Ljubljana Forum

Summary Report
On Future of Cities!

LJUBLJANA FORUM 2011 - City Developers Foresight Conference: European Metropolitan Growth Area 2027 was an impressive vision building event where business, knowledge and ambitious urban SEE projects met in one place.

We hosted 150 participants from 29 different states. Foresight ideas and good development practices from the region of South East Europe were presented. At the same time investors encouraged concrete cooperation among influential stakeholders in the field of development urban projects in the region. The many cases of good practice, presented in Ljubljana Forum, have shown that changes are possible, publicly desired and positive. We have to think smart and act smart, which requires thinking 'outside the box' to form creative ideas for creative projects, and acting in a manner that brings positive consequences not only today, but also for the future.

Mayor of Ljubljana, Mr. Zoran Janković on the round table of mayors emphasized that cities in South East Europe can be even more connected since cities in the region are mostly older than states with tradition of cooperation and connection. Futurist Jerome C. Glenn stressed the role of collective intelligence systems that will improve urban governance. Architect Boris Podrecca presented the creativity space of the region between Milano, Vienna, Belgrade and Adriatic sea whit a realized architectural projects.

Anton Rop, Vice president of European Investment bank (EIB) emphasized that Slovenia still does not have a chance of borrowing a loan from EIB even though there are many new development projects in the region. The speakers of the conference were also Mr Ivan Curzolo from IPA funds for SEE, Ms Corinne Hermannt Catallay from European Commission Directorate for Development of Regions, mayors of Podgorica, Zagreb and vice mayors from Budapest and Vienna that together with representatives of corporations present projects, good practice cases and open possibilities for establishment of development circle – more concrete project cooperation in the region of South East Europe.

Blaž Golob, director of Center for e-Governance development and initiator of the Ljubljana Forum said that new way of governance is needed for successful development of Danube region and prosperity of future of cities. He said “Slovenia is positioned as a promoter of trends and developments and that is why the purpose of the conference is to connect projects, promoters of development of urban regions of South East Europe with knowledge and experiences.”

Under the Patronage of the Mayor of Ljubljana