EUROPEAN COMMISSION - PRESS RELEASE
Urban Forum: Commissioner Hahn challenges cities
to deliver more on growth and jobs
Brussels, 15 February 2012 – The Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes
Hahn is launching a direct dialogue with Europe's cities. EU structural funds are
currently one of the most important instruments the Member States can use to
stimulate growth, and cities should be a major focus, given their particular role in
European economies. Effective investment in our cities – which represent nearly
70% of the EU population – is crucial at a time when the economic crisis is pushing
youth unemployment to an unacceptably high 22%. At the first Urban Forum in
Brussels on 16th February, the Commission will give cities their voice on new
proposals for urban policy presented last October, which included ambitious plans
to earmark funds for cities; develop new more coherent approaches to bringing
together actions in sectors like transport and environment and encourage
innovation by the cities themselves. Mayors and representatives of cities and of the
EU institutions will discuss how to achieve the goals of the EU 2020 Strategy with a
more dynamic approach to developing urban areas.
Commenting on the event, Commissioner Hahn said: "As economic and political
centres and home to nearly 70% of the EU population, cities are an important motor
for growth in Europe. While regional policy helps all regions to develop their
individual strengths, it is essential to exploit the full potential of cities in particular.
Events like the Urban Forum will help make cities full partners in Europe's
recovery".
The Commission’s 2014-2020 cohesion policy proposals aim to support the
strategic coordination of urban policies to enhance sustainable urban development
and strengthen the role of cities in the EU's main investment policy. The creation of
an 'Urban Development Platform' will promote capacity building and the exchange
of urban experience at EU level.
IP/12/133
Background
What is proposed in the future policy for urban development?
- Ring-fencing funding for integrated sustainable urban development: A
minimum 5% of resources from the European Regional Development Fund
(ERDF) in each Member State shall be invested, in coordinated actions that
will deliver long term, energy efficient and innovative city development.
Management and implementation will be delegated to cities, to varying
degrees, depending on the institutional arrangements of each Member State.
- A single investment strategy: EU structural funds should support urban
development through strategies that tackle together the economic,
environmental, climate and social challenges of urban areas. Member States
are asked to combine investments from different sources to support measures
related to employment, education, social inclusion and improving institutional
capacity. These will be designed and implemented in line with a single
investment strategy.
- Innovative urban actions: the Commission proposes to allocate part of the
budget (0.2% of the ERDF allocation) for financing innovative actions in urban
areas. The innovative urban actions shall be urban pilot projects,
demonstration projects and related studies of European interest. They may be
focused on any policy area as long as they deliver on one of the Europe 2020
goals.
- Urban Development Platform: On the basis of lists of cities proposed by
Member States the Commission will establish a platform to stimulate direct
dialogue between cities themselves and with the Commission . The platform is
not a funding instrument but a way for cities to share feedback on the use of
the new approaches.
Urban project examples:
Rejuvenating a neglected quarter of Budapest - Józsefváros district
The Magdolna Quarter Programme II marks the second stage of an integrated
social urban renewal project supported by the EU and aimed at regenerating the
Magdolna quarter in Budapest.
New face of rail travel in Campania
With some 3.5 million people living in and around Naples, frequent, convenient and
comfortable rail travel has become a priority for Campania. The Regional Metro
System (RMS) project addresses this priority, incorporating sustainable mobility and
environmentally friendly solutions.
Dutch province curbs growing urban noise levels – Gelderland
A Dutch province is cutting noise levels from its roads and, by doing so, is reducing
serious adverse effects on human health as well as improving local residents’ living
conditions.
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Neighbourhoods reborn - REVIT, Revitalisation of 'brownfield' sites Germany, France, Netherlands, UK
Thanks to REVIT six European cities shared their experiences with brownfield site
revitalisation that preserved their area's history.
Green urban homes in Baltic Sea Region - Germany, the Baltic States,
Poland, Belarus
Housing is one of the biggest areas of energy consumption and sources of CO2
emissions. With a changing climate and energy sources struggling to maintain
supply, the recently launched Urb.Energy project aims to encourage greater use of
renewable energy, offer innovative funding schemes for related activities, and
introduce five strategies for integrated urban development, including guidelines and
manuals.
More information
Around 400 participants, including mayors of large EU cities, (Amsterdam,
Barcelona, Warsaw, Lisbon, Sofia, Bratislava, Manchester, Leipzig, Naples, Łódź,
Lille Métropole, Turin and Dunkerque), representatives of urban networks and
associations, as well as cities involved in various EU urban policy initiatives, are
expected to attend.
Urban Forum in photos on Flickr
Follow #urbanforum on twitter @ EU_Regional
'EU Urban Development 2012' video stockshots on EbS
Contact :
Ton Van Lierop (+32 2 296 65 65)
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