The transformation of European port cities : final report on the new EPOC port city audit

Globalisation, technological developments, increasing competition and climate change are some of the major challenges that currently affect all port-cities regardless of size or location. To answer these challenges, further efforts must be undertaken - particularly to improve the capacities for innovation, to enhance the efficiency of social inclusion and labour market integration and to intensify international relations. Dealing with these tasks, the European port cities have learnt to adjust to the conditions of the 21st century. Today they have become a European laboratory for the modern city in a globalised knowledge society. So at the end of intense discussions and analyses involving 10 European port cities there is a good news story: Despite all problems with industrial decline and economic crisis the European port-cities are emerging as modern maritime cities with strongly performing ports, but also new economic sectors like high tech production, science and research, tourism, culture and other modern services.