eurocities flash103 feb2011
TRANSCRIPT
An information service for EUROCITIES members
www.eurocities.eu
thematic sections
editorial
other sections
N° 103 February 2011
Key Developments
p. 11
p. 9
p. 8
p. 7
p. 6
p. 4
p. 5
EUROCITIES Flash
highlights
Culture
Economic Development
Environment
Mobility
Social Affairs
Knowledge Society
Participation & Cooperation p. 10
p. 12
Celebrating cities!
Ever since the Mayor of
Rotterdam invited other European city leaders to discuss innovative research on the contribution of cities to economic recovery,
the strategic importance of cities in a prosperous and cohesive Europe has been increasingly acknowledged.
In that 1986 Rotterdam conference lie the origins of EUROCITIES. By the time Barcelona hosted a second conference in 1989, the core group also included Birmingham, Frankfurt, Lyon and Milan. Driven by a shared political commitment to internationalisation, these cities used their collective resources to engage the European Commission.
The 1990s saw the creation of the EUROCITIES secretariat in Brussels. The Commission introduced urban pilot projects, then RECITE (Regions and Cities for Europe), and later URBAN. Cities were now firmly in the game.
As the main platform influencing EU policy on behalf of cities, we engage right across the policy spectrum, from culture to climate, from innovation to inclusion. And as the network has grown, the opportunities for exchange and peer learning have increased exponentially; indeed the challenge has often been in organising and channelling these in the most effective way.
We need, though, constantly to maintain our visibility and political pressure. For example the ‘mainstreaming’ of urban funding from 2006 has disappointed: cities are excluded from the programming and sometimes also from the benefits of EU structural funds.
Now, 25 years on, we have a new chance. As the debate begins on the next EU budget and cohesion policy after 2013, we are once more vigorously pressing our case. And the commission is listening, promising an ‘ambitious urban agenda’. Our challenge is to ensure that commitment remains fully intact while competing interests lobby and national governments negotiate the final outcome.
Paul BevanSecretary General, EUROCITIES
editorial
Projects
Events
p. 2
Hungary and EUROCITIES put Roma high up the agenda
January 2011 saw the presidency of the European Union pass to Hungary. In the social affairs field, the Hungarian presidency plans to prioritise combating child poverty and the social and economic integration of the Roma people, a priority which has also come more to the fore in EUROCITIES with the recent establishment of our taskforce on Roma inclusion.
see p. 9
Delivering the EU’s ‘ambitious urban agenda’
The European Commission’s promise of an ‘ambitious urban agenda’ has the potential to radically reinvent EU cohesion policy, but only if it taps into the full capacities of cities and metropolitan areas. This was the main message delivered by EUROCITIES to over 800 participants at the Fifth Cohesion Forum 2011, which kicked off on 31 January in Brussels.
see p. 2
CASCADE: new project on local energy leadership
EUROCITIES has been awarded funding to coordinate a new project consortium under the European Commission Intelligent Energy Europe Programme. Starting in spring 2011, the three-year CASCADE - Cities Exchanging on Local Energy Leadership project - will aim to boost the implementation and delivery of local sustainable energy policies by means of transnational capacity-building activities and the transfer of good practices between local authorities.
see p. 11
2Flash 103 February 2011
Key developments
The European Commission’s promise of an ‘ambitious urban agenda’ has the potential to radically reinvent EU cohesion policy, but only if it taps into the full capacities of cities and
metropolitan areas.
This was the main message delivered by EUROCITIES to over 800 participants at the Fifth Cohesion Forum 2011, which kicked off on 31 January in Brussels. In her remarks, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Mayor of Warsaw and vice-president of EUROCITIES (pictured left), said:
“The EU’s 2020 vision for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth will be impossible without smart, sustainable and inclusive cities. If Europe wants to be competitive, it must invest in its cities so that they can perform economically, socially and environmentally. Cohesion policy is central to making that happen.”
Today, cities account for 75% of the EU’s population, 80% of energy use and 85% of Europe’s GDP. Yet currently, only 10% of EU regional funding is dedicated to urban issues. Commenting on this imbalance, EUROCITIES secretary general Paul Bevan (pictured right) said:
“In today’s economic climate, we need to do more with less. By channelling our efforts towards cities - the EU’s centres of human capital, skills, creativity, enterprise and innovation - we stand a better chance of making our money go further.”
EUROCITIES’ view on what is needed to deliver an ‘ambitious urban agenda’ is:
1. Compulsory urban earmarking in mainstream programmes
2. A development and investment policy for the whole EU
3. Involving cities at every stage of the process
4. Thematic priorities managed through functional area partnerships
5. Improved financial instruments for cities, not only managing authorities
As outlined in our response to the commission’s fifth cohesion report, EUROCITIES’ main message is, and remains, “more urban, more impact”
EUROCITIES response to the fifth cohesion report: http://tinyurl.com/eurocities5thcohesionreport Núria Tello Clusella, EUROCITIES policy officer – cohesion policy and EU budget: [email protected]
Delivering the EU’s ‘ambitious urban agenda’
On 28 January, EUROCITIES president Frank Jensen, the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen (left), met with EU commissioner responsible for regional policy, Johannes Hahn (right), in Copenhagen for an exchange of ideas on the future cohesion policy.
