working towards a better quality of life for all

eurocities strategic objectives

eurocities strategic objectives

the strategic objectives were adopted by the EUROCITIES annual general meeting in Porto on 28 November 2003 4

contents

introductionby Wolfgang Tiefensee, President of EUROCITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

EUROCITIES MISSION STATEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

achieving our objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Networking - Sharing and improving knowledgeLobbying - Developing and influencing policiesCampaigning - Raising public awareness

the inclusive city . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Objective 1: Promote action to combat poverty and social exclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Objective 2: Promote equal opportunities for all, respecting diversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Objective 3: Ensure Information and Knowledge Society rights for all . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

the prosperous city . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Objective 4: Promote sustainable urban economic development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Objective 5: Promote the creation of new employment opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Objective 6: Promote access for all to high quality services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Objective 7: Promote action to improve urban security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

the sustainable city . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Objective 8: Promote integrated approaches to environmental and urban planning, with effective instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Objective 9: Promote action to improve the quality of the environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Objective 10: Promote accessible, safe and integrated transport networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Objective 11: Promote responsible consumption patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

the creative city . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Objective 12: Promote the increased recognition of culture as a vital aspect of public policies at all levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Objective 13: Promote access to and participation in culture for all . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

participation and cooperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Objective 14: Promote cities' involvement in policy-making and implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Objective 15: Promote the modernisation of public administration and e-government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Objective 16: Promote international networking and cooperation among cities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

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introduction

This document outlines EUROCITIES Strategic Objectivesfor the coming years in the context of global, European,national and local developments, and the central role ofcities in these developments. It is the outcome of a participatory process, including a wide consultationamong the membership of EUROCITIES. It represents thecommon vision and approach of more than 100 majorEuropean cities, with a combined population of morethan 100 million people.

Meanwhile, there is a growing understanding of the need to develop integrated policyapproaches at all levels of governance, bringing together the social, economic and environmentaldimensions within a coherent overall policy framework, supported by scientific knowledgeas a basis for policy development and decision-making.

The result of these developments is a growing inter-dependence among thevarious territorial spheres of governance.Cities and citizens are increasingly affectedby European decisions on a wide range ofissues from environmental standards toimmigration and asylum policy. At thesame time, the European Union will not beable to achieve its objectives, for example interms of sustainable development, economicgrowth and social cohesion, without astrong involvement of local and regionalauthorities, as well as the active cooperationof the citizens.

Most recently, with the work of the European Conventionon the preparation of a Constitution for the EuropeanUnion, there is an increasing recognition of the role oflocal and regional governments in the implementation ofEuropean policies and legislation. There is a greateremphasis on the principle of subsidiarity, whereby the EUinstitutions should take better account of the rights andresponsibilities of local, regional and national authoritiesin the Member States. Furthermore, it is recognised thatthe European Commission should consult local and regionalgovernments on new proposals for policies and/or legislation, which might have an impact on their areas ofresponsibility.

Cities play a central role in the economic development of Europe.Local administrations share a commitment and responsibility todevelop adequate responses to thechallenges posed by economic andsocial change in order to maintainand improve the quality of life of allcitizens.

Urban development and the economic competi-tiveness of Europe's cities are therefore crucialpreconditions to meet the European Union'sstrategic goal for the next decade: "to becomethe most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainableeconomic growth with more and better jobs andgreater social cohesion".

These Strategic Objectives provide a framework for greater coordination,integration and coherence among the many policy-related and thematicactivities developed and implemented under the EUROCITIES umbrella.They will serve as a basis for EUROCITIES’ annual Action Plans and willhelp us to achieve our goal of contributing towards the development ofa more prosperous, inclusive and sustainable Europe, in which all ofour citizens can enjoy a good quality of life.

The combined pressures of economic globalisation and technological change stronglyaffect the governance of our cities, which are facing major challenges such as: adaptingto economic change and creating employment in the context of the knowledge-basedeconomy; combating poverty and social exclusion; promoting environmental protection;dealing with demographic changes; supporting the integration of immigrants; managingcultural diversity; and providing a good quality of life for all. These challenges are particularly relevant for cities in those countries that are in the process of joining theEuropean Union.

Wolfgang Tiefensee Mayor of Leipzig

President of EUROCITIES

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eurocities mission statement

EUROCITIES is committed to work towards a common vision of a sustainablefuture in which all citizens can enjoy a good quality of life.

In this framework, EUROCITIES aims at achieving a European context wherecities can be inclusive, prosperous, creative, and sustainable, with democraticand effective governance, and where all citizens can be provided with opportunities for participation in all aspects of urban life - including political,cultural, social and economic aspects.

strategic objectivesIn order to carry out its mission, EUROCITIES has identified a limited numberof strategic objectives addressing key long-term challenges in relation to fivemain dimensions of urban policy: > The social dimension under "the inclusive city"> The economic dimension under "the prosperous city" > The environmental dimension under "the sustainable city" > The cultural dimension under "the creative city" > The governance dimension under "participation and cooperation"

All of these strategic objectives are related to policy areas: > which present key challenges for European cities, and where cities have a

clearly identified competence > where there is a clear European dimension in terms of EU policies and

legislation> where there is a clear added value in terms of the potential benefits to be

derived from member cities cooperating with each other > where there is a positive assessment of the potential for EUROCITIES to

make a difference

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achieving our objectives

In order to achieve its objectives,EUROCITIES has a range of instruments at its disposal.According to the requirements ofeach individual objective, the network selects one or moreinstruments to achieve the objective. These instruments fallinto three main complementarystrands of activities:

Networking - Sharing and improving knowledge Lobbying - Developing and influencing policiesCampaigning - Raising public awareness

In order to achieve its StrategicObjectives, EUROCITIES intends tosubstantially reinforce the secondstrand, Lobbying - Developing andinfluencing policies.

