context, the ple being a dedicated psychosocial managerial staff in the city’s administra- welcome package for new residents advisory centre run by the City of tion are now women (47.5 percent in that Munich has been using success- Munich. The jury members were also 2013). Excluding local government‑run fully for many years caught the eye impressed by the fact that exemplary companies, the figure rises as high as of the officials in Almada: New arrivals selection and introductory courses 51 percent. At the same time, the city in Munich are welcomed by transport gave managerial staff a clear aware- has continuously increased the share of utility MVG and the Department of ness of healthcare topics. The partici- management positions filled by part- Public Order with a mobility folder patory delegation system – in the form time staff to nearly 20 percent today; providing exhaustive information about of healthcare coordinators – also sets and of these part‑time managers, all modes of transport, but also letting an example for many companies by almost 80 percent are women. In 2014, new residents test Munich’s local modelling a decentralized organiza- the Equal Opportunities Unit published public transport free of charge for a tional structure. a new edition of the “Women in Munich” week. On request, mobility advice is handbook. Munich also scored highly even available over the phone. After for adding the option of caring for older staff of the local government in relatives and reinforcing the activities of Almada spent a residence period in part-time managers to facilitate a better Munich, new residents in their home work-life balance. city can now also look forward to a similar welcome package.

Annual Report on European Activities 2014 47 High-level CEMR meeting in Munich

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) Following on from the EUROCITIES Annual Conference in represents some 150,000 local and regional governments early November 2014, the Bavarian capital will thus host across 41 European countries. The Policy Committee, its two high-level meetings of European opinion leaders in two most important decision-making body, meets twice a year. consecutive years. “This comes as welcome evidence that The meeting scheduled for June 25–26, 2015, will take we are being noticed at EU level,” notes Henriette Wägerle, place in Munich on the invitation of Deputy Mayor Josef Director of European Affairs at the Department of Labor and Schmid. Economic Development.

European Year for Development

Under the motto “our world, our Munich will pick up the year’s theme in The European Union is the biggest dignity, our future”, 2015 has been relation to the development policy provider of development aid in the proclaimed as the European Year for exchange, for example. The European world. Yet although most citizens are Development. The aim of this initia- Affairs Team will coordinate all munici- in favour of assisting the Union’s part- tive is to sensitize the whole of pal activities. Other planned activities ner countries, few people actually Europe to development policy top- include an exhibition entitled “Munich – know how much money is used to ics, cultivate a greater awareness of Worldwide Partner” and a civil dialogue achieve the EU’s development goals. shared responsibility and create project on the subject of “European One aim of the European Year for opportunities for every individual to Year for Development 2015 – Focus on Development is therefore to make the take positive action. Municipal Development Cooperation”. current direction of development pol- icy more widely known to the general 2015 will highlight a European devel- public, and to generate a stronger opment policy that is committed to active interest among EU citizens. global sustainability. The key issue is not global aid, but global responsibility The three goals of the European Year for nature, the climate and natural for Development at a glance: resources, for sustainable concepts Inform: The interested public will be for global trade, agriculture and con- fully informed of the current direction sumption. This responsibility can only of development cooperation in the be lived out together and if all players European Union and its member states. engage as equals in partnership and Involve: Active engagement for and dialogue. critical debate on European develop- ment policy will be encouraged. Global and sustainable Raise awareness: People will be given 2015 is a crucial year for international a keener awareness of the benefits development policy, as the deadline and importance of development coop- for implementation of the Millennium eration both in member states and in Development Goals (MDGs) agreed by the EU’s partner countries. The initia- the international community is due to tive seeks to cultivate public under- expire. In the course of the year, new standing of political cohesion in the agreements for the years ahead will interests of development, and to foster be reached as the focus shifts towards a sense of shared responsibility and a post‑2015 agenda for sustainable solidarity. development. In light of these circum- stances, the European Union too believes that the time is ripe for an intensive public debate about Euro- pean development collaboration and the role of the EU and its member states in global development and sus- tainability policy. 48 Annual Report on European Activities 2014

Imprint

Publisher City of Munich Department of Labor and Economic Development Herzog-Wilhelm-Straße 15 80331 München www.munich.de

Editorial Office Anke Schlee, City of Munich Petra Pintscher, Munich

Translation German – English Nigel Robinson, Fulda

Design and Layout Kochan & Partner GmbH, Munich

April 2015 Issue no. 293

Photo credits Cover iStock.com/Rocky89; Getty Images; Natalia Machalska, P. Schnitzler/München Tourismus 3 Michael Nagy/Presseamt München 4 Michael Nagy/Presseamt München 5 Michael Nagy/Presseamt München 8/9 Andreas Heddergott 10 Ruth Schawohl, Sandra Spöttl, Steffen Leiprecht 11 Andreas Heddergott 12 Andreas Heddergott 13 Matthias Marschall 16 Sandra Spöttl 18 Fotolia 19 München Tourismus 24 electriceye – Fotolia.com 25 Personal- und Organisationsreferat 26 Abfallwirtschaftsbetrieb München 27 Stadtgüter München 29/30 Referat für Arbeit und Wirtschaft, Patrick Frost Photography 31 Patrick Frost 33 Thomas Wizany 34/35 Referat für Bildung und Sport 36 Thomas Splett 37 Memet Birinci 38 Stelle für internationale Angelegenheiten 39 Kommunalreferat 40/41 Sozialreferat 42 Referat für Arbeit und Wirtschaft 43 Ökoprojekt Mobilspiel 44 Margareta Lindner 45 ElaborAzioni.org.

Under the guidance of Henriette Wägerle, this publication was created by the Department of Labor and Economic ­Development in cooperation with and with the input of all the departments and directorates of the City of Munich.

For questions and further information, please contact: ­[email protected]

www.muenchen.de/europe