There was a clear focus on the key role that cities should play in the design and implementation of future cohesion policy. On behalf of EUROCITIES, Lord Mayor Jensen emphasised the importance of ensuring that the commitment of an ‘ambitious urban agenda’ as outlined by the commission remains intact when member states decide on the final outcome. The mayor also took the opportunity to inform commissioner Hahn of the new EUROCITIES task force on the EU Budget, which is chaired by Copenhagen.
Partnerships between cities, private companies and knowledge institutions towards the achievement of the Europe 2020 goals, were also discussed. Finally, commissioner Hahn welcomed the will showed by Copenhagen and EUROCITIES to work closely together during the Danish Presidency of the EU expected for January 2012.
Frank talk on cohesion policy
Vanda Knowles, EUROCITIES policy director: [email protected]
Events
3Flash 103 February 2011
Key developments
EUROCITIES work programme 2011
Cohesion policy and the EU budget will straddle many of our activities throughout 2011 and reflecting the Europe 2020 vision of ‘smart, sustainable and inclusive growth’, we will
to work across our strategic priorities of climate, recovery and inclusion:
1. Climate: Under this strand, EUROCITIES’ 2011 priorities include:
• Climateadaptation
• Greengrowth
• Renewableenergiesandenergyefficiency
• Transportandmobility
Actions will be built around the Covenant of Mayors, financing mechanisms and potential revenues for city climate action, the EU strategy on adaptation and the EU energy strategy, the EUROCITIES Green Digital Charter and the 6th Environmental Action Programme, as well as the commission’s urban mobility action plan and white paper on transport.
2. Recovery: For 2011, EUROCITIES’ priorities under this strand include:
• Accesstofinancialinvestmenttools
• Creativeindustries
• Entrepreneurshipandemployment
• Innovationandsmartergovernment
• Metropolitanplanningandregeneration
• Servicesandprocurement
Actions will focus particularly on services of general interest as well as the Europe 2020 flagship initiatives - innovation union, the agenda for new skills and jobs, the digital agenda for Europe, and smart cities.
3. Inclusion: For 2011, EUROCITIES’ priorities under this strand include:
• Cultureandyouth
• eInclusion
• Immigration,asylumandintegration
• Povertyandsocialinclusion
Actions will be built around the new Platform against Poverty Europe 2020 flagship, the Youth on the Move flagship, the EUROCITIES Network of Local Authority Observatories on Active Inclusion (NLAO), as well as our Integrating Cities initiative and Inclusive Cities partnership
Vanda Knowles, EUROCITIES policy director: [email protected]
The European Commission has just published two guides:
• Buyingsocial:aguidetotakingaccountofsocialconsiderations in public procurement
• Newguidetohelppublicauthoritiestoprovidehigh quality and efficient services of general interest
Both are available at: http://tinyurl.com/67pxv9q
Secondly, a public consultation has been launched on modernising public procurement, with a deadline of 18 April. EUROCITIES working group on services of general interest will lead work on our response to this important consultation, which contains 114 questions. There will also be input from some of the network’s other relevant working groups e.g. social services of general interest, green procurement and entrepreneurship.
Consultation on the modernisation of EU public procurement policy: http://tinyurl.com/48ozsly
Consultation and guides: services and procurement
Vanda Knowles, EUROCITIES policy director: [email protected]
Our partnership with this upcoming event entitles EUROCITIES members to attend at a discounted rate of £474 (about €565) instead of £550 (about €656), including VAT. When booking online, please reference the booking code EUR3C28.
The event will look at how the world’s fast-growing urban areas are geared up to tackle today’s major and multiple challenges – economic, climate, resources, infrastructure, and demographics. Questions of leadership, citizen participation, and where powers should lie will be discussed by leaders from major cities, governments and businesses. The main themes are:
• Howcancities'innovativeenergybeharnessedtodrivebetter urban policies?
• Donationalgovernmentpolicies-ontheeconomy,energy,transportandmigration-alignwellwithcities'needs?Ifnot, should decision- making be redistributed?
• Whichissuesarebestdealtwithatcitylevel?
• Whatfiscalandfinancialpowersshouldcitieshave?
Event discount: The future of cities 2011
The future of cities: www.chathamhouse.org.uk/cities2011 Nicola Vatthauer, EUROCITIES communications director: [email protected]
London | 28 February – 1 March 2011
4Flash 103 February 2011
Eindhoven was elected as the new chair of EUROCITIES Culture Forum in October 2010. Now settling into the post, Mary-Ann Schreurs (pictured), shares her musings on the
future of culture in Europe’s cities.
EUROCITIES: What do you believe are the main challenges for the cultural sector in our cities?
Mary-Ann Schreurs: I like to see this in a positive way. We are facing a lot of new possibilities. I strongly believe that technological and societal trends are rapidly generating new energy for the cultural sector in our cities. Cultural activities are widening and some are even migrating from the stage floor, or a wall in the museum, to a new interface. Both social media and new communities are getting involved and mixed up with our local cultural sector. I feel that linking them can be profitable.
