Regional Cooperation
Growth and development processes do not end at the city's borders, but are regionally connected. A sustainable development of the city can therefore only be successful in cooperation with the region. Consequently, the importance of regional cooperation for the implementation of the strategic goals in the Integrated Urban Development Concept "Leipzig 2030" is highlighted in various places.
Building on the successful cooperation structures of the last few decades, e.g. on open space, tourism and economic development, the cooperation is to be further developed in the future and extended to new subject areas. Formal cooperation forms, for which there are legal requirements, and informal, more flexible forms of cooperation complement each other.
Contribution to planning procedures/regional planning
The City of Leipzig represents its interests in the formal procedures for the preparation of regional plans, for example:
- the Landesentwicklungsplan Sachsen (Saxony Development Plan),
- Regionalplan Leipzig-Westsachsen (Regional Plan for West Saxony)
- as well as corresponding plans from neighbouring federal states.
Moreover, the city will be involved in:
- the creation of land use and development plans for neighbouring municipalities,
- in planning approval procedures (e.g. for transport projects) and in
- informal plans and concepts
Through its membership in the Regionaler Planungsverband Leipzig-Westsachsen (Regional Planning Association for West Saxony), the City of Leipzig directly represents its interests. The Regional Planning Association is responsible for drawing up the Regional Plan for West Saxony.
Regional Cooperation
Beyond participation in formal programmes, the City of Leipzig has been involved in various informal forms of regional cooperation for many years:
European Metropolitan Region of Central Germany
Cities and regions, companies, chambers, associations, universities and research institutions from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia are active in the European Metropolitan Region of Central Germany ("Europäische Metropolregion Mitteldeutschland"). Together they pursue the goal of sustainable development and marketing of the traditional economic, scientific and cultural region of Central Germany. Their topics range from business and location development, transport and mobility to culture and tourism. Demography and education, as well as science and research, are also part of their focus.
Grüner Ring Leipzig
The Grüner Ring Leipzig e. V. (Leipzig Green Ring) was founded in 1996 as a "voluntary and equal working group" and it is still exactly that. Currently, 13 municipalities and the regions of Northern Saxony and Leipzig are members. The organisation's task is the coordinated regional development of green space and water infrastructure matters, among other things through the preparation and implementation of measures in landscape and water development and tourism infrastructure. Furthermore, the partners strive to promote climate protection and adaptation to climate change, support electric mobility and the combination of different modes of transport.
Invest Region Leipzig
As a company of the City of Leipzig, the Leipzig Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the regions of Northern Saxony and Leipzig, the Invest Region Leipzig GmbH is an active business location and acquisition agency for the Leipzig economic region.
Special-purpose Associations
Aside from project-related cooperation, Leipzig is also involved in various special-purpose associations. These cover various topics such as local transport, development of former mining areas, water supply and sewage disposal as well as waste.
Regional Cooperation Projects
As part of our comprehensive cooperation, numerous joint projects have already been developed.
Currently, the two collaborative projects "Interko2" and "StadtLandNavi" are being funded through the federal programme "Stadt-Land-Plus" to develop a regional housing and cultural landscape concept and "WERTvoll" to develop a cooperative land use strategy.