Territorial governance : the Urban-Logement Intergroup’s call for recognition and support
The 15th of September
Europe’s local governments can only fulfill their mission within a strong partnership with regional, local and European authorities on one hand, and their citizens, the private sector and local associations on the other. This new territorial governance must therefore be recognised, promoted and supported.
This is the core of the call launched at the end of the Reims conference on 15 September 2008.
The conference was organised by the European parliament’s Urban-Logement Intergroup with the support of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and the city of Reims. Some 150 local and European representatives attended.
The chair of the Intergroup, MEP Jean-Marie Beaupuy, said that from transport to environment, from social policy to economic development, policies implemented in our town concern more and more stakeholders. Good local governance therefore needs cooperation and dialogue between all parties. This is the gist of the Reims declaration : the nature of this new territorial governance must be acknowledged.
The mayor of Reims Adeline Hazan opened the conference and showed participants concrete examples of her municipality’s achievements in this field. EU Commissioner for regional policy Danuta Hubner followed by expressing her support to that initiative.
Good governance is not just about efficiency and citizens’ involvement, said the vice chair of the Intergroup, MEP Jan Olbrycht ; democracy is one of its key pillars. Public services can be efficient under totalitarian regimes, this does not amount to good governance !
Member of the European Parliament and CEMR vice president Oldrich Vlasak stressed that 80% of European citizens live in urban areas, and close to 80% of the EU’s GDP is generated in towns and cities. This has an impact on urban policies in terms of housing, crime and pressures on public services.
Member of the European Parliament and Intergroup Vice-President Gisela Kallenbach argues that "We can not force people to become" real partners ", even if the effectiveness of partnerships has been proven. We need the citizens willing to get involved and that public and private authorities are suitable to share a little their power. "
There is no pyramid but rather "spheres" of governance added CEMR secretary general Jeremy Smith : local, regional, national and European players are equal partners. One should rather talk about the pyramid of governance made of three sides : identity - democracy - efficiency. Jeremy Smith also highlighted the role played by AFCCRE in France in terms of promoting partnerships.
The conference closed with France’s minister for urban planning, Hubert Falco, expressing his support to Jean-Marie Beaupuy’s initiative : the Reims Statement.
Moving towards a European policy for sustainable housing ? All parties claim to be ready, but all are fearing the bill !
This Thursday, aegis of the European intergroup Urban-logement, more than 200 stakeholders from politics, the building sector, landlords and renters associations, have debated the question of sustainable housing on a European scale. The issue is a complex one, as symbolised by the Directive ‘energy efficiency in building’, the financing of which remains to be settled.
It is a well known fact that the energy issue lies at the heart of all Europeans’ preoccupations. As Mr. Jean-Marie Beaupuy, head of the intergroup Urban-Logement, stated, we spend 50% of our lives in our home. It is therefore crucial not just to promote sustainable new buildings, but also sustainable renovation. Nowadays 30% of European housing is unhealthy, with great disparity among the different member states. The industry confirms being technically ready to integrate the concept of sustainable development at all levels. But it requires a precise frame, appeals to the local, national and European politicians and reminds them that potentially 26% energy can be spared in buildings, which is more than the European norm.
Sustainable housing is an issue both economic and social. Mr. Jean-Marie Beaupuy reminded of the importance of the building sector as the first European employer, but also the importance of housing in every household budget. European households devote on average 30% of their monthly income to housing, which preoccupies Mr. Alain Hutchinson (vice-president of the Intergroup Urban-Logement), for whom sustainable housing should not be an additional factor of social exclusion. Although the various participants in the meeting rejoiced at the changes operated on the Directive energy efficiency of buildings, notably the removal of the 1000 m² threshold, confirmed by the Energy Commissioner Mr. Andris Pielbags at the end of the debate, other essential questions must be handled at the political level : should the new norms be imposed more rapidly ? Is 2015 a reasonable deadline ? How can the financial burden of norm-meeting be handled ? How can the consumer by made aware of, and educated on the importance of sustainable building ?
Those many questions illustrate the complexity and importance of sustainable building and renovation. Renovation must imperatively be accessible to all and benefit everyone. Undoubtedly by using the community funds efficiently, but also by knowing exactly, as Mr. Beaupuy concluded, who does what in Europe : ‘We need a study by the European Commission for a long-term scaling of decisions to make, realistic norms to be set up and good practice to be adopted by the majority.’
Between competition, awareness raising, harmonization and technology, this conference has demonstrated how crucial the issue of sustainable housing is for the future. The stakes are political, economical and basically human.
For more information on this conference :
Alexandra Leuliette, European Parliament
office +32 22 847 354
mobile +32 497.19.26.98
Post scriptum : Meeting organized in partnership with CEMBUREAU and VELUX and with the support of FAGOR.
An Erasmus programme for local councillors for better management of Community funds
Beaupuy report adopted by REGI Committee of the European Parliament
The European Parliament’s committee on Regional Development (REGI) approved today, by a large majority, a non-legislative report by Jean-Marie Beaupuy (Chair of the Urban-Logement Intergroup). This report suggests the creation of an Erasmus-style programme for locally elected representatives. This training programme would allow local project managers to share their experiences and exchange good practice, particularly concerning the use of structural funds. More specifically, this report calls on elected representatives and national, regional and local civil servants to better prepare themselves regarding operational project management and cohesion policy.