There is so much happening that needs to be seen, explored, discussed, and to be involved with in a way that’s different to sponsorship. Our EUROCITIES Culture Forum is undoubtedly the best exchange and knowledge platform in Europe for this.
Offering an opportunity for colleagues from different cities across Europe to share ideas and experiences, it acts as is the ideal bridge between our daily jobs to the ‘Invisible Cities’ of the future that Calvino wrote about so well.
EUROCITIES: So, Italo Calvino shall be attending our next culture forum meeting?
M-AS: Well, not quite! But considering his imaginary trip to non-existing cities, I’m referring to what was his essentially his ultimate statement of love for cities. A statement he made in 1972 at a time when cities were becoming increasingly difficult to live in. Maybe because of the financial crisis today, I feel that we are going through a similar kind of period.
We have the huge task of delivering at the local level but we can draw from our cultural entrepreneurs who have the freedom and scope needed to anticipate new trends during these tough times. Our culture forum is the ‘bank of cultural stories’ that captures concrete examples of city practice. Complemented by policy and research recommendations that highlight the quality of life in our European cities, both tools will help us with the most important goal that every city in Europe has: to be truly loved as a cultural city!
Culture
“Every city in Europe has to be truly loved as a cultural city”
EUROCITIES has recently responded to two important EU consultations: one on the future culture programme for the period 2014-2020 and another on the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) scheme which will be introduced as of 2019.
On the first of these, EUROCITIES has called for a strong culture programme that adequately reaches cities. Our main message is that with the right resourcing, cities are able to maximise the benefits of culture and creativity towards the delivery of the EU2020 strategy, which calls for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
Among the list of key objectives proposed in the consultation, EUROCITIES has stressed the importance of:
• thepromotionofurbanandregionaldevelopmentthroughculture;
• abetterequippedframeworkforcreativeindustries,cultureandthearts;
• interculturaldialogueandculturaldiversity;and
• accesstoculture.
On the ECoC, EUROCITIES has recommended that the future scheme contributes to ‘sustainable integrated urban development’ where culture is connected to other policy areas. In addition, we have asked for greater emphasis on intercultural dialogue, citizens’ participation and culture as part of integrated urban development.
Continuing our advocacy efforts on these fronts, EUROCITIES will take part in the European Commission’s public hearings on the culture programme, taking place on 16 February and on the future ECoC scheme, taking place on 2 March.
Give Europe’s cultural policy a boost, says EUROCITIES
As one of this year’s European Capitals of Culture, Turku will host the next EUROCITIES Culture Forum on 16-19 March.
The meeting will be divided into two main parts. The first, dealing with how participation in the arts and access to art can improve the health and well-being of people. A second session will review how cities are managing imposed budget cuts on their cultural activities.
Working group meetings, an informal meeting on the European capitals of culture, and social events are also on the agenda.
Julie Hervé, EUROCITIES policy officer – culture: [email protected]
Forum focus: well-being and culture budgets
Julie Hervé, EUROCITIES policy officer – culture: [email protected]
Interview with EUROCITIES Culture Forum’s lead, Mary-Ann Schreurs from Eindhoven
EUROCITIES Culture Forum | Turku | 16-19 March 2011
5Flash 103 February 2011
Economic Development
Over 80% of European cities have been severely affected by the latest global financial crisis, according to a new URBACT report.
Based on a survey of nearly 200 cities from 24 EU member states and Switzerland, the research highlights how European local authorities have been affected by the various different stages of the crisis since 2009, as well as the repercussions of national austerity measures on local budgets.
Among the main findings, some cities are shown to be more resilient than others, in particular those characterised by a local economy based on small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), operating locally and independently from bank credits. An economy based on the service sector, with fewer connections to international markets and greater internal demand, were also cited as conditions seen to lower the impact of the crisis.
The survey also shows that cities who had learnt from similar past experiences, fared better. In fact, those that faced previous hardship and high unemployment rates in the 70’s were more prepared to respond to the current crisis.
Interestingly demographics also played a part in determining the extent of impact. Labour markets with high concentrations of young people, migrants and women for example, were hardest hit.
The URBACT survey shows that cities have been playing a major role in exploring and dabbling with creative solutions that are tailored to their local economies
New report: European cities facing the economic crisis
URBACT report: http://tinyurl.com/citiescrisisreport Soraya Zanardo, assistant to EUROCITIES policy director: [email protected]
Life-long learning strategies
Life-long learning is key to cities’ competitiveness in today’s knowledge-based economy. It’s against this backdrop that the EUROCITIES Economic Development Forum (EDF) will hold its spring meeting in Munich on 6-8 April.
Life-long learning is essential for the continued economic development of cities and metropolitan regions, particularly in the context of today’s aging workforce and increasing immigration of skilled labour whose skills need to be adapted.
What can metropolitan regions do to boost life-long learning?
This and more will be addressed at the EDF spring meeting’s main conference.
EUROCITIES’ working group on entrepreneurship has launched a survey to collect information on cities’ strategies and instruments aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Responses will be analysed and featured in a EUROCITIES publication and made available to member cities with the aim of promoting the exchange of information and experience. The feedback will also be used to elaborate recommendations on the support that cities need from European policies and funding to continue strengthening their entrepreneurship strategies.
