MEPs and EUROCITIES press Commission to publish urban mobility plan
Panel Discussion held at European Parliament on 4 March 2009
EUROCITIES, MEP Gilles Savary, and the Parliament Intergroup on Urban Housing have joined forces to expedite the publication of the European Commission’s Action Plan on Urban Mobility, which was due for release in mid-December.
At the EUROCITIES-MEP joint panel discussion on 4 March, Mr Savary, the Rapporteur on the Parliament’s Action Plan on Urban Mobility leading political action on this front, said :
“The past consultation and work on the EU Action Plan on Urban Mobility should not fall by the wayside with the European Parliament elections and the subsequent change of Commission. We hope the European Parliament report will strongly influence the hearing and appointment of the new transport commissioner.”
Jean Marie Beaupuy, President of the Parliament Intergroup on Urban Housing, also commented :
“Although urban mobility is a local issue, it has an impact at international level too : climate change, increase in health spending etc. Local communities can therefore not face these challenges alone, without European cooperation and coordination”.
At this crucial stage, both EUROCITIES and MEPs ask that the Commission considers a coherent set of initiatives that :
1. Optimises EU financing of sustainable urban transport
The present economic crisis provides an opportunity to change financing habits. The EU should help mobilise funds to develop sustainable urban transport. Various options could be considered, for example a new European financial instrument to cover immediate needs ; more structural funds for urban transport ; and conditions that would support public transport investment without negatively impacting public expenditure.
2. Promotes a more integrated approach to transport planning
In many cases, transport demand is driven by actions in other policy areas such as business, education and the environment. To implement a new urban mobility culture, transport planning must be developed as part of an integrated policy framework that considers all these fields of activities as well as individual city’s needs.
An integrated approach is also needed at EU level, recognising that city actions which promote a modal shift towards more sustainable transport contribute directly to the EU’s climate change goals.
3. Respects the principle of subsidiarity
Although it is crucial to protect the principle of subsidiarity and flexibility for the local level, there is still scope for the EU to bring added-value and help cities to achieve shared objectives through sustainable urban transport.
Speaking at today’s event, Miguel Ángel Cámara, Mayor of Murcia, the city which is currently leading the EUROCITIES Mobility Forum, said :
“Cities are home to 80% of Europe’s population. The economic and environmental state of Europe therefore depends largely on the economic and environmental state of our cities, and urban mobility is a deciding factor in this. Our cities need support from national governments and the EU to ensure they have the necessary tools to provide efficient, affordable and sustainable urban mobility solutions.”
EUROCITIES and MEPs urge the Commission to publish the Action Plan as soon as possible.
Post-Leipzig Colloquium on Transferability of Urban Development Projects.
The 11th February 2009.
Over 60 guests took part in the event, amongst project managers, as well as representatives of European associations and press.
This colloquium was an opportunity to develop a more intensive discussion on perspectives of urban development policies with experts.
The stakeholders presented different urban development projects. Moreover, the representatives of the European Commission and the Czech Presidency gave a preview on the role of urban development policies in the near future.
As rapporteur for the report "Follow-up of the territorial agenda and the Leipzig Charter", Gisela Kallenbach presented her specific positions on this issue. First of all, Sustainable urban development calls for a holistic, integrated approach. She reiterated the necessity of a sustainable development and a clearer definition of sustainability. Moreover, Practical solutions are possible only with good governance, where cooperation takes place on the ground, between partners, with all relevant operators, on the basis of an effective institutional structure. Finally, she demanded a more intensive and earlier inclusion of economic and social partners and NGOSs at all stages of the planning and implementation of structural fund programmes. It is the condition of success of this Policy. In this way, it is essential to promote the two principles of vertical and horizontal partnership.
Finally, Jean-Marie Beaupuy stressed upon two elements, which are crucial for implementation of the Leipzig Charter. First, it is necessary to show how the different European Policies can be well implemented at urban and peri-urban levels. Then, to succeed in the field of sustainable urban development, we need consent of citizens and governments.
European sustainable cities : from vision to reality.
