Cities’ involvement in making and implementing EU policies
With 72 % of EU citizens living in cities and towns, it is important that the views and needs of urban areas are reflected in EU policymaking. As motors of growth, cities are crucial to the EU’s goal of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in its Europe 2020 strategy.
ACT
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: The urban dimension of EU policies - key features of an EU urban agenda (COM(2014) 490 final of 18 July 2014.
SUMMARY
With 72 % of EU citizens living in cities and towns, it is important that the views and needs of urban areas are reflected in EU policymaking. As motors of growth, cities are crucial to the EU’s goal of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in its Europe 2020 strategy.
WHAT DOES THIS COMMUNICATION DO?
Objectives
In launching this public consultation, the European Commission is seeking the views of citizens and organisations involved with or concerned at all levels, as well as academic and business communities. Until now, action by policymakers has been slow and fragmented. It is time to clearly define a new urban agenda for the EU.
KEY POINTS
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The current urban situation
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High unemployment, the increasing levels of working poor and uncontrolled urban sprawl put public services under pressure. Cities lack the capacity to engage in and achieve structural change, and there is a marked disparity in performance.
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Over the 2008-11 period, there was a disparity between the performance of the capital metropolitan regions in the countries that have become EU members since 2004 (known as the EU-13) and of the capital metropolitan regions in the older EU countries (EU-15). Over that period, EU-13 capital metropolitan regions did worse than all other types of regions, especially compared to the second-tier and smaller metropolitan regions. This is in contrast to EU-15 cities where there is no marked difference.
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EU cities also provide many benefits. Metropolitan areas play an important economic role with higher productivity and a dynamic labour market. This attracts a more educated labour force and boosts innovation. Many cities are also socially diverse and offer a home to many different types of minorities. Last but not least, cities also offer a more resource-efficient way of life with lower per capita land and energy demands than other areas. Cities are therefore key players when it comes to meeting EU-wide objectives.
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Urban policy in Europe today
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Urban policy, city governance, autonomy, empowerment and involvement in national policy vary greatly between EU countries, with only a few having dedicated ministries.
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There is a shared understanding at European level of urban development in Europe, and EU countries cooperate on an intergovernmental basis on urban issues.
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Urban development is supported by EU regional policy and structural funds but many other EU policies also have explicit urban aspects (energy, environment, climate action and transport).
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Policymaking does not fully exploit the expertise available at city level or recognise the essential role that local authorities can play in delivering on national or EU policy objectives.
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New agenda. With a view to shaping the EU’s urban agenda, the consultation seeks to define:
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how EU action can bring most added value;
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which aspects of urban development would benefit from a more concerted approach between sectors and levels of governance;
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its focus - a general framework or a limited number of urban challenges;
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a model of urban development on which to base the EU’s urban agenda;
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how stakeholders can better contribute to EU policy;
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whether cities can be more involved in policymaking at all levels;
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the best ways to support a stronger urban knowledge base and to exchange experience;
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the roles of the local, regional, national and EU levels in shaping and implementing urban agenda.
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NEXT STEPS
The consultation ran from 18 July 2014 to 26 September 2014. Once its results have been analysed in detail, the Commission is to decide on future steps to be taken.
Further information is available from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy website.
Last updated: 16.12.2014
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