Final conference

1

• Final conference.
• 16th-17th September 2004
• The Hague

2

• The Role of Cities in delivering Sustainable
  Development for Europe
• Mark Bacon
• DG Environment
• European Commission

3
Importance of Cities

• Majority of population lives in cities health
  consequences can be large (air quality)
• Urban sprawl generates traffic, pollution and
  destroys habitats
• Cities account for significant use of resources
  and generation of waste and pollution
• Need an integrated approach at city level to deal
  with complex interactions
• Making cities more sustainable is fundamental to
  achieving sustainable development

4
Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment

• Integrated EU strategy to make towns and cities
  better and healthier places to live, and to
  reduce the impact of towns and cities on the
  wider environment
• Requirement of 6th Environment Action Programme
• Due in summer 2005

5
Commission Action for Cities

• Policy papers started in 1990
• International advisory group (EU Expert group on
  the Urban Environment)
• European Sustainable Cities Towns Campaign
• Conferences on European Sustainable Cities
  (Aalborg 10)
• Dedicated urban research, demonstration
  programmes and development of tools
• Urban focus in policies structural funds, state
  aids, transport, water quality, air quality, noise

6
Thematic Strategy - Process

• Extensive consultations since 2001 including
  expert working groups with cities
• Initial ideas set out in February 2004
• Continued discussion and development of key ideas
• Expert working groups link with PRESUD project

7
PRESUD Link with Thematic Strategy

• Thematic Strategy discussions so far
• Effective governance and management at local
  level is crucial and must be improved (vertical
  and horizontal, better integration, longer term)
• EU can undertake action to achieve this a
  supporting framework for cities
• Possible Directive on environmental management
  plans and systems for cities?

8
Questions for PRESUD

• Could PRESUD be used as a model for the
  management system in any future Directive? Is it
  effective?
• How does it compare and contrast with other
  management systems?
• Could it become an obligation rather than a
  voluntary initiative?
• What messages for the Thematic Strategy come from
  cities in the project?