What value can RFSC offer to stakeholders? A presentation by Barbara Bühler (German Association for Housing), RFSC Conference 2013

1. The Reference Framework
for European Sustainable Cities (RFSC)
A first assessment by the German-Austrian URBAN-Network
Barbara Bühler
Network Coordinator, German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development

2. The German-Austrian URBAN-Network
Based on the Community Initiative URBAN in the past funding periods
Supports German and Austrian cities in implementing integrated urban
development measures which are financed by EU Structural Funds
The regular network conferences provide a platform for intense exchange
of experiences, knowledge transfer and political awareness
Direct dialogue between 4 levels: European, federal, regional and municipal
14 member cities from Germany (Berlin, Bremen, Meißen, Leipzig,
Saarbrücken, Ludwigshafen, Mannheim, Pforzheim, Regensburg,
Dortmund, Duisburg, Fürstenwalde) and Austria (Wien, Graz)

3. The network visiting an ERDF-funded project in Meißen (Germany)
in October 2012 (Photographs: Claudia Hübschmann)

4. A first assessment of the RFSC
Based on a training session with 7 network cities in Dortmund (Germany)
on 27th September 2013
POSITIVE ASPECTS:
Very flexible tool that can be used at any time during the project cycle
Individual use: Suitable for a variety of different stakeholders
Well-structured, appealing user-interface
Complex but not too complicated
Good tool to evaluate and compare projects
Self-evaluation instead of external evaluation of projects
SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT:
Some technical issues still need to be solved
Copying of projects would be very useful
Translation of indicators into national languages
‚Bundling of projects‘: Evaluation of an integrated urban development strategy which
comprises a range of different measures

5. Thank you for your attention.
CONTACT:
Barbara Bühler | Coordinator of the German-Austrian URBAN-Network
Deutscher Verband für Wohnungswesen, Städtebau und Raumordnung e.V.
(German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development)
Phone: +32 2 550 1613 | E-Mail: b.buehler@deutscher-verband.org