The Euroméditerranée Urban Development Agency’s role spans five areas:
- Innovation and sustainable development: embracing innovative, experimental urban development, deploying and promoting the innovative services and technologies of the sustainable Mediterranean city
- Quality of life: supporting housing renovation, regenerating run-down homes, building social housing, improving public spaces, creating new sports facilities, developing local services, and more
- Planning and development: drawing up development plans and transforming the urban landscape with new infrastructure (roads, tunnels, networks, etc.), equipment and facilities (tram system, schools, gyms, etc.) and public spaces (squares, parks and gardens, street landscaping, etc.)
- Property development: working with developers and investors to schedule and assemble construction and renovation projects for offices, homes, retail units, hotels, and leisure and culture facilities
- Economic growth: market research, promotion, communication and prospecting to boost Marseille’s appeal, attract businesses, investors and international organisations to the area, and create new jobs.
The agency has a team of around 50 people responsible for fulfilling these duties.
Euroméditerranée is authorised to:
- Carry out development and infrastructure operations on its own behalf and on behalf of local authorities and inter-communal cooperation entities
- Purchase buildings and undeveloped sites for development purposes, including through compulsory purchase if necessary
- Sell compulsorily purchased buildings
- Exercise the right of first refusal as provided for by law.
The operation is an officially designated Operation of National Interest. It was begun in 1995 by the French state, the Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, the Bouches-du-Rhône Department, the Aix-Marseille Provence Metropolis, and the City of Marseille. The agency carries out all these activities in conjunction with funding partners, public-sector partners and businesses involved in the operation, and in consultation with residents.
The agency uses its budget to conduct research, buy land, carry out work and conduct promotion and communication activities. Public money is invested in this way to enact the necessary change and developments to attract private investment. Euroméditerranée is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).