Brussels, 29/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - At their informal meeting in Leipzig on 24-25 May, the EU ministers for urban development and territorial cohesion adopted as planned the Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities and the Territorial Agenda of the EU. According to these two documents, the cities and regions of Europe must be more actively involved in the Community decision-making process. To this end, more account must be made of their diversity and identity and they must be entrusted with an active role in fostering employment and sustainable growth (for details, see in particular EUROPE 9430).
By signing this Leipzig Charter, ministers agreed, for the very first time, on joint strategies and principles for urban development policy. “We want to create a foundation for a new urban policy in Europe. That is why we need a model of integrated urban development. It has to take public participation in urban planning into account and improve the coordination of public and private sector investment for and in cities”, said Germany's Transport and Urban Development Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee, who went on to say: “We have to strengthen inner cities”. As cities and towns in Europe are the engines of social and economic development, urban development should in future play a more important role in European policies, Mr Tiefensee concluded.
“The new cohesion policy programmes 2007-2013 and the priorities expressed in the Territorial Agenda and the Leipzig Charter make me firmly believe that we are on the right track to a more competitive and cohesive Union”, added Commissioner Danuta Hübner, who went on to stress: “We need cities in good shape, wisely using their resources in an innovative and sustainable way, cities for all, for us today and for future generations”. (gb)