Results will be presented during the next meeting on 8 April in Munich alongside the EUROCITIES Economic Development Forum.
Deadline for responses: 18 February 2011
Take our survey! Cities, entrepreneurship and SMEs
Raymond Saller and Sylvia Pintarits, city of Munich: [email protected] Soraya Zanardo, assistant to EUROCITIES policy director: [email protected]
Munich | 6-8 April 2011
This new EUROCITIES working group met in Brussels on 2 February to share experiences with other networks already working in the field of metropolitan areas.
Roger Read, secretary general of METREX, the Network of European Metropolitan Regions and Areas, and Hilary Lowson, secretary general of PURPLE, the Peri-Urban Regions Platform Europe, both presented their network’s experiences.
Participants also discussed the results of some European projects on metropolitan areas involving EUROCITIES members, Lille Metropole, Budapest, Brno and Brussels Capital Region. PLUREL, METROGOV and Nodus, were among some of those projects presented. The exchange aimed to identify areas not yet studied by other stakeholders, which could be taken up by EUROCITIES.
In the coming year, the working group will develop arguments that illustrate the
powerful role of metropolitan areas have to play and to link this to our work on the future of cohesion policy.
The EUROCITIES Economic Development Forum meeting taking place in Munich on 8 April will feature an update and discussion on the activities of the metropolitan areas working group, with a particular focus on the subject of urban sprawl.
Metropolitan areas
Núria Tello Clusella, EUROCITIES policy officer – cohesion policy and EU budget: [email protected]
Survey: www.surveymonkey.com/s/eurocitiesentrepreneurship Julie Hervé, EUROCITIES policy officer – culture: [email protected]
6Flash 103 February 2011
Launched as one of seven initiatives under the Europe 2020 strategy, the European Commission’s new sustainable growth flagship will provide the framework for coordinating
different legislative and non-legislative initiatives that contribute to the sustainable use of natural resources and a shift towards a resource-efficient, low-carbon growth in Europe. To achieve this, the commission understands there is a need to make technological improvements across the EU, to make a significant transition in energy, industrial, agricultural and transport systems, and to change producer and consumer behaviour within the EU.
As a next step, the commission will make concrete proposals for strategies to improve resource efficiency in the various policy areas such as the low-carbon economy roadmap 2050, the 2020 energy efficiency plan, the white paper on the future of transport, the energy roadmap 2050, and the roadmap for a resource efficient Europe, among others
Environment
Europe 2020 sustainable growth flagship launched
Prague becomes 90th signatory of EUROCITIES climate change declaration
The city of Prague has become the 90th signatory of the EUROCITIES Declaration on Climate Change.
A recent example of Prague’s action on climate change is its long-term conceptual strategic plan of the capital city. Through this, the city will deliver energy savings, more use of renewable and secondary energy sources, pollutant emission reductions and lower energy costs. In particular, Prague will prioritise the support of energy management in buildings owned by the city council.
The European Commission is due to present its energy roadmap 2050 in the second part of 2011. It will follow the already published communication on the energy 2020 strategy, and the forthcoming roadmap for a low-carbon economy by 2050, which will focus on reductions of 80-95% in greenhouse gas emissions across the EU economy by 2050.
The energy roadmap 2050 will present different pathways for reaching the EU’s long-term energy policy objectives, such as sustainability, energy security and competitiveness.
EUROCITIES will take part in the commission’s consultation on the energy roadmap 2050 and encourages members to do the same.
Michael Klinkenberg, EUROCITIES policy officer – environment: [email protected]
Consultation: EU energy policy towards 2050
Following a successful bid, EUROCITIES will continue to be part of the consortium contracted by the European Commission to manage the Covenant of Mayors initiative for the next three years.
Over 90 EUROCITIES members are participating in the Covenant of Mayors, which commits them to implementing renewable and energy efficient measures with the aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 20% by the year 2020. As a consequence of our involvement in the initiative, EUROCITIES will be in a better position to have a say on the shaping of European financing for cities in the field energy efficiency.
As part of the new agreement, EUROCITIES will lead the Covenant of Mayor’s media work, organise events, link the covenant to our Green Digital Charter, manage cooperation with associate partners, and ensure that the ‘green’ achievements of cities are profiled in the media.
In addition, EUROCITIES will continue its role as a supporting structure of the initiative, monitoring the progress of our members’ work and facilitating exchanges of information.
Dion Wierts, EUROCITIES project officer – climate & energy: [email protected]
Continuing with Covenant of Mayors consortium
EUROCITIES Declaration on Climate Change: www.eurocities.eu/include/lib/sql_document_card.php?id=8322 Štěpán Kyjovský, city of Prague: [email protected]
Consultation: http://tinyurl.com/5up4fwh
Two EU consultations on the future LIFE+ instrument, the Financial Instrument for the Environment, are still open.
The first, more general consultation is organised by the European Commission to gather views on the next financial instrument for the environment for the period 2014-2020, especially its objectives, activities and support modalities.
Deadline for contributions: 15 February 2011
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/life.htm#_en.htm
The second consultation is organised by the Committee of the Regions. Its results will inform a commission impact assessment of the social, economic and environmental impacts of the current LIFE programme.
