Interview with Claes Nilas, Chair of the URBACT Monitoring Committee
“To me URBACT means pragmatic solutions to concrete urban challenges, and the possibility to draw on ideas and best practices from a large network of cities facing similar challenges”.
In early 2012, Copenhagen-born Claes Nilas took over as Chair of URBACT's Monitoring Committee, a post he will hold until the end of the year. Mr Nilas is Permanent Secretary of State and Deputy Minister at the newly established Danish Ministry of Housing, Urban and Rural affairs. In the interview, he tells us why "the URBACT programme is all about added value", and presents urban challenges from a Danish perspective.
“In my previous positions, I also had a strong focus on urban development, particularly urban development in deprived neighbourhoods. […] Due to the financial crisis, we are now facing a situation that is completely different. In this new situation we have to become even better in forming networks and working together across sectors and borders to find sustainable and possibly cheap solutions to the many challenges of urban development.”
24 Apr 2012