Brussels, 18/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - Debrecen (Hungary), Krakow (Poland), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Ploiesti and Suceava (Romania) and Tallinn (Estonia) are amongst 17 projects selected for the €50 million CIVITAS programme for the promotion of clean urban transport, for which The Commission provides 35% of the funding. The programme has been in place since October 2002 in 19 European cities and will be on-going till the end of 2005) and aims to combat congestion and pollution through new technologies, innovative planning measures, enhancing energy efficiency and the use of alternative fuels. The CIVITAS Initiative was launched following the CIVITAS Forum, launched in October 2002. The Forum, composed by 72 European cities provides a platform for the exchange of best practices, ideas and experiences between experts and politicians.
The Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for energy and transport, Loyola de Palacio, said "We are particularly impressed by the quality of the projects from new members". The other 11 cities are Burgos (Spain), Genoa (Italy), La Rochelle (France), Malmö (Sweden), Norwich (England), Odense (Denmark), Potenza (Italy), Preston (England), Stuttgart (Germany), Toulouse (France) and Venice (Italy). The Commission's strategy to substitute 20% of the diesel and petrol fuels used in the road transport sector by 2020. The 17 cities are strongly committed to the use of biofuels and natural gas in their private and public transport fleets. Eight initial measures have enabled progress in this direction: 1) public or private clean vehicle parks; 2) restrictions on access to city central zones and other sensitive areas; 3) Zonal integrated price strategies; 4) promotion of collective passenger transport and quality service to passengers; 5) new forms of use and/or clean vehicles and less car-based life styles; 6) new concepts of goods distribution; 7) gradual innovative measures for managing demands for mobility; 8) integrated transport management and information services. 17 new cities in the programme has encouraged the introduction of other measures including: New traveller information and transport management systems; The creation of "clean zones" in city centres, where just clean vehicles are allowed; Innovative promotional and awareness campaigns for public transport; Flexible parking charging systems based on environmental indicators.