Deadline for contributions: 11 March 2011
Consultation: http://tinyurl.com/6jtzqdp
Consultation: financial instrument for the environment
Save the date!
EUROCITIES Environment Forum | Genoa | 27-29 April 2011
7Flash 103 February 2011
EUROCITIES is currently involved in the organisation of a European Commission conference on localising
the EU’s digital agenda, set to take place in Brussels on 5 April.
European Commissioner Neelie Kroes and other top-level commission officials will be present for discussions with people who are driving local agendas. We’d therefore encourage all our member cities’ politicians and managers who are active in local change and the decision-making processes in this field to take part in the event.
The digital agenda is one of EU2020’s flagship initiatives that was presented by the commission in May 2010. The plan will shape and dominate regulation and funding in the area of ICT and the information society for the coming five years.
This upcoming event will aim to:
• InvestigatehowEUprogrammeslike the digital agenda can provide support to cities in meeting today’s societal and economic challenges
• Facilitatepartnershipsbetweencities and European partners for a
European digital assembly set for June 2011 and towards the effective implementation of the digital agenda on the local level.
The event marks a first step in a process of connecting stakeholders involved in local change processes and economic/social crisis management, those with a real awareness of problems and understanding of the impact and transformative power of ICT, and who are in a position to take action
Knowledge Society
Not to be missed! EU digital agenda goes local
Working groups get busy
The following five working groups will operate under the EUROCITIES Knowledge Forum in 2011. If you would like to join them or know more about their work, please get in touch with the working group leads or Jan Franke at the EUROCITIES Brussels office.
Smart Cities: under the chairmanship of Barcelona and Manchester, this new working group will discuss the conceptualisation of smart city strategies and policies in Europe and outside European borders, building on work done by the ICT for energy efficiency working group.
Julia Lopez Ventura, city of Barcelona: [email protected]
EU services directive: this group will deal with the implementation of the EU services directive and compare the different administrative procedures and technical processes e.g. backoffice reorganisation, digital service delivery, one-stop-shops, that cities deal with under this legislation.
Michael Breidung, city of Dresden: [email protected]
Open Data: recently set up to allow members to exchange experiences and compare project examples on city initiatives in the field of open data across the EU. It will build business cases, collect evidence on the economic and social advantages of municipal open data and stimulate citizen participation and data re-use.
Wolfgang Both, city of Berlin: [email protected]
eInclusion: building on a project of the city of Ghent, the group will set up local indicators and a methodology for eInclusion policy formulation.
Martine Delannoy, city of Ghent: [email protected]
Broadband: this group will coordinate work on the role of cities in promoting, facilitating and financing the roll out of Next Generation Broadband Networks.
Dirk van der Woude, Amsterdam: [email protected]
EU digital agenda: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/digital-agenda/index_en.htm Jan Franke, EUROCITIES policy officer - knowledge society: [email protected]
Please join for our ‘matchmaking’ event, which has been designed to make it easy for cities to find new project partners and develop projects in the field of innovation and smart cities.
Organised with the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL) under the European Commission’s ICT Policy Support Programme 5th call for proposals 2011 on open innovation and smart cities, this event will give you a chance to:
• MeetwithrepresentativesoftheENoLLandEUROCITIES network
• NetworkwithprojectpartnersfromalloverEurope to develop joint projects
• SeekadvicefromEUfundingprogrammeofficials and other experts on fine-tuning your project ideas
• Presentyourprofileorprojectidea(s)forproactive matchmaking
The event will take place on 2 March, in conjunction with the European information day in Brussels on 28 February, and the 1 March European Commission workshop on open innovation for internet-enabled services in smart cities.
Find new partners at open innovation and smart cities event
Present your project ideas by 28 February: [email protected] Register for EUROCITIES matchmaking event: www.eventbrite.com/event/1238936693 Jan Franke, EUROCITIES policy officer - knowledge society: [email protected]
Brussels | 2 March 2011
Brussels | 5 April 2011
Jan Franke, EUROCITIES policy officer - knowledge society: [email protected]
8Flash 103 February 2011
Mobility
Transport priorities of the Hungarian presidency
The Hungarian Minister for infrastructure, Pál Völner, outlined the priorities of the Hungarian
presidency of the EU (January to July 2011) during the last Transport Committee meeting of the European Parliament, on 25 January 2011.
The first semester of 2011 will be mostly dominated by debates on the Eurovignette directive and trans-European transport networks (TEN-T).
The presidency will aim to finalise the revision of the directive on charges for heavy goods trucks using the road network (Eurovignette directive), which would introduce the polluter-
pays principle into transport policy. The Hungarian presidency is ambitiously pushing towards a well-balanced compromise. Whether it will be possible to close the dossier within the proposed timeframe is however still unclear. While satisfied with the Council agreement, members of the European Parliament have also expressed their concerns about exemptions of certain vehicle types and demanded mandatory allocation of the revenues to sustainable transport.
The review of TEN-T will also play an important role during the Hungarian presidency. A preliminary debate on this will take place at the informal transport council in February. The results will
feed into the European Commission’s proposal to revise the TEN-T Guidelines, to be published in June. Hungary wants to involve member states in the review and requests that the new network plan reflects a geographical balance.
