Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the "Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Community framework for cooperation to promote sustainable urban development"

(2000/C 317/12)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to the Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Community Framework for cooperation to promote sustainable urban development, presented by the European Commission [COM(1999) 557 final - 1999/0233 (COD)];

having regard to the decision of the European Council of 10 May 2000, under Articles 175 (paragraph 1) and 265 (paragraph 1) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, to consult the Committee on the subject;

having regard to the decision of the President of the Committee of the Regions of 1 March 2000 to instruct Commission 4 to draw up an opinion on the subject;

having regard to the Communication from the Commission - Towards an urban agenda in the European Union (COM(97) 197 final);

having regard to the Communication from the Commission - Sustainable urban development in the European Union: a framework for action (COM(1998) 605 final);

having regard to Decision No 2179/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998 on the review of the European Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development "Towards sustainability";

having regard to the draft opinion (CdR 134/2000 rev.) adopted by Commission 4 on 11 May 2000 (rapporteur: Mr Alberto Ruíz-Gallardón, E-EPP);

whereas Article 174 of the Treaty establishing the European Community establishes that a Community environmental policy shall be developed and applied and sets out the objectives and principles which guide this policy;

whereas with the Resolution of the Council of 1 February 1993 on a Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development and the adoption of Decision No 2179/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998 on the review of the European Community programme referred to above, the Community confirmed its intention to maintain its general strategic approach in favour of sustainable development,

adopted the following opinion at its 34th plenary session on 14 and 15 June 2000 (meeting of 15 June).

1. The Committee of the Regions' views and recommendations concerning the proposal

1.1. The Committee of the Regions welcomes the present proposal for a decision which continues the general strategic approach adopted by the Commission in its "Towards sustainable development" programme, which implies that cities must become active partners in resolving the environmental problems affecting their inhabitants' quality of life.

1.2. It acknowledges the need to develop integrated approaches within strategic frameworks, policy interventions that result in solving problems locally and regionally, and policy solutions which provide for the coordinated management of local economic, employment, housing, environmental, social and cultural problems (urban management) and effect solutions which lead to changes in individual patterns of consumption on the part of businesses and citizens, as the Commission proposes.

1.3. Following the line laid down by the Commission, the Committee of the Regions believes that in order to resolve problems at local and regional scale, exchange of information, good practice and experiences, together with transnational cooperation, must be encouraged by setting up or strengthening existing networks. This entails cities becoming involved in a responsible, active manner.

1.4. It considers that preventive mechanisms must be brought to bear on the point of origin of the problems, in preference to corrective measures which are frequently complex and costly. To this end, Local Agenda 21 agenda must be applied to social aspects.

1.5. The Committee warmly welcomes the specific support for networks of cities, which are included among the recommended policy options in the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP) document.

1.6. It understands that in many cases, finding a solution to environmental problems demands a broader scope than that of cities alone, and that an integrated approach must also reflect urban regions as a starting-point for cohesion and analysis. Point 3.3 of the Communication "Sustainable urban development in the European Union: a framework for action" (COM(1998) 605 final) is to be interpreted in this sense.

1.7. Given that metropolitan areas encompass a web of conflicts between the individual cities making them up, and that cities as a whole generate powerful flows impacting upon the environment across the regions where they are located, decision-making power should reflect legitimate demands for this power to be exercised at both regional and local level, in keeping with their respective responsibilities in each Member State, in the interests of sustainable development which caters for the complex nature of metropolitan areas.

1.8. The COR believes that the role of the regions must be strengthened, in line with their level of responsibilities in each of the Member States, with a view to sustainable development in the urban environment. Shortcomings must be prevented in all operational aspects: without the necessary global view, action would be unstructured and would not be integrated into the metropolitan region. Administrative boundaries often lie beyond physical city limits. Analysis of urban areas always reveals strong inward and outwards flows of material and energy with regional or interregional origins and destinations.

1.9. With the aim of fleshing out the proposal, information and cooperation must be become an established feature not only within individual cities, but also in all networks of regions, regions and networks of cities.

1.10. The Committee of the Regions notes with regard to Article 3 that the subsequent determination of priority activities and selection criteria, and the monitoring work, is to be assigned to the bodies responsible at national level or the regions.

1.11. The Committee of the Regions advocates greater involvement of the regions and cities in a committee to determine activities and criteria not only for the reasons set out above, but also in terms of type of medium- and long-term adjective. The aim would be to encourage the integrated approaches and strategic policy action called for by the framework for action. It would also have the effect of ensuring that such action has a greater impact on public policies, is coordinated with various regional programmes and other future integrated urban policy initiatives under other framework for action measures. In addition, it would serve to boost future regional networks, as well as those already in place, and not only those for sustainable European cities.

1.12. The Committee points out that closer integration of regions into the framework for action would enable action and cooperation arrangements under other current or planned initiatives, such as Interreg, to be extended to urban policy and the establishment of the network of cities.

1.13. It urges that, in addition to active cooperation between European regions and cities, the involvement of universities, research institutes, public institutions, NGOs and businesses should be encouraged, in order research, test and implement the best technically available, and most environment-friendly solutions.

1.14. The COR is convinced that standardised, universally accepted and effectively comparable environmental indicators and pointers are the best way of ensuring uniform assessment of environmental problems. They should be used to evaluate the state of the environment in the regions and cities, public action, and plans and programmes with regional and urban implications.

1.15. The Committee of the Regions emphasises that integrated transport and mobility policies must be devised if sustainable development objectives are to be met: to this end, exchange and cooperation on these aspects is crucial.

1.16. The Committee of the Regions suggests that new technologies be brought to bear on overall urban management strategies.

1.17. Compliance with the principle of sustainable development in urban areas will make cities liveable and lived-in places, providing inhabitants with an integrated area in which they can live, work and enjoy leisure facilities.

Brussels, 15 June 2000.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Jos Chabert