AUPO Geographica 40
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Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis – Geographica, Vol. 40, No. 2, 2009, pp. 59-68 59 THE EUROPEAN METROPOLITAN REGION NUREMBERG IN GERMANY – HISTORY OF ORIGINS, TASKS AND ACTIVITIES Peter Jurczek Department of Geography, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Chemnitz University of Technology, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany, [email protected] Abstract For about ten years now, European metropolitan regions have been regarded as new strategy of regional planning. These regions are geared to the principle “strengthening the strong regions” so that they then become driving forces for the rural areas. In the present contribution the history of origins of metropolitan regions as well as their assets and drawbacks will be presented and discussed. Furthermore, a detailed examination of the case study Nuremberg, which has been approved as European Metropolitan Region only in 2005, will follow. Key words: European Metropolitan Regions, Nuremberg, function of universities, future prospects INTRODUCTION potential and competitiveness of Germany and On 25 April 2005, the Ministerial Conference on Europe and contribute to the acceleration of the Spatial Planning officially approved Nuremberg as European integration process (BMBau 1995). a European Metropolitan Region. Since, it forms On the basis of this superordinate objective, the one of 11 European metropolitan regions in Ministerial Conference on Spatial Planning Germany (Jurczek 2008a). The superordinate (MKRO) assigned seven European Metropolitan objective is to strengthen the urban centres of the Regions (Berlin/Brandenburg, Hamburg, Munich, country in order to establish them as driving forces Rhine-Ruhr, Rhine-Main, Stuttgart and Halle/ and enabling them to compete with other regions /Leipzig-Saxon Triangle) which were complemen- in Europe and the world. However, these national ted in 2005 by four more regions: Nuremberg strategies are based on international activities that, (including further cooperation partners in on a regional level, extend in principle the concept Franconia), Hanover (including Brunswick and of the Global Cities. Göttingen), Bremen (with Oldenburg) and the Rhine-Neckar Triangle (fig. 1). Since the turn of the century a new concept of regional planning has evolved in Europe which is closely linked to the long-term development of DEFINITIONS, BACKGROUNDS, metropolitan areas in post-industrial countries OBJECTIVES (DATAR 2003). Although the conceptual debate about such regions started rather late in the The term “metropolis” had been widely-used for a Federal Republic of Germany, it has meanwhile long time. It refers to a prominent major or capital become a constant in spatial planning and city that represents a political, economic and research. While in the past areas of metropolitan societal centre within a country. On the other character were described as ‘city regions’ or hand, the term ‘metropolitan region’ refers to a ‘agglomerations’, the term ‘European Metropolitan metropolis (in some cases to more than one) and Regions’ first came up at the end of the 1990s. In its respective hinterland. It thus describes a the legal framework on regional planning of the ‘region’, or in other words, an area of medium German state they are defined as ‘motors of the spatial dimension within a larger territory, societal, economic, social and cultural develop- characterized by particular features, functional ment’ that ought to preserve the achievement interdependence or a specific perception. AUPO Geographica Vol. 40 No. 2, 2009, pp. 59-68 60 The European metropolitan region Nuremberg Figure 1 European Metropolitan Regions in Germany. AUPO Geographica Vol. 40 No. 2, 2009, pp. 59-68 The European metropolitan region Nuremberg 61 Similarly to other conceptual innovations, the term What are the reasons for and why has the debate ‘metropolitan region’ had various forerunners; about metropolitan regions in Germany received most of them are of Anglo-American origin. In such a noticeable boost since the 1990s? Certainly, this context, concepts such as ‘World City’ or one of the reasons can be found in the vigorous ‘Global City’ were established that are synonyms discussions on the European level resulting in for modern locations integrated into the network specific concepts. Those were initially inspired by of the global economy. Both terms reflect a new worldwide considerations on the systematization understanding of the function of higher-ranking and configuration of regions of metropolitan cities in the global urban system. The focus is now character. This, however, also implies that the on the specific function of metropolises as out- moving power of this debate is not only an intra- standing