Brownfield Regeneration by means of Land Fund and a Development Association in North Rhine-Westphalia, by Lucie Doleželová & Věra Slánská
A special institutional tool, the Land Fund, is working in North Rhine-Westphalia in order to prepare brownfield land for prospective investments, doing thus the so-called proto-development. Administered by a development association, the tool works on a long term basis in the whole territory of the Bundesland. Besides acquisitions, administration, and project management, the association concentrates on the usage of public support, such as from EURopean structural funds, and active cooperation with municipalities. The article shows a way to solute the issue institutionally.
New Chances on the Frontier – a Reflection after the Schengen Entry, by Jaroslav Bedrna
The entry of the Czech Republic and other countries into the Schengen system is another step towards a more profound integration of Europe. Such situation offers completely new opportunities and challenges to the towns and villages that used to be split by borders. The author briefly reflects upon the possibilities of the planning of a joint development of such settlements.
New Role of “Border Centres” in the Unified Central Europe, by Milan Körner
The full opening of frontiers, resulting from the entry of the Czech Republic and other new member states of the EU into the Schengen area, creates conditions for a gradual improvement of the settlement structures in border territories. Besides the resumption of the joint development of temporarily divided towns, there are various changes in the settlement hierarchy to be expected, especially those leading towards a wider regional scope of some centres. Apart from the divided towns, this refers to cities making up larger urban formations or those situated close to each other, with important potential for cooperation. However, this will not be a rapid process, due to various legislative, economic, and linguistic barriers.