Furthermore, EUROCITIES will complement and support its policyactivities with a systematic reinforcement of the third strand,Campaigning - Raising public aware-ness, through the organisation oflarge-scale joint initiatives andcampaigns to mobilise and raiseawareness among citizens anddecision-makers.

Networking - Sharing and improving knowledge

Cities can benefit and learn from each other by exchangingexperiences and know-how with regard to a wide range ofurban issues. Trans-national projects and exchanges ofexperience within the network contribute to this priority, forexample by means of joint research, workshops and seminars.This exchange of knowledge and expertise furthermorecontributes towards the capacity of the entire network interms of developing and influencing policies. Innovativepolicy proposals can be tested out at local level, and evaluated by cities themselves. As a network, EUROCITIESmust be able to formulate comments and responses toEuropean policy developments, based on the experiencesof its member cities as well as on relevant and reliablescientific knowledge, in order to be recognised as a seriousand credible partner for dialogue with the EU institutions.

Lobbying - Developing and influencing policies

Decisions made at the level of the European Union, including commonpolicies and legislation, are having an increasingly important impacton cities and on the lives of citizens. In particular, local governmentsoften face a major share of the responsibility for implementing, financingand enforcing EU policies and legislation, for example in relation toenvironmental and social standards. Cities are therefore importantstakeholders in the European policy-making process, with a valuablecontribution to make towards the development of suitable solutionsacross a wide range of policy areas. They are natural stakeholders tobe consulted on proposals and on decisions that will affect them andto be included in a permanent political dialogue with the EuropeanInstitutions.EUROCITIES intends to reinforce its role as an influential player in theEuropean policy debate by using a range of instruments and activities.

These include:> the publication and distribution of policy position papers andcontributions developed by EUROCITIES Policy Working Groups> the maintenance of continuous relations with EU institutions, includingthe Commission, the Parliament, and the Committee of the Regions> the participation of city experts in a wide range of EuropeanCommission Expert Groups> the organisation of European conferences and seminars to developand promote common positions on behalf of the whole network> the forging of strategic alliances with other European and internationalassociations and organisations, including the United Nations > the development of links with the national governments of theMember States> the exchange of knowledge and sharing of solutions> the organisation of Europe-wide Campaigns> the promotion of urban research in crucial areas

Campaigning - Raising public awareness

Communication and awareness-raising are increasingly important instruments, especially at the local level, where the activesupport and cooperation of the citizens is often essential to achieving policy objectives. Cities have not only to inform citizensabout what policies are being implemented, but also to explain the reasons why these policies are necessary and encouragetheir citizens' active participation in policy making. Citizens also need to understand the consequences of their actions and choicesfor other people, for the wider society and for the global environment. In this context, EUROCITIES supports its policy priorities by developing a limited number of Europe-wide campaigns on issuesof common concern. These campaigns are aimed at raising awareness and changing behaviour at the level of cities and alsoamong individual citizens, with a view to achieving long-term goals in the framework of a more sustainable Europe.Moreover, EUROCITIES needs to be a reliable source of information and expertise both for its members and for the Europeaninstitutions. The communications tools developed by EUROCITIES play a key role in supporting its lobbying and networking activities.They will be further complemented by a more regular use of the audiovisual media as a means to bridge the gap between politicians and experts, and the general public.

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the inclusive city

The Inclusive City is committed totackling the causes of social exclusion, to reducing the numberof people living in poverty, and tohelping the most vulnerable groupsand individuals to participate fullyin the social, economic, cultural andpolitical life of the city. It integratesmigrants and refugees, celebratescultural diversity, and is committed toeliminating all forms of discrimination.It provides access for all to well-adapted education, training and newtechnologies (e-inclusion), so thateveryone can benefit from lifelonglearning and take an active part inthe knowledge society. It also payscontinuous attention to improvingmobility and ensuring access tobasic services, and mobilises allavailable means to ensure thehealth and the safety of its citizens.

In the enlarged European Union more than 100 million people are living inpoverty, representing over one fifth of the total population. Most of these peopleare to be found in urban areas, concentrated in and around major cities. Thissituation puts a heavy burden on cities, in terms of social, economic, environmental and financial costs. Poverty is closely linked to various socialproblems such as: unemployment; discrimination and cultural barriers; restricted access to decent housing, public transport and other services. Italso seriously undermines the quality of life in cities, and not only for thosepeople who are directly affected. Working to eradicate poverty and tacklesocial exclusion is therefore the greatest social challenge facing Europe.

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Objective 1: Promote action to combat poverty and social exclusion

Effectively tackling poverty and social exclusion requires an integrated, multi-dimensional approach, cutting across all policy fields - employment, educationand training, housing, mobility, health and culture - in order to adequatelyaddress the problems of disadvantage and discrimination faced by differentgroups in society.

Tackling the causes of social exclusion, reducing thenumber of people who are unemployed and/or living inpoverty, and eradicating all forms of discrimination, areamong the main objectives of the Lisbon Strategy, whichis being implemented in the Member States by means ofNational Action Plans for social inclusion and foremployment. Cities have a central role to play in helpingto achieve these objectives.

EUROCITIES is committed to ensuring that social inclusion ismainstreamed as a primary policy objective and that cities arerecognised as key partners in national and European policy-making processes, including the design and implementationof the National Action Plans for social inclusion.