locations for the international flow of European competition, but also an intercontinental trade and as nodes for financial and information one which influences the principles of regional transfers. planning and, above all, aims at a permanent strengthening of further economic developments. It can thus be stated that the economic function of Against this background, it becomes apparent why metropolitan regions takes the centre in the at the turn of the century it was an absolute current debate, both on the part of spatial research necessity that also Germany had to pay more and practical planning. This becomes especially attention to the concept of metropolitan regions obvious in Kujath’s definition. He points out the and, moreover, to try to rapidly implement it. three following node functions determining such a region (Kujath 2005:20f): High-tech production location CHARACTERISTICS, FUNCTIONS, FORMS OF ORGANISATION, NETWORK Export quota, gross value added (in relation to the FORMATION size of the labour force), and ranking order of economic sectors (size and proportion of labour As already mentioned in the introductory chapter, force) (…). Within this first function, the branch the Ministerial Conference on Spatial Planning in structure, especially the significance of the second Germany has assigned 11 metropolitan regions so economic sector, economic power and the role the far: Berlin/Brandenburg, Hamburg, Munich, respective region plays as a (high-tech) export Rhine-Ruhr, Rhine-Main, Stuttgart and Halle/ location for goods is of importance. /Leipzig-Saxon Triangle, Bremen, Hanover, Nuremberg and the Rhine-Neckar Triangle. Node of metropolitan services Among those, there are larger as well as smaller Number of company headquarters, employees in metropolitan regions. With regard to spatial company-related services (…). The indicators of dimensions, the metropolitan region of Hamburg the second node function represent the distri- is the largest one, followed by the metropolitan bution of the power of decision-making and regions Rhine-Main and Halle/Leipzig-Saxon controlling expressed by the allocation of centres Triangle. In contrast to this, the Rhine-Ruhr region of decision-making as well as high-grade financial is by far the largest one in terms of population and company services (instrumentality and with a number of 10 million inhabitants. Partly decision-making function). highly varying figures can also be found with respect to other population indicators. Communication and traffic node Number of trade fairs (foreign exhibitors and As far as economic power is concerned, the visitors), air traffic (number of flights and metropolitan region of Munich has the highest passengers), air cargo (…). The nationally and gross domestic product, followed by the internationally oriented infrastructure is the third metropolitan regions Rhine-Main and Stuttgart. function that represents the significance of a Compared to this, the Halle/Leipzig-Saxon region as node of passenger and freight traffic as Triangle performs less well with rates that are 50% well as of communication and information below those of the above named regions. In exchange (…). general, it has to be stated that the data of the AUPO Geographica Vol. 40 No. 2, 2009, pp. 59-68 62 The European metropolitan region Nuremberg economic indicators show higher variations than Another aspect is the cooperation between those of the population indicators. metropolitan regions. On the national level, they joined in the initiative ‘European Metropolitan Beyond certain basic structures concerning Regions Germany’ to represent their common population and economy, metropolitan regions interests, coordinate their activities, learn from have to fulfil specific functions which are listed in each other etc. Lively communication processes the latest Report on Regional Planning (BBR also exist on the European level; in some areas 2005:177ff.): cross-border alliances have been established or cooperation projects motivated by the aim of The decision-making and control function being able to compete with the growing number of refers to the spatial concentration of political globally significant metropolitan regions (with and economic centres, in which financial and more than 10 million inhabitants) developed. This information flows are being controlled. was also the background for the foundation of the With regard to their innovation and METREX network, in which European competition function it can be stated that Metropolitan Regions have become organised metropolitan regions are innovation centres as (www.eurometrex.org). a rule. As far as the gateway function is concerned, THE CASE OF NUREMBERG – ‘good accessibility from international locations A EUROPEAN METROPOLITAN REGION and multiple options for ‘face-to-face contacts’