The 26th January
Europe is a continent of cities where the majority of our people, institutions, universities and businesses are located. Our cities also provide the main hubs of employment and culture, and are the nodes of infrastructure and administration.
Nowadays they have to face a lot of challenges : negative population growth, insecurity, urban mobility, air pollution, lack of social cohesion etc.
This seminar took place at the Committe of the Regions and promoted by Caisse des Dépôts and Europartenaires. It permitted different actors to develop the question of sustainable urban development. More than 100 participants, European decision makers, territorial communities, people from the civil society were assembled. The Intergroup Urban Logement was represented by Gisela Kallenbach, Vice President of the Intergroup.
The stakeholders shared their points of view and exchanged their experiences about strategies to develop and promote European Sustainable City. Sustainable city would be able to reinvent itself, to resolve new challenges thanks to a long-term management. Moreover, this sustainable city would be based on active citizenship and partnership governance, which gathers all specialists and local elected people. Then it is necessary to incite cities to do "a technological jump" within search and promotion of new energies.
Finally, Gisela Kallenbach demanded that the cities become the heart of political process. They must be considered as the main place for sustainable urban development.
Jean-Marie Beaupuy is very pleased about the adoption of a pilot project in 2009.
Two months after the adoption of his report on the local and territorial governance in the EU, Jean-Marie Beaupuy is very glad about the implementation of one of his key propositions, the creation of an ERAMSUS of local and regional elected people. This program will be developed thanks a European budget allocation of 2 million euros.
With this program, Jean-Marie Beaupuy wants to promote European cooperation between the local and regional elected people and to allow a more efficient and faster using of the Structural Funds.
This pilot project is supported by the European Commission. A meeting between Jean-Marie Beaupuy, ALDE co-ordinator within the Regional Policy Commission and Danuta Hübner, the Commissioner of Regional Policy, is planned for mid-January. The objective of this meeting is to speak about the modalities of this initiative. This pilot project could begin in September 2009 for about 500 elected people.
During the Bureau meeting of the Urban-Logement Intergroup on Thursday, 18th December, Bureau members demanded the adoption of an Action Plan on Urban mobility.
Currently, 80% of the European citizens are estimated living in urban areas. Cities must then comply with their mobility needs and develop an offer within their competences. Although urban mobility is a local issue, it has an impact at international level too : climate change, increase in health spending, etc. Local communities can not face these challenges alone, without European cooperation and coordination. In this way, the European Union can and should play a key role in mobilising energies and resources on this issue.
The Urban-Logement Intergroup welcomed the announcement of the European Commission of an Action Plan on Urban Mobility for the autumn 2008. Unfortunately, this Action Plan has still not been published. But, this Action Plan is particularly essential with regard to the recent agreement to reduce climate change. In this way, Bureau members sent a letter to the President of the European Commission, Mr Barroso, to stress the emergency of an Action Plan’s adoption.
Joint Public Hearing with EP, COR and AGE on “Longer and Healthier Lives – a Challenge for Local and Regional Authorities”
Representatives of regional and local authorities, MEPs, and older people’s associations participated together in a Public Hearing organised by the Committee of Regions together with Ms Magda Kosane Kovacs, co-President of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Ageing, and with the support of AGE on better meeting the needs of older people. This public hearing took place on Tuesday 9 December in the Committee of Regions in Brussels.
In a context of ageing demographic, the EU is faced to many issues : employment, social inclusion of seniors and adaptability of Housing and Transport policies.
During this conference, Jean-Marie Beaupuy stressed the necessity to change the widespread negative image of ageing. Moreover, he said that their contribution to the society, which is generally voluntary, is unfortunately underestimated. Finally, he enjoyed that the European Older People’s Platform promotes active ageing and intergenerational solidarity.
On the conference "Managing migration at the local level" organized by the "European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions" (EUROFOUND) 13th November in Brussels Gisela Kallenbach, Vice-President of the Urban Intergroup, held a welcome speech. Mrs. Kallenbach underlined the importance of that interesting initiative which includes helpful and valuable recommendations for European policymakers concerning the challenge of integrating migrants into local communities. Partnership principle and networking were essential for the successful implementation of innovative policies at the local level, she said.
