C 342/10
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
6.9.2022
Tuesday 15 February 2022
37.
Reiterates that 30 % of the multiannual financial framework and 37 % of NextGenerationEU are dedicated to climate action, while 20 % of NextGenerationEU is allocated to the digital transition; calls on the Commission to monitor and provide Member States with guidance and recommendations to ensure that necessary skills are developed to achieve the double green and digital transitions; deplores the exclusion of urban areas in the context of NextGenerationEU and therefore calls for better involvement and participation of cities, towns and functional urban areas in the planning and implementation of recovery and resilience plans;
38.
Emphasises the need to plant more trees and install green roofs, as the greening of cities provides important recreational value for human beings and reduces the temperature, absorbs excess rainwater and therefore counteracts the effects of climate change and the loss of biodiversity; highlights that retrofitting buildings to lower-energy use and redesigning cities to increase green spaces and promote walking and biking will generate savings, create jobs, help fight energy poverty and yield climate benefits;
39.
Stresses that the commitment of urban areas is crucial for the transition to a climate-neutral society and to a prosperous, fair, sustainable and competitive economy; notes that, in some cases, local governments lack the know-how, human resources and access to high-quality data necessary for launching actions and making progress; believes, therefore, that capacity building, technical support and funding must be used to the full, as agreed in the Common Provisions Regulation for urban and suburban authorities to achieve the targets of the European Green Deal and believes that urban authorities must have direct access to EU funding in the future;
Innovative cities
40.
Emphasises that digitalisation has helped to address some of the immediate challenges arising from the pandemic, particularly during lockdown periods, and that among the many inequalities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the digital divide is a serious one; notes that the pandemic has accelerated digitalisation, and technology has become imperative for teleworking, home-schooling, e-commerce, e-health, e-government, digital democracy and digital entertainment; calls on the Commission to monitor these developments closely and to ensure full compliance with the Union acquis, in particular as regards workers' and social rights; recalls that digitalisation and digital connectivity must be a priority for local communities in their recovery; reiterates the importance of having an adequate competition law and State aid framework that gives Member States full flexibility under State aid rules to support the economy during the coronavirus outbreak, especially by deploying high speed broadband and 5G infrastructure in all cities regardless of their size; calls on the Member States to support connectivity, provide equipment and ensure the presence of trained personnel in public, social and educational institutions;
41.
Calls for actions and policies for a just digital transition, which should be deployed across various levels, from cities to the EU itself; calls for digital inclusion to be recognised as a right for all generations and for a clear commitment to achieve universal internet connectivity for cities;
42.
Stresses that digital literacy should be strengthened to expand access to new opportunities; considers that investment in education and training must be boosted with comprehensive programmes in both the public and private sectors for worker upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning that respond to the shifts in demand for skills; calls for the advancements of women and girls in education and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM);
43.
Recalls that urban tourism has played an essential part in the devising of urban policies; points out that most EU cities have suffered from downturns in tourism following the pandemic and have had to search for new and more sustainable modi operandi to restore tourism, leading to the increased use of new digital technologies, which has enabled the better management of urban spaces and the movement of urban tourists to prevent the build-up of large groups and risky situations in the context of the pandemic;
44.
Highlights that libraries and cultural centres are vectors for the facilitation of digital and social inclusion, lifelong learning and pathways to employment for urban communities and disadvantaged groups; draws attention, moreover, to the need for additional places for personal and political exchange;