"Europe's cities are engines of growth and prosperity, but at the same time they are alsothe places where poverty and social exclusionhit the hardest. Due to the ongoing settlementof newcomers, the demographic composition ofour populations is continually changing. So isthe cultural and social make-up of our urbansocieties. New diversities are introduced, newlines of division, new inequalities becomeincreasingly visible. EUROCITIES confronts agreat challenge over the coming years to strivetowards the inclusive city, to include allgroups in the society. We must all jointly andeach one of us actively and purposefully fightdiscrimination and work for equal opportunitiesfor all our citizens."

Kent AnderssonDeputy Mayor of Malmö

Chair of EUROCITIES Social WelfareCommittee

the inclusive city10

Objective 2: Promote equal opportunities for all, respecting diversity

EUROCITIES is very strongly attached to the promotion of equal opportunitiesfor all, and combating all forms of discrimination so that everyone can play afull part in society, irrespective of their sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion orbelief, disability, age or sexual orientation. Protecting people against discrimination is an essential element of ensuring respect for fundamentalrights as set out in the European Charter of Human Rights, the RevisedEuropean Social Charter, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and otherinternational texts agreed by the Member States.

EUROCITIES recognises culturaldiversity as one of the greatstrengths of European cities,and supports an open andinclusive approach towardscoexistence among differentcultures as vital for a vibrantand successful city. Culturaldiversity also presents importantchallenges for cities, such asthe need to facilitate the socialintegration of immigrants andminority groups with differentcultures, including action toovercome linguistic and otherbarriers.

Ensuring that everyone has access to the widest possiblerange of resources and opportunities, particularly inrelation to education and lifelong learning, is a prerequisitefor building a society based on mutual understandingand respect.

EUROCITIES is committed to promotingequal opportunities for all, and contributingtowards the prevention of all forms ofdiscrimination. In this framework, EUROCITIES actively promotes the wideadoption and implementation of itsContribution to Good Governance on integration of immigrants and receptionof asylum seekers.

"Equal opportunities for all includesequal access to education andtraining for all. But equalaccess doesn't necessarily meanthat all young people are able touse that possibility. The socialheritage in terms of family background, poverty and badhousing conditions prevent manychildren and youngsters fromgetting the full benefits ofeducation and training. Similarproblems combined with culturaldifferences can be seen in relationto immigrant families, thus hampering social integration,which is one of the biggest challenges facing Europe's citiestoday. We must therefore findnew ways to adapt our educational systems and teachingmethods in favour of democraticlearning, activating citizens, andcombating discrimination andprejudice."

Per BregengaardDeputy Mayor of CopenhagenChair of EUROCITIES Working Groupon Education

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the inclusive city

Objective 3: Ensure Information and Knowledge Society rights for all

EUROCITIES is committed to ensuring the wide recognitionand realisation of a set of clearly defined rights to beenjoyed by all citizens in order to achieve an inclusiveInformation and Knowledge Society. These rights areessential for achieving a competitive and prosperouseconomy in the digital age and for ensuring social andterritorial cohesion.

As a network of cities, EUROCITIESis in a strong position to promoteand implement, locally and inter-nationally, a European Charter ofeRights. This Charter will establisha framework of guaranteed"rights", including education andtraining in the use of Informationand Communication Technologies(ICTs) for all members of society,including children, so that theymay benefit from the advantagesof the Information Society. In thisframework, EUROCITIES will supportlocal administrations to developpolicies and services that will enableEurope to become the most competitive and inclusive knowledge-based economy in the world.

EUROCITIES is committed to developing, promoting and implementing a European Charterof eRights, with the aim of ensuring that everyone can participate in the Information and Knowledge Society.

"The Charter of Rights and Essential PublicServices for European Citizens regardingInformation and Communication Technologies(ICTs) seeks to set out the principles definingthe framework in which all members of societymust be able to use the internet and ICTs.Nevertheless, in order for a statement ofrights to be credible it must translate intoclear commitments from governments, and sothese are included in the Charter. TheCharter will also specify a range of publicservices conceived as the basis for effectivegeneral use of ICTs in our cities, and thusdefine them as essential services such as: theprovision of internet access, online citizens'participation, and the obligation for governmentsto deliver high quality information."

Joan ClosMayor of Barcelona

President of TeleCities

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the prosperous city

Economic globalisation, technological changes and the shifttowards a knowledge-based economy are having a majorimpact on urban economies, not least because businesses canmove around more easily their centres of activity. Immigrationand demographic changes, such as the ageing of urban populations,are posing new challenges to cities, with wide-ranging consequences,including for the labour market and for the services sector.Meanwhile, in the countries which are currently in the processof joining the EU, cities are addressing the challenge of managinglocal economic development following the transition to a marketeconomy.

City governments are facing challenges across a wide variety of issuesincluding: improving the delivery of public services and utilities; urbanregeneration in the context of sustainable development; partnershipswith private companies; supporting and retaining a skilled workforceand knowledge base; fostering entrepreneurship (the creation of businessparks and economic development zones); breaking the link betweentransport growth and economic growth; and reducing the administrativeburden on businesses (especially small and medium-sized enterprises).

The Prosperous City provides a positive environment for businesses to growand expand, and works with private companies, universities and researchinstitutes, to promote research and development, innovation and competitiveness.It makes itself attractive to businesses and individuals by, for example, ensuringa good supply of housing, and a wide range of cultural and leisure facilities.It invests in maintaining a modern infrastructure for transport and tele-communications, and is home to a well-educated and adaptable workforce,capable of meeting the changing demands of today's and future labour markets.It focuses on promoting entrepreneurship and supporting the creation of newemployment opportunities. It ensures that all households and businesses areprovided with access to a wide range of high-quality services. While pursuingthese objectives, the Prosperous City also ensures the safeguarding of itsenvironmental and social quality.