"Poor training of elected representatives results in delays in implementing community projects, and as these delays accumulate, either the payments are deferred and these delays complicate the smooth management of the EU budget, or the money is simply lost, " underlined Mr Beaupuy. "By creating an Erasmus scheme for locally elected representatives, we aim to create a common culture of governance for European funds", he concluded. Supported by the European Commission, Mr Beaupuy, who is also the ALDE coordinator on the Regional Affairs Committee, has proposed an amendment to the Budgets Committee, for the draft budget 2009, recommending a budget line for 7 million euros to be allocated to this proposed Erasmus pilot programme.
The report on governance and partnership at national and regional levels invites those relevant local authorities to closer coordination in the programming and management of Community funds. It also recommends to the European Commission to simplify the financial instruments of regional policy in the EU, in particular by merging in the future cohesion policy 2014-2020 the different European funds (ERDF, ESF and Cohesion Fund).
Post scriptum : The report should be adopted by the European Parliament during the plenary session from 20. to 23th of October. Voir aussi sur le net :Texte du rapport
L’explosion des villes est un sujet connu de tous : en 2025, les 2/3 de la population mondiale vivront en ville.
Il est grand temps de trouver des moyens d’accompagner le développement de ces villes, développement qui ne peut être que durable.
Jean-Marie Beaupuy explique ici les outils mis à la disposition des acteurs de la ville pour promouvoir un développement urbain durable. Il aborde entre autre les enjeux et les défis de la gouvernance locale, les solutions apportées en terme de bonnes pratiques et de financements européens pour 2007-2013. Il donne de nombreux exemples pour sept sujets essentiels : démographie, mobilité, logement, étalement urbain, environnement, compétitivité et innovation, intégration sociale.
Il s’agit là d’une véritable boîte à outils à l’attention de tous les acteurs de la ville, du citoyen à l’élu. L’auteur, fort de 30 ans d’expérience dans ce domaine, apporte ici des réponses concrètes et des solutions applicables à ce sujet ô combien actuel.
Post scriptum :
Conseiller général de la Marne de 1979 à 2004, Jean-Marie Beaupuy est conseiller municipal de Reims depuis 1983 (dont Adjoint au Maire de 1983 à 1995, puis de 2001 à 2008).
Élu député européen en 2004, il est membre titulaire de la commission parlementaire pour le développement régional. Il est l’auteur de différents rapports au Parlement européen sur la dimension urbaine et la Gouvernance.
En 2005, Jean-Marie Beaupuy crée avec l’appui de plusieurs députés européens l’Intergroupe Urban-Logement qu’il préside.
Urban-Logement Intergroup members welcomed the adoption by the European Parliament of the Rack Report "towards a new culture of urban mobility". This report, adopted with a large majority (581 votes in favour to 100 against and 33abstentions) calls for a clear definition of the EU’s role in terms of urban mobility policy, with due respect to the subsidiarity principle.
The Urban-Logement Intergroup has been involved in an active way. Jan Olbrycht, the first Vice-President of the Intergroup has draft the opinion for the Regi committee, and the others members of the bureau have tabled joined amendments.
This report reflects the major themes promoted by the Urban-Logement Intergroup. Thus, the need for integrated approach is recognized as the need to implement integrated strategies for sustainable urban development. Moreover, the Intergroup appreciates that it is asked to review legislation which directly or indirectly involves urban mobility. Finally, the importance of exchanging experiences and promoting pilot projects were brought to light
Activities of the Urban-Logement Intergroup : assessment and prospects
Urban-Logement Intergroup activities for the second half of 2008 : general survey of the major events.
Governance will be a major theme of the second semester. Indeed, Jean Marie Beaupuy will host on the 15 of September 2008 in Reims, as part of a symposium on new forms of territorial governance, French and European personalities involved in the matter. Thus, among others will gather around the members of the Intergroup bureau the European Commissioner responsible for Regional Policy Danuta Hübner and Secretary of State for land use planning Hubert Falco. The President of the Intergroup is also rapporteur on "governance and partnership at the national and regional level and basis for projects in the field of regional policy" within the European Parliament.
In addition, two events organized by the Urban Housing Intergroup will see the participation of the French Minister in charge of housing and the city, Mrs Christine Boutin. Thus, on the 18 of September 2008 in Strasbourg, will take place a conference on sustainable housing. On 20 September 2008 the symposium will be held on access to housing.
Oldrich Vlasak and Lambert Van Nistelrooij are rapporteurs on issues dear to the Urban-Logement Intergroup . Indeed, Oldrich Vlasak is in charge of a report on the “urban dimension of cohesion policy for the new programming period. " In this context, the vice-president of the Urban-Logement Intergroup will held on the urban dimension a major conference in the Czech Republic under the Czech Presidency of the European Union (first half of 2009). Lambert Van Nistelrooij is the rapporteur on the “Green Paper on territorial cohesion and the state of the debate on the future reform of cohesion policy.“
Activities of the Urban-Logement Intergroup : assessment and prospects
Assessment of the activity of the Urban-Logement Intergroup for the first half of 2008.
The Urban-Logement Intergroup has been involved in 15 events for the first half of 2008. These events are often the result of an effective collaboration with its partners. The public services and housing issues were at the heart of the topics, including conferences organized jointly with Eurocities, with the Cecodhas, and with RICS, in partnership with the ACE. Reports were dealing with some key issues followed by the Urban-Logement Intergroup, directly involving members of the bureau of the Intergroup. Thus, the European Parliament adopted on February the 21 of 2008 Gisela Kallenbach’s report on “the follow-up of the Territorial Agenda and the Leipzig Charter" (INI/2007/2190). Moreover, Jan Olbrycht has draft the opinion on the Rack Report on "urban mobility".
