Brussels, 26/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - The second stage of the informal Regional Policy Council met in Marseilles on Tuesday 25 November under French presidency. At the meeting, the EU27 urban development ministers discussed the theme “towards a sustainable and inclusive city” (see EUROPE 9790/9787). The work was presided over by Christine Boutin, Housing Minister, Hubert Falco, Secretary of State for town and country planning, and Fadela Amara, Secretary of State responsible for urban policy. The French EU Presidency welcomed the fact that the different policies leading to harmonious urban development were discussed and the sectoral barriers overcome. The meeting unfolded in a context marked by the financial, economic and social crisis that could affect many citizens as well as whole sections of the economy, as the Presidency said, pointing out that this crisis should incite us all to continue the strategy for sustainable, inclusive urban development, which is the only way to promote new growth by reducing social and regional division. The meeting will be followed by a forum on towns, to be held on 2 and 3 December in Montpellier.
In their final declaration, ministers underline the need for an urban approach to public policies and integrated, sustainable and inclusive urban development. They call for: (1) implementation of the Leipzig Charter on integrated urban development and districts in difficulty; (2) the problem of climate change to be taken into account in urban development; and (3) the use of cohesion policy to be promoted for integrated urban development.
As far as the Leipzig Charter is concerned, ministers above all propose to: - work in favour of improving knowledge on towns and strengthening, through training, the know-how and competences of players involved in association with professional organisations; - consider the major role played by architecture and urban quality in the integrated and sustainable urban development approach, paying special attention to heritage and to innovative and creative architectural solutions to achieve a better quality of life in the urban environment; - work, alongside local and regional authorities, for the implementation of integrated urban development policies, aimed at better coherence of the different activities carried out in an urban environment (housing, economic and social activity, education and training, culture, leisure). They have also decided to build a reference framework for sustainable and inclusive towns in order to implement the Leipzig Charter. This framework must not be simply a methodical glossary but also a tool for the exchange of experiences aimed in particular at involving all players, defragmenting sector-specific policies and ensuring cooperation at the level of national, regional and local policies.
On the subject of climate change, ministers recommend that: a) the European Commission take into account the role of towns and regions when pursuing its work on addressing the problem of, and adjusting to, climate change - ministers stress the importance of investment in these areas, as well as solutions to the financial and economic crisis; b) the relevant authorities conceive integrated and sustainable urban mobility policies with regard to energy use, simultaneously taking into account the economic, environmental and social dimensions; and c) the regional and local authorities draw up a first analysis of measures underway and develop territorial climatic strategies in connection with national planning documents, agendas and local urban planning. They undertake among other things to strengthen cooperation between member states to develop strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in urban areas, in association with the objectives set by the EU, and to promote policies adapted to improving energy efficiency of new and old buildings, public and private buildings, and the use of renewable energies.
Finally, as far as the use of cohesion policy is concerned, ministers call on: a) management authorities to ensure support to integrated urban projects and the involvement of the towns and actors concerned; b) the European Commission to update its analyse of the way in which the urban dimension is taken into account under cohesion policy when it brings out its next strategic report due in 2010, on the basis of reports that member states are to present in 2009.
Danuta Hübner calls for reflection
Taking the floor, Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner said: “The new programmes defined in the context of cohesion policy for 2007-2013 have made integrated development a real priority and our policy is to put forward new tools to be taken up by towns and cities. They have a crucial role to play alongside the regions and states”. Through the 455 programmes that are implemented throughout European territory during the period 2007 to 2013, cohesion policy helps the regions to deal with the main challenges: - adjustment to globalisation, climate and demographic changes, and the energy challenge, a press release points out. The commissioner has invited ministers to reflect on ways to step up this action.
Addressing the meeting, Danuta Hübner stressed that “cohesion policy is the ideal instrument for helping the regions of Europe to face up to the challenges of the 21st century. It is only in working in partnership with the regions and by adopting a multi-sectoral approach that we shall manage to release Europe's full economic potential”.
Luc Van den Brande: cohesion policy must benefit from credible financial resources
The president of the Committee of the Regions (CoR), Luc Van den Brande, presented the Committee's contribution to the Commission's Green Paper on territorial cohesion and the first conclusions of this assembly on the future of cohesion policy. “We must, though territorial cohesion, be able to offer our citizens equal opportunities and be able to make their territory competitively attractive”. Mr Van den Brande and the CoR were of the view that the three pillars that support implementation are: (1) a strong regional policy intended for all of the EU regions as they all experience cohesion problems. Territorial cooperation will make it possible to prevent the interplay of the search for territorial cohesion and the search for competitiveness from resulting in bringing territories into competition with each other; (2) strengthened integrated approaches between regional policy and the other Community policies and enlargement of the debate to the other EU sectoral policies, which must also contribute to this future EU objective; and (3) governance founded on partnership and the taking into account of the various levels of administration. President Van den Brande went on to conclude: “This policy must benefit from credible financial resources allowing it to face up to the challenges of the 21st century”. (G.B./transl.jl)