Brussels, 20/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of the presentation, in Brussels, of the project submitted by the Austrian city of Graz (URBAN_Link Graz-West), the European Commission recalled that it was organising a conference in London on 8 and 9 July that should draw lessons for the implementation of the European Urban Programmes. It will bring together key-players of cohesion policy at European, national, regional and municipal levels. For the period 2000-2006, the Community own-initiative programme Urban II has made a priority of actions in favour of greater cohesion between areas of 70 cities. Already a beneficiary of ERDF funds in the framework of the Urban I programme (1994-1999), Graz now intends developing 4 districts situated to the west (Gries, Lend, Eggenberg and Wetzelsdorf) over a surface area of 700 hectares and comprising a population of 32,000. The city is subscribing to several of the programme's priority actions, like the development of potentials linked to technologies related to the information society, promoting the concept of "urban governance" (information and communication campaign). Actions will be spread up to 2007. The Mayor of Graz, Alfred Stingl, recalled that the previous project, subsidised by the EU to the tune of 4.3 million euro for a total amount of loans of 26 million euro, finally attracted over 100 million in investments. He hopes that this second Urban project will have the same impact in then fields of education and training, the economy, high-tech and transport infrastructures. This project, for a total of 20.55 million, 4.2 million of which in European subsidies, is aimed at turning the area into a modern space by developing the technical college and attracting innovative companies, said the local councillor for urban development in Graz, Franz Josel.
To accompany reflections of the future of urban cohesion, the Commission would like the urban audit on the quality of life in European cities to continue, soon integrating Paris and London and the countries of Central and eastern Europe. For the end of 2003, it is preparing a third report on economic and social cohesion.