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Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs
Key urban development policy areas of the German Presidency in the first half
of 2007
27 November 2006
I. Preliminary remarks
(1) On 1 January 2007, Germany will take over the EU Council Presidency for six months.
Within the context of this presidency, Germany will host an informal meeting of the
ministers responsible for urban and spatial development in Leipzig on 24 and 25 May
2007.
(2) The key policy issue of the informal ministerial meeting will be "Strengthening
European cities and their regions ­ promoting competitiveness, social and
territorial cohesion in Europe and in its cities and regions".
(3) This key policy issue of the German Presidency picks up the thread of the European
Council decisions on sustainable development and applies them in concrete terms to the
spatial development of urban neighbourhoods, cities and regions.
(4) The main results of the German Presidency as well as the conclusions will be
summarized in two policy documents which will be adopted at the conference: the Leipzig
Charter on Sustainable European Cities (at the informal ministerial meeting on urban
development) and the Territorial Agenda of the EU (at the informal ministerial
meeting on territorial cohesion).
(5) The Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities will build on the Urban Acquis of
Rotterdam 2004 and the Bristol Accord of 2005.
II. The EU Sustainable Development Strategy and the urban dimension
(6) With its decision of June 2006, the European Council adopted a renewed EU Sustainable
Development Strategy which reaffirmed the former key objectives of sustainable
development: "economic prosperity", "social equity and cohesion"and
"environmental protection". As expressed in the Urban Acquis and the Bristol Accord,
an increased integration on two levels will be required in order to attain these sustainable
development objectives. On the one hand, different sectoral policy areas must be better
coordinated. On the other hand, policies have to be much better coordinated at the local,
regional, national and global levels.1
(7) The European Council emphasizes the important role of cities and regions for
implementing the renewed Sustainable Development Strategy. "With regard to the
important role of local and regional levels in delivering sustainable development and
building up social capital, it is the overall aim to build sustainable communities in urban
and rural areas where citizens live and work and jointly create a high quality of life."2
1
An important contribution to this process will be made by the "Territorial Agenda of the EU". Please
refer to http://www.bmvbs.de/Raumentwicklung-,1501.963052/Territoriale-Agenda-der-EU.htm
2
Council of the European Union (General Secretariat): Review of the EU Sustainable Development
Strategy - Renewed Strategy. Brussels, 26 June 2006 (18.07) - 10917/06, item 29.
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(8) In its resolution of 12 January 2001, the European Council underlined that high quality
architecture can also contribute effectively to improving people's quality of life3
.
(9) The demand for a high quality of life of citizens is expressed for example in the central
challenge of the renewed EU Sustainable Development Strategy "Social inclusion,
demography and migration". The overall objective of this challenge is creating a socially
inclusive society by taking into account solidarity between and within generations and to
secure and increase the quality of life of citizens as a prerequisite for lasting individual
well-being. The cities have shown in the past that they have the potential to contribute
effectively to realizing these objectives. They fulfil all the prerequisites to accomplish
these tasks.
(10) Cities and conurbations
ˇ are centres of economic strength. Here is where supply and demand, innovation
and information are focused. Jobs, firms and educational institutions of all levels
tend to be concentrated in cities. As a rule, the share of the population with higher
education is higher in the cities. A high educational standard, in turn, is a basis and
an engine for dynamic economic growth which in turn will trigger innovation
activities and entrepreneurial initiative. A positive urban milieu will then attract new
talent;
ˇ are centres of social and ethnic inclusion. In the history of cities there are numerous
examples of successful inclusion of new population groups into urban society.
Nevertheless, this inclusion does not always take place immediately and without
conflicts. At present cities are faced with major challenges, especially in connection
with the change in economic structures and globalisation. Specific problems, among
others, are especially high unemployment and social exclusion. If individual urban
neighbourhoods show a concentrated occurrence of these problems, they may
experience decline and stigmatisation. The consequences of these overlapping
social and structural problems affect mainly residents with a migration background,
with especially young people being affected in this group;
ˇ have made major efforts in the past to conserve or recreate a sound environment.
In many cities, public parks, urban forests and connected green spaces ensure
healthy urban living. There are also many positive trends regarding environment-
friendly transport.
On the other hand, cities are particularly susceptible to environmental problems, the
environmental factors concerned being noise, air quality and traffic emissions.
Neglected buildings also cause health problems and a diminished quality of life.
Environmental pollution in cities as well as a poor quality neighbourhood
environment are among the main reasons why residents leave cities and move to
the urban fringe. The resulting urban sprawl and land sealing leads to additional
traffic. At the same time, more and more production and retail businesses are
moving out of the city centres to the urban periphery. This also has negative
consequences, because it increases car traffic and makes people dependent on
motorised transport for basic services.