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Objective 4: Promote sustainable urban economic development

The promotion of sustainable urban economic development involves attracting andsustaining businesses, increasing the number and the quality of jobs, providing a fertileground for new enterprises including those using new technologies, while also takingcare to minimise any negative social and environmental costs of economic activity,not only at local level but also globally.

European Social and Cohesion Policieshave a crucial role to play in supportingsustainable urban economic development,including not only the renewal of infra-structures but also the building of linksbetween those urban areas facing theworst social problems, and emergingopportunities, for example in terms of newjobs. Moreover, the effectiveness ofEuropean policies for cohesion and regionaldevelopment depends on the close involvement of cities in their design andimplementation. The aim must be to ensurethat Europe's cities are able to provide anattractive environment where people wantto live, work, and spend their leisure time.

The economic competitiveness of cities depends on their ability to attract newbusinesses in upcoming growth sectors, and to integrate innovation in all sectors,including the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). This ability will support the economic regeneration of cities affected by thedecline of traditional industrial sectors, by helping them to fully grasp theopportunities of the knowledge economy and the changing requirements oftoday's society, thus contributing to the social, economic and territorial cohesionof Europe.

EUROCITIES is committed to promoting sustainable urban economic development across Europe and lobbying for astrong focus on the urban dimension in the framework of theEU Structural Funds.

EUROCITIES is committed to promoting the knowledge-based and other growth sectors, fostering the creationof quality jobs, and maintaining the crucial role ofcities in the European economy. EUROCITIES, togetherwith other partners, will promote, support and strengthencooperation between centres of knowledge and expertiseacross Europe.

"Successful cities are the key to aneconomically strong and viableEurope, and an essential pre-condition for a socially inclusiveand cohesive society. Our cities aretherefore the focal points to realisethe Lisbon and GothenburgStrategies which aim to makeEurope the most competitive andinnovative continent. It is our obligation to ensure that all ourcitizens can fully participate andwill enjoy the benefits of increasedprosperity."

Gérard CollombMayor of Lyon

Chair of EUROCITIES EconomicDevelopment and Urban

Regeneration Committee (EDURC)

the prosperous city14

Objective 5: Promote the creation of new employment opportunities

Access to paid employment is vital for the social andfinancial well-being of individuals and families.Employment creation and the efficient matching of jobsand workers are essential for the prosperity and competitiveness of the city.

Through their policies, cities support entrepreneurship, new ways of working(e.g. teleworking) and the creation of jobs in growing sectors including: thedigital, cultural and media industry sectors; the social and environmental servicessectors; and the social economy sector. They also strive to ensure that trainingand employment opportunities are both available and accessible for peoplefacing social disadvantages, in particular those who live in the most deprivedurban areas.

In this context, Europe's major cities -as centres of entrepreneurship, businessgrowth and employment creation -have a valuable contribution to maketowards the successful realisation ofthe European Employment Strategy.

EUROCITIES is committed to promotingentrepreneurship in cities through actionssuch as the EUROCITIES Campaign on theEuropean Day of the Entrepreneur, and byfocusing on annual thematic priorityareas.

EUROCITIES is committed to ensuring the involvement of local governmentsas key partners in the implementation of the European EmploymentStrategy and the National Action Plans for Employment.

"Across Europe, many cities are facing thelong-term challenge of how to make surethat enough new jobs are being created toreplace those which have been lost as aresult of industrial and technologicalchanges. Cities must develop innovativeand integrated policies to attract newemployers and encourage the creation ofnew businesses, taking advantage ofgrowing sectors in the knowledge economy,including new technologies and creativeindustries. At the same time, cities shouldstrive at ensuring an inclusive labourmarket where all those who are able towork, are given an opportunity to do so.They must also pay special attention tosupporting the social and economic regeneration of neighbourhoods affectedby high unemployment, which is linked topoverty and other social problems. This isan area where cities in different countriescan gain a lot from learning about eachother's experiences."

Tony FlynnLeader of Newcastle City Council

Chair of EUROCITIES Working Groupon Employment

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the prosperous city

Objective 6: Promote access for all to high quality services

Access to high-quality "services of general interest" is important both for citizens' quality of life and for the economic prosperityof cities. Local governments in Europe have traditionally been responsible for the provision of a wide range of these services totheir citizens. These include, among others: affordable housing; reliable public transport; water supply; waste management;education and health services.

At European level, the European Commissionis pursuing a process of liberalisation ofservices of general interest, based mainlyon the imperatives of the internal marketand competition, without undertaking acareful assessment of the long-termimpact on the affordability, quality andcontinuity of essential services.

EUROCITIES asserts that, in accordance with the principles ofsubsidiarity and local self-government, the choice as to theform of provision of local services, including whether or not totender out these services, is best made at local level. EUROCITIESinsists that local authorities should be allowed to take environmental and social criteria into account when awardingtheir public contracts.

EUROCITIES is committed to promoting a morebalanced integration of social and environmentalconsiderations into all aspects of the Europeaninternal market and competition policy.

EUROCITIES is committed to ensuringthat all citizens are provided withaccess to a wide range of high-qualityservices, which are efficient, reliableand affordable, and which contributeto the shared values of solidarity,economic, social and territorial cohesion and sustainable development.