In addition, Hungary will push forward the single railway package to strengthen the competition and efficiency in transport through environment-friendly railways. Finally, the newly introduced ’Danube strategy‘ will put the emphasis on inland waterways and the presidency plans to host several conferences on this theme
Vanessa Holve, EUROCITIES policy officer - mobility: [email protected]
Vanessa Holve, EUROCITIES policy officer - mobility: [email protected]
Mobility forum meeting
The 2011 work programme of the European Commission’s transport section, DG mobility and transport, includes several initiatives of importance for European cities.
One of the most interesting points relates to the upcoming revised white paper on transport to be published in March, which will lay down the framework of EU transport policy for the next ten years. EUROCITIES has contributed to EU consultations aiming at shaping the revised white paper and will discuss it at the next mobility forum meeting on 31 March-1 April in Budapest.
Discussions on financial resources within the multi-annual financial framework 2014-2020 will start in June. EUROCITIES is currently working on a cities’ strategy for the future EU budget revision within a specific task force, where the mobility forum is represented. The mobility forum has also been discussing an internal paper on how to finance urban mobility in the future.
The 2011 work programme also mentions more specific areas for action, such as the development of a single transport area. The European Commission wants to ensure market opening and fair competition between different transport modes. The commission will also welcome the principle of internalisation of external costs anchored in EU law and continue its work on passenger rights, safety and security.
Regarding transport infrastructure in 2011, the commission plans to increase the European added-value of the trans-European Transport networks (TEN-T). The focus will be on 'core' networks to which cities belong as well as improved connections with neighbouring countries. For the past two years mobility forum members have contributed to EU consultations on the TEN-T policy review. The forum is also tackling the impact of cities in TEN-T corridors within one of its working groups.
In addition, a strategy on transport research and innovation is on the commission’s agenda. It will include an e-mobility package and the possibility of an innovation partnership pilot on ’smart mobility‘.
EU mobility and transport: challenges for 2011
Urban transport safety and security will be the main theme of this meeting, which is organised within the framework of the Hungarian presidency of the EU.
Fears for personal safety and security significantly diminish mobility in cities and deter the use of non-motorised transport. The use of public transport at night, theft or vandalism (public rental bikes, etc.) are just a few examples of security and safety issues in urban transport. This burden of physical harm can substantially be reduced by improved infrastructure design, traffic management, engineering, education, policy improvement and enforcement, etc.
The mobility forum meeting will feature a plenary session on the above-mentioned theme, addressing challenges faced by cities and suggesting solutions via best-practice exchange. Efficient policies and projects helping to incorporate safety and security issues in urban transportation planning will be presented by cities and other relevant stakeholders.
A politicians’ panel discussion will also be part of the plenary session. Politicians will have the opportunity to highlight their successes in this sector and exchange with a high level representative from the European Commission (DG MOVE).
More information will be available on the EUROCITIES website and sent to mobility forum members soon.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Vanessa Holve, EUROCITIES policy officer - mobility: [email protected]
Budapest | 31 March - 1 April 2011
9Flash 103 February 2011
Social Affairs
January 2011 saw the presidency of the European Union pass to Hungary. It is the final member of a presidency 'trio'togetherwithSpainandBelgium,whoagreedona
joint 18-month programme to ensure continuity between the presidencies.
In the social affairs field, the Hungarian presidency plans to prioritise combating child poverty and working towards the social and economic integration of the Roma people, a priority which has come more to the fore in EUROCITIES with the recent establishment of our task-force on Roma inclusion.
Other priorities for the Hungarians are family policy and outlining responses to demographic changes which impact on employment and economic growth. The presidency sees boosting employment, enhancing competitiveness and social inclusion as three interrelated and mutually supporting objectives. Education for employability and job creation are seen as the central tools for fighting child poverty and promoting Roma integration. In line with the EU 2020 strategy, the presidency wishes to work towards growth and employment, in order to preserve the European social model.
Concrete plans include the adoption of the EU framework on national Roma integration strategies, together with developing
tangible, EU measures for Roma integration. Moreover, the presidency wishes to formulate and adopt conclusions from the council of the EU on the European platform against poverty, one of the flagship initiatives of the ‘Europe 2020’ strategy. It also intends to contribute to setting EU priorities in the fight against poverty for the coming years and will also organise the 10th meeting of people experiencing poverty
Hungary and EUROCITIES put Roma high up the agenda
Cities' knowledge of active inclusion policies
The latest EUROCITIES-NLAO study on cities and active inclusion is now available.
The publication analyses the findings of a 2010 survey on cities’ knowledge regarding active inclusion policies in the EU. It also includes the views from a focus group comprised of representatives from the ten Local Authority Observatories (LAOs).
The main findings from the study are as follows:
• Citiesareaware,andhavesomeknowledge,oftheEuropean active inclusion strategy but are not very familiar with the details;
• TheEuropeanactiveinclusionstrategyisinlinewithcities’priorities on social inclusion;
• TheEuropeanactiveinclusionstrategyhasthepotentialtoadd value to local level strategies for social inclusion;
• Implementingactiveinclusionstrategiesatlocallevelisoffundamental importance for social and territorial cohesion; and
• Citieshaveanimportantroletoplayindevelopingandimplementing active inclusion strategies, which the EUROCITIES-NLAO is committed to.