(11) The European Union can only implement its renewed Sustainable Development Strategy
successfully if it gives due consideration to this urban dimension of sustainability. The
profound changes in the economic patterns and demography in Europe pose enormous
challenges for the cities in particular. On the one hand, we have economically thriving
cities with a growing population; on the other hand, we have areas and cities which are
struggling with the enormous problems caused by the structural changes of the economy
and a declining and ageing population. Here, the cities and those responsible in and for
the cities play an essential role. At the same time, the cities must also make their
3
During the German Presidency, this issue will be addressed in detail at the Forum "Building
Culture in Europe" which will take place at Hamburg on the 26 and 27 April 2007.
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contribution to the Lisbon strategy. After all, the EU Sustainable Development Strategy
and the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Employment complement each other.
III. Integrated urban development policy: A contribution to the EU Sustainable
Development Strategy
An integrated development concept for the city as a whole
(12) The strategy of integrated urban development planning has proved to be an effective
instrument for implementing sustainability in numerous EU member states. It mainly
implies the coordination of different sectoral policies in terms of space, subject matter
and time on the basis of an "integrated urban development concept". This concept is
developed in cooperation and accordingly in consultation with all urban stakeholders but
also with the population in particular.
By integrating the concerns of the public, businesses, sectoral planners and
neighbouring communities at an early stage and in a comprehensive manner, a
particularly sustainable urban development can be obtained.
(13) An integrated urban development policy can contribute significantly to improving the
standards of living and prospects for people, businesses and the environment. The initial
basis for this is an integrated development concept for the city as a whole. The main
objectives of developing these overall concepts are as follows
ˇ increase the effectiveness of public measures by coordination at an early
stage and by increasing the pooling of public and private funds at the level
of the individual urban neighbourhoods. Coordinating the use of funds in
this manner will establish planning and investment certainty and will
reduce the costs for the public and private sectors. Possible benefits of
involving public and private banks on a national and international level in
funding urban development measures should always be considered.
ˇ give citizens and firms (Corporate Social Responsibility) the opportunity to
participate. This participation will increase the positive reception of
measures and promote inclusion, identification with and cohesion in the
urban neighbourhoods. The objective is to promote the establishment of
new partnerships between citizens, the private sector and the public
sector.
ˇ The concepts for an integrated urban development should
o describe the strengths and weaknesses of cities and
neighbourhoods,
o define consistent objectives for development,
o coordinate the different neighbourhood, sectoral and technical plans
with each other,
o concentrate and coordinate the use of instruments by public and
private stakeholders and
o be well coordinated between the local authorities.
Therefore, an integrated urban development policy is an important contribution
to the EU Sustainable Development Strategy.
Integrated urban development and deprived neighbourhoods
(14) Against this background, the main focus in the field of urban development policy under
the German Council Presidency will be on the important role that integrated urban
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development plays in the sustainable development of European cities. The objective is
to demonstrate the benefits to be gained from integrated urban development in the
rehabilitation and upgrading of economically, socially and environmentally deprived
urban neighbourhoods. This policy focus was chosen for the following reasons:
ˇ Within one city, considerable differences can prevail in terms of economic and social
opportunities, but also in terms of the different quality of the environment (physical
state of buildings, public space and public infrastructure). Actually, the economic
and social differences within one city are quite frequently more significant than
between different cities. In addition, the social distinctions and the differences in
economic development are often continuing to increase which contributes to
destabilization in cities.
ˇ The existence of deprived urban neighbourhoods affects the attractiveness, the
competitiveness, the engines of social inclusion and the security of cities. In
consequence, they also have a negative impact on the sustainable growth of urban
regions, Member States and of the European Union as a whole.
Moreover, combating social exclusion in cities is a key element of the EU's
community of shared values.
ˇ As social problems increase in deprived urban neighbourhoods and economic
stagnation sets in, public funds will be needed to stabilize these neighbourhoods.
This will tie up public funds ­ scarce as they are already - which could better be
used for measures to increase competitiveness or for supporting education and
research.
ˇ In a development phase with a declining population and an increasing number of
elderly people in many European cities, one of the priorities of spatial policies must
be to involve the younger generation as future key players in the production and
knowledge process. This applies particularly to deprived neighbourhoods with a
relatively high proportion of children and young people, many of whom have a
migration background.
(15) Within the context of an integrated urban neighbourhood development policy, special
consideration should be given to the following strategic approaches on economically,
socially and environmentally deprived neighbourhoods:
ˇ Field of action: upgrading the physical environment
Many deprived neighbourhoods are characterised by urban blight, outdated
infrastructures and a poor environment. Frequently the existing building stock does
not meet present day design and energy efficiency requirements. These
deficiencies have a negative impact on the development opportunities of the
neighbourhood ­ especially if they are compounded by social and economic
deficiencies. They prevent its population from participating in growth, employment
and prosperity. Moreover, these deficits are an obstacle to entrepreneurial
activities.
Deprived neighbourhoods must not be left behind in terms of the prevailing
standards in the quality of construction and infrastructure, energy efficiency and
building culture. For this purpose, public investments in these sectors with the aim
of upgrading public spaces, improving the area's infrastructure and the
architectural quality are indispensable.
