Brussels, 03/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - In the late April version of the Amsterdam Pact which we consulted on Tuesday 3 May, the EU Urban Agenda Board, an informal forum comprising all the institutional players at all levels of governance, has been abandoned with the focus shifting to the meeting of directors general of the Council of the European Union on urban issues - DG-meeting on Urban Matters.
In the March version, the EU Urban Agenda Board brought together representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Investment Bank. “The EU Urban Agenda Board builds on the DGs meetings (Member States), whilst extending full membership to the European Commission, the European Parliament, the EU Consultative bodies, Urban authorities (CEMR, EUROCITIES), and other stakeholders (EIB, URBACT, ESPON)”, this version states. Initially, this forum was to be jointly chaired by the Presidency of the Council of the EU and the Commission.
In the new version, the model of governance is simplified and re-centred on the meeting of directors general of the Council of the EU. These low-key meetings, barely known in European affairs, deal with matters that fall within national competence but which require coordination among the member states, like the meeting of directors general for higher education.
“This means that the Council wants a stronger control of the whole process”, suggests a Committee of the Regions source, noting numerous other developments, such as the use of the term “urban authorities” and better articulation between urban and rural areas, a point often highlighted by regional players and MEPs (see EUROPE 11505). A further innovation is a heading devoted exclusively to the European Investment Bank “This would seem to show that financial instruments for urban development could become more relevant”, the source went on. This is a development that could greatly displease certain regions which would see it as abandonment of the principle of solidarity (see EUROPE 11493).
“In general, this draft is much more Council driven”, is the conclusion of the same source. A somewhat surprising observation given the relative lack of commitment by the member states to the pilot partnerships (see EUROPE 11538). And a development that runs counter to the will of most urban players who are calling for the European Commission to be in charge of coordination. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)