“Public authorities, especially those at local level,have a central role to play in ensuring that certainessential services are provided in such a way thatthey are available, accessible and affordable foreveryone. We have a responsibility to ensure thateveryone can have access to services which are of anacceptable quality. This is essential for respectingfundamental rights, and for giving all citizens agood quality of life. It is also necessary for workingtowards the political objectives of the EuropeanUnion, including: social, economic and territorialcohesion; and sustainable development."

Holger TschenseVice-Mayor of LeipzigChair of EUROCITIES Working Groupon Services of General Interest

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Objective 7: Promote action to improve urban security

Cities have an important role to play in ensuring the securityof the public, working in close cooperation with the policeand other responsible authorities. Improving urban securityencompasses a wide range of tasks including: crime prevention and reduction; and the involvement of citizens indialogue on how to increase the perceived and actual levelof security.

Cities, together with their citizens, must developaction plans for dealing with all kinds of threats tourban security, including youth crime, drug-relatedcrime, violence and aggression, prostitution andhuman trafficking.

Cities also need to contribute withtheir particular experiences to theobjective of ensuring that the enlargedEuropean Union and associated partnercountries can become "an area of freedom, security and justice", whichis enshrined as an objective in theTreaty of Amsterdam.

EUROCITIES is committed to developing and improving practice andpolicy across Europe on urban security, including crime prevention andcrime reduction, and to contributing towards ensuring that the enlargedEuropean Union will be an area of freedom, security and justice.

"Making cities safe and keeping them that way is one of the most importanttasks assigned to city administrations. Obviously, they cannot do this alone. Thepolice and judicial authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecutingcriminal activity. Schools and welfare organizations are our partners incrime prevention. And individual citizens also have an important role to playin contributing towards increased urban security. More cooperation is alsoneeded at the national and European levels: to deal with organized crime, toprevent the exploitation of illegal immigrants, and to exchange expertise andexperience. City networks such as EUROCITIES can play an important role interms of getting urban security on the European agenda, as well as buildingand reinforcing strategic coalitions among cities."

Wim DeetmanMayor of The Hague

Chair of EUROCITIES Working Groupon Urban Security

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the sustainable city

Cities have a central role in implementing the principle of sustainable development, in cooperation with other territorial spheres of government(regional, national and European). This requires a coordinated approach topolicy-making, bringing together environmental objectives with social, culturaland economic ones. At the same time cities must ensure that efforts to improvetheir citizens' quality of life, while pursuing social progress and economic prosperity, do not put at risk the quality of life of today's and future generations,or of people in other parts of the world.

From the environmental quality perspective,cities are responsible for providing their citizenswith a healthy environment, clean air, clean drinkingwater and green spaces. Furthermore, publichealth and the ways in which environmental factorsimpact on human health are major concerns forcities and their citizens.

The Sustainable City develops integrated policies and makes use of the latestrelevant technologies to reduce the negative impacts of social and economictrends, and all aspects of human activity, on the local and global environment.It implements active measures to reduce waste and increase recycling, to protectwater resources, to minimise environmental pollution and harmful emissions.It promotes the use of clean technologies and renewable energy sources. It protects and develops public and green spaces and defends the diversity ofplant and animal life in urban areas.

The Sustainable City promotesthe use of sustainable transportsolutions, which enable peopleto travel around their urbanregion and participate in allaspects of city life withouthaving to use private motorvehicles. It encourages sociallyand environmentally responsibleconsumption of energy andother resources.

The Sustainable City also provides all parts of thepopulation with information about the importance ofincreasing sustainability and how individual citizenscan make a positive contribution, including by meansof awareness-raising actions in cooperation withschools, other educational institutions, and otherpublic and private partners.

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The need for integrated approaches is also recognised at the European level where the EuropeanCommission is developing a Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment in the framework of the6th Environment Action Programme.

EUROCITIES is committed to promoting integrated urbanplanning and management as a way of achieving balancedand sustainable urban development. EUROCITIES willensure that the views and concerns of its member cities arereflected in the European Commission's Thematic Strategyon the Urban Environment, focusing on the priority themesof sustainable urban management and transport, urbandesign and construction. Furthermore, it will activelyencourage the development and implementation of innovative,effective and flexible policy instruments.

"Nowadays we think of the urban environment in international,even global terms. Helsinki is participating in a worldwideeffort to shape a more sustainable way of living based ona balance between people and nature. This key politicalpriority has stimulated us to work in a holistic and integrated way. Our city’s decision-making and administrationprocesses have been developed in order to solve multi-dimensional challenges. It is no longer possible to considerthe management of environmental affairs as somethingseparate from other sectors and policies. Larger cities playa central role in safeguarding and improving the qualityof life. We cannot however solve all of the problems alone.We need cooperation between all stakeholders and genuinepartnership among different levels of government."

Eva-Riitta SiitonenLord Mayor of HelsinkiFormer President of EUROCITIES

Objective 8: Promote integrated approaches to environmental and urban planning, with effective instruments

Many areas of urban policy, including energy, transport, economicdevelopment, social welfare, urban and land use planning andmanagement, leisure and tourism and the use of new technologies,have a direct or indirect impact on the quality of the environment,both within the city and in the wider region. Creating a sustainablecity requires an integrated, comprehensive and long-termapproach, backed up by political commitment and the necessaryresources. Furthermore, it requires the availability of effectiveinstruments supporting cities in their efforts to achieve greaterurban sustainability. These instruments must be appropriate tothe needs of specific groups of cities such as those in the newMember States.

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Objective 9: Promote action to improve the quality of the environment

Environmental quality encompasses a wide range of issues including air quality, pollution and noise control, green spaces and biodiversity, climate change, water andwaste management. Cities are responsible for providing a clean, safe and healthyenvironment for their citizens, and local authorities also have a central role to play inmeeting and enforcing environmental standards and targets, including those decidedat European and/or international level.

