WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2855/98 by Anita POLLACK to the Commission. Sustainable cities and sustainable development
Date: 1998-09-28
Institutions: European Parliament, POLLACK
Subjects: action programme, development policy, exchange of information, sustainable development, town, urban centre

C 182/26

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

28.6.1999

No specific aid is granted at Community level for mushroom cultivation but since the market organisation for
fruit and vegetables was reformed, on entry into force of the abovementioned Regulation, the Commission has
been granting financial assistance to producer organisations to set up operational funds and implement
operational programmes. Mushroom growers can benefit from this assistance in exactly the same way as
growers of the other products covered by the market organisation.

(1) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996.

(1999/C 182/033)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2855/98

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(28 September 1998)

Subject: Sustainable cities and sustainable development

Does the Commission feel that there is any duplication of effort between the Sustainable Cities and Towns
campaign, which is financed from Article B4-304, and the Urban Forum for Sustainable Development, which
is funded from Article B4-306, and does it feel that there is sufficiently close coordination between the two
separate units in DG XI and DG IV which manage these two projects?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(9 November 1998)

There is quite a difference between the European sustainable cities and towns campaign and the activities of
the network of the Urban forums for sustainable development.

The overall objective of the European sustainable cities and towns campaign is to promote development
towards sustainability through ‘Local Agenda 21’ and similar processes by strengthening partnership among
all actors within local authorities as well as inter-authority co-operation. Five international networks or
associations of local authorities support the campaign by undertaking projects for sustainable development.
These projects cover areas such as awareness raising and the exchange of experience for example through
good practice seminars, dissemination of information through internet websides or newsletters, development
of technical guidance and training as well as the provision of training material. These activities and projects in
the framework of the campaign are open to any participating local authority of the campaign. They are
coordinated by the campaign office.

The Urban forums for sustainable development were established in 1995. This is an experimental network of
20 cities managed by the Commission. The purpose of each Urban forum is to bring information about
Community policies into city life and to create local partnerships to put these policies into practice. They
address not only local authorities, but the whole of civil society and especially foster citizen involvement.
These activities often make use of innovative information and communication techniques.

The Urban forums’ activities are thus of much smaller scale than most of those undertaken by the European
sustainable cities and towns campaign and are geared to more direct actions within the participating cities.

Co-operation between the two Commission units involved is close and effective.