EUROCITIES-NLAO study: www.eurocities-nlao.eu Mirte Kortbeek, EUROCITIES social policy researcher – NLAO: [email protected]
Dirk Gebhardt, EUROCITIES programme officer - social affairs: [email protected]
As part of the European Housing Forum 2010 lecture series, EUROCITIES hosted the talk on ‘gentrification vs working class neighbourhoods: which urban future for Europe,’ where expert speakers discussed the design of EU policies and their implications for national housing policies.
The main points developed from the lecture series are as follows:
1. The EU should encourage the collection of data on housing and support mutual learning;
2. Under the EU2020 strategy framework to reduce poverty, housing needs particular examination;
3. To improve the energy efficiency of Europe’s housing stock, financial incentives for homeowners, tenants and landlords need to be considered;
4. Population ageing and its consequences for housing should be addressed; and
5. Employment policies should be used to reduce social segregation through the structural funds.
Download the full report from the Inclusive Cities website.
New report: future housing policy in the EU
Inclusive Cities: www.inclusivecities.eu Caroline Greene, EUROCITIES communications officer – social affairs: [email protected]
Events
10Flash 103 February 2011
Discussions held among city representatives from EUROCITIES, the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions in January 2011 have revealed a range of
issues related to the current regulation of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC).
The EGTC is an innovative tool designed to facilitate integrated territorial cooperation. It shows how proactive local authorities can work together to improve the daily life of citizens within and across their administrations.
At this latest meeting, representatives from Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai and the Eurodistrict Strasbourg-Ortenau EGTC presented their respectives EGTCs, focusing on issues such as the EGTC staff status, the revision of the EGTC statutes, as well as the participation and cooperation of all competent authorities.
Participants agreed that the actions and involvement of local authorities must be fostered and encouraged by the commission’s forthcoming revision of the EGTC regulation
Soraya Zanardo, assistant to EUROCITIES policy director: [email protected]
Cooperation
Fostering cross-border cooperation
Save the date! EUROCITIES cooperation platform 2011
This year’s EUROCITIES cooperation platform will take place in Bordeaux on 19-20 May.
Now in its seventh edition, this annual meeting convenes all EUROCITIES contact officers and provides an opportunity for them to meet, exchange, discuss and learn from one another.
The annual event acts as a ’one-stop shop’ for members to get fully tuned into developments concerning the network, as well as to meet with staff and colleagues
from other cities across Europe.
As usual, this year’s edition will provide you updates on EUROCITIES forums and projects, but also information about the new EUROCITIES website under construction, as well as an assembly to discuss the future EU cohesion policy.
Registration will open two months before the event.
Sinéad Mullins, EUROCITIES communications executive: [email protected]
National identity: a building block for branding?
EUROCITIES'working group on branding management and city attractiveness will meet in Gothenburg on 16-17 February for discussions on city branding in relation to regional and national branding strategies. The meeting will look at how cities can draw upon regional and/or national identities to boost a city brand.
On the business side of things, the working group will discuss and assimilate its members’ expectations for 2011.
Anton Cesar, city of Gothenburg: [email protected]
Bordeaux | 19-20 May 2011Gothenburg | 16-17 February 2011
New budget task force gets down to businessOne of EUROCITIES newest groupings, our EU budget task force had its first
meeting of the year in Brussels on 27 January to discuss the network’s position on the EU budget review.
Chaired by the city of Copenhagen, currently EUROCITIES president, the task force comprises members of all our forums and executive committee, allowing for a cross-sectoral overview.
EUROCITIES’ position on the EU budget review will focus on the principles, as opposed to sectoral policies, that should guide the future budget. That’s to say, the taskforce will deal with the strategic shape of the EU budget that should allow local authorities to meet Europe 2020 targets as well as other challenges.
Núria Tello Clusella, EUROCITIES policy officer – cohesion policy and EU budget: [email protected]
11Flash 103 February 2011
Over 2011, the EPOMM-PLUS project, which is part of the European Platform on Mobility Management, will organise a number of events that are open to everyone:
• Trainingsonmobilitymanagement, in cooperation with the ELTIS-PLUS project, in particular on the theme of sustainable urban mobility plans and mobility management; and
• Nationalworkshopsineachofthenetworkinitiatorscountry,whicharethe 13 countries partners of the EPOMM-PLUS project that will build up a national network on mobility management. The next workshops planned are scheduled for:
- 18 February 2011 in Budapest, Hungary, on bike sharing schemes
- 25 March 2011 in Turin, Italy
- Spring 2011 in Slovenia and Bulgaria
Updates on these meetings and trainings will be listed on the EPOMM website.
Following a successful bid, EUROCITIES has been awarded funding to coordinate a new project consortium
under the European Commission Intelligent Energy Europe Programme.