Environmental policy has for many yearsbeen recognised as an area of competenceof the European Union, and so there arenumerous European regulations and policiesalready in effect, as well as more beingdeveloped.

Furthermore, to facilitate the monitoring of cities' progress towardssustainability, and in particular to support the evaluation of policyoutcomes and effectiveness, EUROCITIES will promote the use ofcommon and comparable indicators by cities across Europe.

EUROCITIES is committed to ensuringthat the needs and concerns of citiesand citizens are properly taken intoaccount during the development andimplementation of all European policiesand legislation with consequences forthe quality of the urban environment.

"EUROCITIES has worked hard to contribute tothe proposed Thematic Strategy on the UrbanEnvironment, and to ensure that the need for integrated urban planning and management willbe recognised in the forthcoming EU Directive. Toachieve sustainability, cities need appropriateinstruments, integrating many areas of urbanpolicy and also linking with the wider region,including local urban development plans developedthough a process of consensus between the different actors and all the various levels ofgovernment. The European Common Indicators maybe a useful tool to facilitate the evaluation ofpolicy outcomes and effectiveness."

Evangelina Naranjo MárquezDeputy Mayor of SevilleChair of EUROCITIES EnvironmentCommittee

the sustainable city20

"Many of the environmental problems affectingEuropean cities are the result of too muchcar traffic. EUROCITIES and ACCESS membersare therefore committed to reducing the negativeeffects of congestion, and working togethertowards transport systems that are moreenvironmentally friendly, accessible for all,meeting the needs of all citizens and reducingtraffic-related impacts on health. We areequally concerned about the number of accidentsand injuries occurring on our roads everyyear. The SAFE Campaign aims to contributeto the European Commission's target of halvingthe number of road accident victims by 2010,through the implementation of local initiativesin towns, cities and regions across Europe."

In the European Union, promoting moresustainable urban transport is recognisedas a major political priority, especiallybecause of the potential benefits forhuman health and for the quality of thelocal and global environment.

Across the enlarged EU, road accidents areresponsible for killing some 50 000 people andinjuring more than 2 million people each year.Most road accidents happen in urban areas, andso cities have a crucial role to play in helping toachieve the EU target of halving the number ofdeaths caused by road traffic accidents by 2010.

EUROCITIES is committed to promote, for instance through theEuropean Mobility Week campaign, the increased use of sustainableurban transport solutions and the integration of public transportnetworks, with the aim of enabling all citizens to access and travelaround all parts of the city while substantially reducing the use ofthe private car.

EUROCITIES is committed to launching aEurope-wide campaign focused on improvingroad safety in urban areas and taking actionto reduce the numbers of people who arekilled or injured in road traffic accidents. Giuseppe Pericu

Mayor of GenoaPresident of ACCESS - Eurocities for a

New Mobility Culture

Objective 10: Promote accessible, safe and integrated transport networks

The continuing increase in urbanroad traffic leads to a wide range ofproblems including traffic congestion,air pollution and noise, whichundermine the urban environmentand citizens' quality of life. Citiescan contribute to sustainablemobility by working with publictransport providers, with regionaland national governments and withother responsible authorities toincrease investment in publictransport, to improve the integrationbetween different modes of transportand to improve the infrastructurefor pedestrians and cyclists. Citiescan also implement measures todiscourage and reduce the use ofprivate cars, especially in city centres,and to raise public awarenessabout the need to encourage a"new mobility culture" in urbanareas.

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Objective 11: Promote responsible consumption patterns

The production and the commercialisation processes of products and services oftenhave a strong direct or indirect impact in fields such as the physical environment,public health, employment, working conditions, poverty levels, safety standards, etc.Different behaviours in purchasing goods and services can therefore make a big difference with regard to the overall objectives of sustainable development, socialcohesion, and equitable trade conditions across the world.

Cities can make a significant and positivecontribution towards the promotion ofmore responsible consumption patterns intheir role as major purchasers of productsand services, through incentives forincreasing local distribution and purchasingof more "responsible" products, and bytaking action to raise the awareness andchange the behaviour and consumptionpatterns of all citizens, including children.

EUROCITIES is committed to promoting the responsible consumptionof resources, products and services by public authorities and by citizens, by means of a Europe-wide Campaign on ResponsibleConsumption.

"In Paris and other major cities, we are becomingincreasingly aware of the important impact that theprocesses of production and distribution of goodsand services are having in relation to areas such asthe environment, public health, working conditions,the economy and education. Therefore we have decidedto develop a holistic and coherent approach with theaim of modifying our purchasing behaviour, andalso encouraging our citizens to be more vigilantand more demanding in their modes of consumption.But the road is very long, and our work is only justbeginning!"

Pierre SchapiraVice-Mayor of Paris

Chair of EUROCITIES Working Groupon Responsible Consumption

the sustainable city22

The need for action to tackle unsustainableproduction and consumption patterns wasalso confirmed in the conclusions of theUnited Nations World Summit onSustainable Development in Johannesburg(2001).

the creative city

Cities provide arenas for culture, creativityand self-expression. Art and culture canopen up new perspectives, new ways tosee oneself and the society in which onelives. Access to art and culture allowspeople to develop their understanding ofthemselves and their surroundings, andto explore their own potential. Art andculture can provide citizens with opportunities to participate actively in thelife of their city. Culture is not only a reservoir of history and creativity, but alsoan important factor for human developmentand social cohesion, and a key contributingfactor to enhancing citizens' quality oflife.

