SWOT Report I - Central Europe

progress which will raise the quality of living. Last but not least, region has scored high in
measuring innovativeness in Slovenian companies.
Although region is showing a nice progress in institutional organization regarding regional
development there is still a lack of comprehensive approach to creating common solutions.
Problem partially derives from municipalities which focus on short-term results’ provision
such as road infrastructure and partially from Slovenian administrative organisation. Since
there are no regions in administrative sense there is no clear distinction between
development and planning on the local and regional level. Absence of regional spatial
planning also results in lack of comprehensive territorially-orientated projects. Project ideas
are usually suggested by municipalities; hence regional programme presents a patch work of
unconnected projects. Municipalities have low capacity to gain EU funds, for pre-
investments, preparation and implementation of projects. Beside regional development
centre there is no scientific support - institution which would primarily focus on mining and
regional development. Development is also hampered due to a very slow preparation of new
generation municipal spatial plans; currently planning is performed on the basis of plans from
1984. Projects do not just lack innovativeness and comprehensiveness but also a continuous
monitoring and evaluation of programmes’ and projects’ implementation which would
distinguish between successful and less successful projects.
Beside institutional arrangements region is also week in economy and demography. The
region is known for the biggest relative decline in jobs of all Slovenian regions for the period
2002-2004 which consequently resulted in a raise of daily migration. Number of labour force
exceeds the number of available jobs for 27%, approximately only 50% of the persons in
employment work in the same municipality they live in. Brain drain occurred due to structural
imbalances on labour market – there is a lack of high-profile and well-paid jobs. Apart from
young professionals who have left the region, there is also a significant part of young
professionals who migrate daily to work outside the region. Even though this cannot be
formally considered as brain-drain it should be noted that those young professionals spent
majority of their time outside the region and do not participate in any activities, initiatives,
decision making processes etc. in the region. Thus, they can be considered as "lost" for the
region. Region is still strongly positioned in the secondary, i.e. industrial sector and there is
little initiative in technologically more intensive activities present in the region. Consequently
there is not much interest for investments in green industries which could be an innovative
and potentially fast growing industry. Potential investors have already stepped back a few
times due to lack of flat, hence development, areas and due to unsettled ownership of former
SWOT Zasavje
33