Commission for the Environment, Climate change and Energy
The Seventh Environment Action Programme and the sustainable city (7EAP)
Opinion factsheet
På denna sida
- Environment
- EU environmental policy
- Sustainable development
- Cohesion Policy
- Urban policy
Opinion number:
CDR-7987-2013
Status:
Antagna
Objective
Reply to the European Commission 4 questions concerning the implementation of the Environment Action Programme's 8th priority objective on the enhancement of the sustainability of the Union's cities
Gather the CoR expertise on policy making and implementation on the ground in order to support the EC in its bid to encourage sustainable urban development
Help DG ENV to contribute effectively from the environmental perspective to a more global strategy of sustainable development in the EU
Gather the CoR expertise on policy making and implementation on the ground in order to support the EC in its bid to encourage sustainable urban development
Help DG ENV to contribute effectively from the environmental perspective to a more global strategy of sustainable development in the EU
Impact
The opinion aimed at answering 4 questions submitted to the CoR by the European Commission. On 3 items the CoR was able to make its point; creation of a category for smaller cities (< 100 000), the potential further development of the European Green Capital in line with the initiative European Capital of Culture and opportunity of exchanging best practices coming from towns and cities.
E.C. Follow-up report on opinions (60)
E.C. Follow-up report on opinions (60)
Essential points
THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
- On encouraging cities to take urban sustainability measures: the CoR suggests strengthening the principle of multi-level governance, since success depends on cooperation and on a common approach between the cities which have responsibility for urban development, and the other government levels which contribute to the overall framework for sustainability.
- The CoR, as the EU institution representing the voice of regions and cities of EU and the point of contact for many local networks, should be a central element within this governance system.
- The CoR also recommends a common approach coordinated at EU level actively involving LRAs with the appropriate degree of flexibility that allows towns and cities to assess themselves against common sustainable city criteria and pursue the sustainability goals by taking their own measures. The recommended EU criteria could build on the Reference Framework for European Sustainable Cities (RFSC).
- On promoting information dissemination and exchange of good practice: the CoR welcomes the work of the European Commission on providing a web-based portal as a single point of contact and encourages its members to provide relevant information. Calls on the Member States to make sure that information reaches towns and cities. Relevant communication plans should be drawn up with the involvement of EU institutions, their representations in the Member States, the associations of the local and regional authorities and any other relevant stakeholders.
- On the European Green Capital Award: The example of the European Capital of Culture shows that an award with a legal and financial base has even greater potential to encourage cities to participate and to generate long term results. The CoR is in favour of the European Green Capital being developed in this direction.