The Creative City develops cultural policies which are designed to meet theneeds of the whole population, including children, and which include supportfor the professional arts. This means recognising and strengthening the valueof culture, both as an important component of a good quality of life, and alsoas valuable contributor to social and economic development. It also meanspromoting artistic freedom and quality, and strengthening the areas of production and distribution of cultural products as well as the areas of innovation, knowledge and learning. Facilitating an environment where creativity and innovation flourish is an essential precondition for achievingeconomic competitiveness and social cohesion.

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the creative city

Objective 12: Promote the increased recognition of culture as a vital aspect of public policies at all levels

Recognising that culture is necessary for citizens to enjoy a good quality of life, citiesare elaborating strategies which place cultural policy at the heart of local governance.Meanwhile, culture is an important factor for the successful enlargement of theEuropean Union, and the significance of culture for creativity and innovation must betaken into account in European policies.

The sharing of best practices, the mapping ofcities' cultural profiles and the developmentof new and improved cultural indicators areall important elements for developing policyand research recommendations at Europeanlevel. They can also provide a basis for workon the elaboration of long-term urban development strategies, within which culturalpolicies are also integrated.

EUROCITIES is committed to promoting increasedrecognition of the importance of culture in theEuropean Union, and to encouraging and supportingthe development of cultural strategies at local,regional and national levels.

"Maybe the most important task in the cultural dimension is to position cultureat the heart of the European project. Now that the significance of culture isincreasingly being recognised by the European Union, EUROCITIES should bestriving to highlight the importance of culture and human creativity for ourcities. Shared cultural values and concepts are essential to the common futureof Europe. Not only are the concepts of art, culture and self-expression importantfor a successfully enlarged European Union, they are also essential prerequisitesfor innovation and development in cities."

Annika BillströmMayor of StockholmChair of EUROCITIES CultureCommittee

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Objective 13: Promote access to and participation in culture for all

Most cities have wide cultural programmes, but the majority of cultural events areshaped and enjoyed by only a relatively small minority of the population. In order toincrease the number of people participating in and shaping the cultural structures ofcities it is necessary to share experiences among European cities.

Cities have a role to play in stimulating publicdebate and involving citizens in an open dialogueon how culture and art can be made accessiblefor all, focusing not only on the local situationbut also sharing ideas with other European cities.

In the context of an enlarging European Union, where nationalborders are becoming less significant, it is important to drawattention to our common values and heritage. European citiesare also facing the common challenge of how to develop policiesand strategies which acknowledge cultural diversity as a positiveforce.

Children and young people should be recognisedas a valuable resource for the cultural and artisticrenewal of cities and of Europe as a whole,although they are often excluded from establishedcultural structures. Appropriate strategies forcities include involving young people in redefiningthe goals of local cultural policies, as well as providing the facilities and resources for youngpeople to create and develop their own culturalactivities.

EUROCITIES is committed to promotingactions and strategies to facilitateaccess to and participation in art andculture for as many citizens as possible,including young people. Furthermore,EUROCITIES is committed to supportingactions which recognise and highlightEurope's common cultural heritage.

"Culture has a wide range of effects onthe urban environment: from the economicimpacts measured in terms of jobs, toother impacts that are more difficultto measure because they concernimprovements to the overall quality oflife for all our citizens. Culture is andhas always been one of the fundamentalcomponents of urban life in Europeancities. The cultural sector can consequently be considered as a meansof developing the city, through integrationwith the economic world and with thetraining and research sectors, so thatculture becomes a means of achievinglocal sustainable development for all.The right to culture for all should beseen as a strategic human right to bepursued with all our efforts!"

Paolo CostaMayor of Venice

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participation and cooperation

In today's Europe, public policy-makers face a series of long-term challenges,including social, cultural, economic and environmental ones. These can onlybe adequately addressed through close and continuous cooperation amongthe various territorial spheres of governance in consultation and partnershipwith a wide variety of stakeholders, including citizens, and through increasedaccess to the latest relevant knowledge and expertise. This 'Participation andCooperation' Chapter is, therefore, complementary to the four 'CityDimensions' outlined above.

The proposed Constitutional Treaty of the EuropeanUnion, as drafted by the Convention, recognises theneed for a closer involvement of local and regionalauthorities in European decision-making processes.Meanwhile, new consultation mechanisms are beingdeveloped to allow for a continuous and systematic dialogue between the EU institutions and the Europeanassociations representing local and regional authorities(sometimes called the "Territorial Dialogue").

The European Commission increasingly turns to EUROCITIES to provideurban expertise in formal and informal consultations during the draftingof proposals in various relevant policy fields. To participate effectivelyin these consultations, cities must work together to improve theirunderstanding of European policies and how they affect cities, drawingon relevant local knowledge and expertise.

Cities also have a valuable contribution tomake towards the development and implementation of policies at nationallevel in each of the Member States. Thereis a need to identify best practices in relation to the cooperation and dialoguebetween large cities and their nationalgovernments, especially as concerns theimplementation of European policies andlegislation with an impact on cities.

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Objective 14: Promote cities' involvement in policy-making and implementation

Cities represent a vast and unique source of knowledge and expertise with regard tochallenges and solutions across a wide range of policy areas. They play an importantrole in the implementation, financing and enforcement of policies and legislation.They are key stakeholders in the policy-making and implementation processes atnational and European levels, and must be recognised as vital partners in the emer-ging Territorial Dialogue with the EU institutions.

EUROCITIES is committed to reinforcing its position as a partner of theEuropean institutions and national governments in the framework of asystematic dialogue covering a wide range of relevant policy fields.Where appropriate, it will cooperate with other partners in pursuit ofthis objective.