ˇ Field of action: Strengthening the local economy and local labour market
policy
In deprived neighbourhoods, approaches for economic stabilization must also
exploit the economic forces inherent in the neighbourhoods themselves. The
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opportunities for employment and training in the ethnic economy in particular are
important starting points.
The strategy of "Strengthening the local economy" (Focal group: businesses and
firms in the urban neighbourhood) and "Strengthening the local labour market
policy" (Focal group: employable residents in the urban neighbourhood) ranges
from the support of small and medium-sized enterprises to the public promotion of
creative milieus in cities and urban neighbourhoods. In the draft working paper of
1 March 2006 on "State Aid Control and Regeneration of Deprived Urban Areas",
the European Commission described good examples for the promotion of the local
economy. Micro-credits are a further instrument which can be an impetus for
important economic developments.4
More use should be made of the potential of
the local ethnic economy for training and employment and the impetus given by
architectural interventions and rehabilitation for the regional economy.
ˇ Field of action: proactive education and training policies for children and
young people
A central starting point for improving the situation in deprived neighbourhoods is the
improvement of the local education and training situation in conjunction with
proactive policies on children and young people. This approach has proved to be of
particular relevance in neighbourhoods with a high percentage of children with a
migration background.
Keeping this in mind, training programmes must be established or improved which
are orientated towards the possibilities and the situation of the residents in the
neighbourhoods concerned. The same applies to programmes for children and
young people. Considerations to develop an integrated, interdepartmental policy
approach, as the "European Youth Pact" 5
demands, are part of this approach as
well as the establishment of viable partnerships between the public sector,
independent institutions, schools and businesses.
IV. Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities
(16) There are European best practice examples for each of the action areas described
above. The German presidency will prepare presentations on these successful
projects for an exchange of experience between the member states which will take
place in the run-up to the informal ministerial meeting at Leipzig in May 2007. This will
also involve the European URBACT and EUKN networks.
With this exchange of experience, the German presidency will follow up on the
activities and decisions of the previous presidencies. At the same time the principle of
4
The JEREMIE programm (Joint European Resources for Micro to medium Enterprises) is designed
to be the EIB's contribution to resolving these development deficits. JEREMIE will be integrated into
the cohesion funding from 2007 on and can be backed-up by funds for regional development.
5
At the European Council spring meeting on 22 and 23 March 2005, the heads of state and
government adopted the "European Youth Pact" as one of the instruments to attain the Lisbon
objectives for more growth and employment. The Lisbon Strategy is also significant for young people
as they are immediately concerned by the requirements it defines, such as in the areas of education,
employment and social inclusion. The objective is to reinforce the efforts to dovetail all policy areas
concerning young people. The presidency conclusions of the European Council of 24 March 2006
underline the objective of considering social cohesion und the promotion of equal opportunities for
everyone as a path to a socially more inclusive society and as a basic principle of the EU's reform
processes in economic and labour market policy.
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using best available knowledge which is one of the guiding policy principles of the
Sustainable Development Strategy is to be taken into account.
(17) It is planned for the results of the political discussion to be finalised in the adoption of
a "Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities" at the informal ministerial
meeting. This charter will concentrate on the strategy of integrated and sustainable
urban development and the fields of action for deprived neighbourhoods.
V. Political conclusions of the Presidency
(18) In addition to the "Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities", the political
conclusions of the informal ministerial meeting will provide comments on the progress
achieved regarding the work programme adopted in Bristol in late 2005 under the UK
presidency.
This includes
o the role of the European Investment Bank (EIB) in urban development:
A Member States working group chaired by the UK with the participation of the
Commission and the EIB will draft a report which analyses the funding of urban
development investment by the EIB and derives conclusions as well as
recommendations for the future. In this context, the EU's JESSICA initiative
(Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas) plays an
important role because it aims at a more credit-oriented use of structural funds.
For this reason, the Jessica initiative is also mentioned in the report concerning
the EIB. JEREMIE (Joint European Resources for Micro to Medium Enterprises)
is a second EU initiative which is of relevance to urban development. It
envisages the creation of funds which will provide (micro-)loans, equity capital
and venture capital, as well as guarantees for small and medium-sized
enterprises. The report is also planned to include JEREMIE.
o Further development of the European exchange of experience:
Here, focus will be placed on an assessment of the "Skills for the Future"
symposium of the Academy for Sustainable Communities as well as a debate
on the development of the European URBACT II, EUKN (European Urban
Knowledge Network) und EFAP (European Forum for Architectural Policies)
networks.
(19) A further subject for discussion will be a contribution of the commission which will
presumably deal with the role of sustainable urban development in the new
programming period 2007-2013.
(20) Experiences gained in these subject areas and from the conference of the
European Forum for Architectural Policies on "Building Culture in Europe" will
also be incorporated into the "Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European
Cities".