Starting in spring 20011, the three-year CASCADE - Cities Exchanging on Local Energy Leadership project - will aim to boost the implementation and delivery of local sustainable energy policies by means of transnational capacity-building
activities and the transfer of good practices between local authorities.
CASCADE project partners include the Wuppertal Institute in Germany, Koucky & Partners in Sweden and 19 EUROCITIES members: Malmo, Nantes, Sunderland, Genoa, Amsterdam, Birmingham, Tampere, Venice, Stockholm, Gateshead, Mannheim, Gijon, Milan, Edinburgh, Amaroussion, Warsaw, Eindhoven, Terrassa and Burgas
Projects
CASCADE: EUROCITIES’ new project on local energy leadership
EUROCITIES members Murcia and Riga shortlisted for mobility award
As the coordinator of the European Mobility Week (EMW) campaign, EUROCITIES is also responsible for managing the EMW award scheme. This rewards cities that have developed an ambitious programme of activities and implemented effective measures to make their transport system more sustainable.
On 18 January 2011, the EMW award jury met in Brussels to decide on the ten best applications for the EMW 2010 award, including three finalists. The meeting was co-chaired by European Commission representatives Magda Kopzcynska and Robert Konrad, joined by other jury members, Heather Allen from the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), Pamela Weir, Vincent Leiner and Dudley Curtis from the European Commission and Sebastian Bamberg from the University of Bielefeld.
In addition to the city of Almada, EUROCITIES members Murcia and Riga achieved the highest scores, while the cities of Budapest, Eindhoven, Gavle, Leon, Östersund, Reutte, and Zagreb were ranked in the top 10.
The winning city will be announced at an award ceremony in Brussels on 14 March 2011 as part of two-days training on effective campaigning, fundraising and sponsorship organized for national and local EMW coordinators.
Peter Staelens, EUROCITIES project officer – mobility: [email protected]
Jorgina Cuixart, EUROCITIES project officer – environment & energy: [email protected]
Mark your calendars! EPOMM-PLUS events outlook
EPOMM: www.epomm.eu Melanie Leroy, EUROCITIES project officer - mobility management: [email protected]
The CIVITAS initiative is organising the following three trainings for EUROCITIES members and other interested cities:
• Socialmarketinginmobilitymanagement:Toulouse|17-18May2011
• Holisticthinkingforbettercities:integratingtransportandlanduseplanning: Bucharest | 26-27 May 2011
• CleanVehiclesandFuels:SanSebastian|16-17June2011
EUROCITIES collaborates with the CIVITAS initiative and the organisation of these trainings through the support action CIVITAS VANGUARD.
Upcoming CIVITAS trainings for mobility practitioners
Official announcements and agendas will be available at: www.civitas.eu Jorgina Cuixart, EUROCITIES project officer – environment & energy: [email protected]
Events
12Flash 103 February 2011
Events
EUROCITIES Flash is publishedby EUROCITIES Brussels Office. © EUROCITIES 2011
Please send any contributions or comments concerning the contents of the Flash to: [email protected]
PublisherPaul Bevan, Secretary General EditorRóisín Hughes LayoutRob Harris Productions
EUROCITIES 1 Square de Meeûs B-1000 Brussels Tel: +32 2 552 0888 Fax: +32 2 552 0889 e-mail: [email protected] www.eurocities.eu
Date / Place
Name of Event
More information
23-24 February 2011
Enabling smart city frameworks
www.smartcitiesevent.com
Liege, Belgium European best practice, pilots and results
23-25 March 2011
Velocity 2011
www.velo-city2011.com
Seville, Spain The cycle of life
15-17 March 2011
Global City 2011
www.globalcityforum.com
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Values and identity
28 March – 3 April 2011
ECOWEEK 2011 urban communities and green architecture
www.ecoweek.netfirms.com/ecoweek.gr/ecoweek2011/index.html
Thessaloniki, Greece International conference for architecture and design
5 April 2011
EU digital agenda goes local
http://tinyurl.com/digitalagenda2011
Brussels, Belgium Organised by the European Commission
11-15 April 2011
EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW)
www.eusew.eu
Brussels/Europe-wide Largest sustainable energy initiative in Europe
13-15 April 2011
Housing in hard times
www.york.ac.uk/inst/chp/hsa/conference.htm
York, United Kingdom Class, poverty and social exclusion
6-7 May 2011
Governance and Change on the Urban Fringe
www.iss.uio.no/aktuelt/arrangementer/gov
Oslo, Norway The European Urban Research Association workshop
12-13 May 2011
Regional Governance of Sustainable Integrated Development of Deprived Urban Areas
http://urbact.eu/en
Duisburg, Germany RegGov final conference
18-20 May 2011
REAL CORP 2011
www.corp.at
Duisburg, Germany Change for stability: lifecycles of cities and regions
19-20 May 2011
EUROCITIES Cooperation Platform
www.eurocities.eu
Bordeaux, France Annual event for EUROCITIES contact officers
French's 6th largest urban area with 715.000 inhabitants / 80.000 students
International airport with direct links to many European cities
A successful urban regeneration based on an integrated approach
We hope to welcome you in May 2011 !
www.bordeaux.fr
Cooperation Platform 2011
SAVE THE DATE !!
BORDEAUX – May 19-20