A4-0177/98

Resolution on strengthening EU urban environment policy

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Papayannakis and Mrs González Alvarez on the urban environment (B4-0532/95),

- having regard to the Commission's Green Paper on the urban environment (COM(90)0218) and the Council's resolution thereon,

- having regard to its resolutions of 16 December 1988 ((OJ C 12, 16.1.1989, p. 370.)) and 12 September 1991 ((OJ C 267, 14.10.1991, p. 156.)) on the urban environment,

- having regard to the two reports from the Commission's group of experts on the urban environment (1995 and 1996),

- having regard to the Court of Auditors' 1994 report pointing to 'a number of problems¨ with the EU's urban environment programme,

- having regard to the Committee of the Regions report on the urban environment (1996),

- having regard to the Commission communication 'Towards an Urban Agenda in the European Union¨ (COM(97)0197),

- having regard to Rule 148 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0177/98),

A. aware of numerous Local Agenda 21 initiatives in various Member States,

B. concerned that the WHO guidelines on air quality and noise limits are exceeded on a regular basis in urban areas,

C. whereas 80% of the population in urban areas receives less than half the EU budget,

D. whereas the pollution effects of urban environmental problems cross borders,

E. aware of the relationship between lack of social cohesion and urban environment problems, and the importance of EU economic, social, transport, energy and regional policies in this respect,

F. concerned that despite past policies, European cities continue to face growing economic and social problems and environmental degradation,

G. conscious of the implications of the Amsterdam Treaty for public health in the urban environment context,

1. Calls on the Commission to create a cross-departmental urban affairs unit to improve coordination on urban issues;

2. Calls on the Commission to produce more and better information on the state of Europe's urban environment and ensure its widespread dissemination;

3. Calls on the Commission to continue to promote awareness-raising and education and development of Local Agenda 21;

4. Calls on the Commission to continue to support the group of experts on the urban environment;

5. Calls on the Commission to produce an urban environment programme aimed at sustainable development;

6. Calls on the Commission to ensure resources are made available for the development of a partnership approach to urban environment policy-making, in particular in the framework of EU structural assistance;

7. Calls on the Commission to ensure continued support to the Sustainable Cities Campaign, and other collaborative and information schemes such as collaborative information schemes on good practice, plus an on-going programme of pilot projects under URBAN, LIFE or other available sections of the budget;

8. Calls on the Commission to devise and develop comparable sustainability indicators and implement a sustainability audit scheme which can be applied when EU financial assistance is involved;

9. Calls on the Commission to develop, in conjunction with other parties, an overall vision for urban problems including sustainability issues, which takes into consideration the impact of EU policies on urban areas;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.

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