Close cooperation between cities andmetropolitan regions and the other territorialspheres of governance, including the EUinstitutions, is especially important for thesuccessful development and implementationof policies and instruments in a widerange of fields, including social, cultural,economic and environmental policies. Inthis regard, EUROCITIES will continue toactively engage in the development ofinnovative partnership and cooperationapproaches between local, regional andnational governments and the EU institutions.

EUROCITIES is committed to engaging inthe development of innovative processes,tools and instruments that will enhancegovernance in Europe, such as the OpenMethod of Coordination and multi-partiteagreements.

EUROCITIES will encourage and make use of relevantresearch to help cities improve their citizens' quality of lifeand to support sustainable urban development, and will promote the development of Urban Knowledge Centresacross the enlarged European Union.

"The important role of cities and regions in European governance is increasingly being recognised. The work of theEuropean Convention has confirmed that local and regionalself-government, the principle of subsidiarity and the rightto dialogue should be acknowledged and respected. Now itis time to put these principles into practice. The model ofinterdependent spheres of governance, rather than hierarchical levels of administration, needs to be reflectedin the institutional structures of the enlarged EuropeanUnion. Subsidiarity needs to build an active relationshipbetween the local, regional, national and European spheresof governance. Through systematic dialogue with theEuropean and national institutions, through new ways ofbuilding partnerships, and by encouraging involvement inpolicy-making, cities are contributing positively to the shaping of tomorrow's Europe."

Albert BoreLeader of Birmingham City Council

Chair of EUROCITIES Working Groupon Governance

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participation and cooperation

Objective 15: Promote the modernisation of public administration and e-government

EUROCITIES considers the development and promotion of e-governmentas one of the means to increasing the productivity, transparency andefficiency of public administration. Local authorities are strongly engagedin modernizing their administration and increasing the efficiency andquality of public services by making use of appropriate Informationand Communication Technologies (ICTs) to speed up administrativeprocedures, minimize paper consumption and facilitate informationtransfers and communication with citizens, customers and stakeholders.

To improve their efficiency and effectiveness, cities mustimplement the necessary changes including administrativereforms, increasing the provision of high-quality professionaltraining, and improving the skills of workers in the areasof communication and information management.

It is clear that such a process will be betterrealised if the sharing of experiencesamong cities is included as a key elementof the strategy. For this reason, EUROCITIESrepresents an ideal platform to collectexamples of good practice and to shareinformation and knowledge to develop thenext generation of services that will helpcities to improve the quality of local publicadministration in Europe.

EUROCITIES is committed to promoting theeffective and appropriate use of Informationand Communication Technologies by localgovernments, and ensuring that the views oflocal authorities are taken on board in the development of European e-governance policies.

"The revolution of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has probably been the most importantmotor of change in public administration. ICTs have notonly considerably transformed the means of service provision but also the relationship between the cityadministration and the citizens. In Vienna, just like inmany other European cities, e-government has becomestate of the art. In the future, we can expect that e-government will increasingly bring about benefits forlocal governments. The crucial question is: what is thebenefit of e-government for the city as such? To me theanswer is that it can make the organisation of publicadministration more efficient, more focused, and clearer."

Michael HäuplMayor of Vienna

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Objective 16: Promote international networking and cooperation among cities

The enlargement of the European Union to 25 Member States in 2004,with more countries to join in the future, represents an unprecedentedopportunity to increase cooperation between countries and amongcities, which will strengthen democracy and human rights across theentire continent. The member cities of EUROCITIES are determined towork together in order to ensure that the enlarged European Union servesas a framework for improving the quality of life for all of our citizens,including those in the new Member States, and those in the candidatecountries. It will support the exchange of experience and knowledge,contributing to the process of working towards a more prosperous andsustainable Europe, with greater social, economic and territorial cohesion.

EUROCITIES recognises the importance ofcooperation with cities in all the neighbouring countries of the enlargedEU, including those countries which surround the Mediterranean Sea, in orderto improve mutual understanding andtrust. To ensure political stability for thefuture, the European Union and theMember States need to develop new waysto manage the various issues related tomigration, with the close involvement oflocal and regional governments.

EUROCITIES supports exchanges of knowledge,expertise and training among European cities andthose in neighbouring countries, contributing to thereinforcement of democratic, inclusive and effectivelocal self-government. We also encourage partnershipsbetween European cities and cities in other parts ofthe world, including for example local developmentcooperation initiatives.

EUROCITIES is committed to promoting internationalnetworking and cooperation among cities in theenlarged European Union and in neighbouringcountries.

"The historic enlargement of theEuropean Union represents anopportunity to increase thecooperation among cities in allof the Member States and alsothose in neighbouring countries,many of which are aspiring tojoin the EU. In particular, weshould use the experience gainedduring the accession process ofthe new Member States, in orderto strengthen local democracy inother countries, including theBalkan states, and help thesecities to integrate themselvesinto European structures. Throughcooperation between municipalauthorities, EUROCITIES cancontribute to deepening the integration process between theEU and its new neighbours, bringingimportant benefits to all of us interms of peaceful relations,political stability, economic prosperity, social developmentand cultural dynamism."

Branislav HochelDeputy Mayor of Bratislava

Chair of EUROCITIES East-WestCommittee

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printed in Belgium on environmentally friendly paper made with eucalyptus fibers - May 2004

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Photo creditsphoto page 27 © Bruxelles-Capitale, photographer Marcel Vanhulst

photo page 28 © Stadt Wien, photographer Kurt Keinrath

eurocities strategic objectives

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