E-library
EUKN’s interactive European website offers a comprehensive knowledge base for urban professionals, practitioners and politicians. Based on this common platform the German National Focal Point provides country and context-specific knowledge. The national e-library provides free access to case studies, research results, policy documents, context issues and network descriptions.
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Urban Policy
Cities are focal points of problems and potentials. On the one hand, cities stand for economic dynamics, technological, social and cultural innovations and opportunities. On the other hand, they are places where social disparities increase and ecological problems get worse. In the last decades, challenges to urban development policy have changed along with the economic and social conditions. In the future, German urban policy will be challenged to a considerable extent by large-scale and small-scale processes of growth and shrinkage that exist simultaneously and side by side. These dynamics concern all the city’s habitats and functions.
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Economy, Knowledge & Employment
Economic development and employment policy in urban areas mainly concern working conditions to the needs of employees, employers and inhabitants as well as developing and implementing new ideas and providing knowledge and skills. Furthermore in Germany there are special public programmes and initiatives that foster green economic activities in towns and cities. The most relevant programmes deal with climate protection and energy saving matters. Concerning their effects on local employment the energetic refurbishment of buildings has got a very important influence on urban economy in general and for the benefit of the local handcraft sector in particular.
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Housing
In Germany a coexistence of shrinking and prospering regional markets can be found. In general vacancies on the one hand exist parallel to strained regional housing markets and segments on the other hand. Housing policy exerts a controlling influence on housing markets by the use of policy and economic instruments. This is carried out on the one hand by the establishment of the basic legal framework of housing markets, which in Germany is defined above all by rent law. On the other hand, tax and subsidisation policy measures are in place in order to also enable access to the housing market by disadvantaged groups of the population. With regard to the environmental policy aspects of housing, both legal policy and economic instruments for lower energy consumption and sustainable housing development are applied in the form of energy-saving regulations and corresponding subsidisation programmes.
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Security & Crime Prevention
Due to a diffused sense of insecurity the field of safety and security gets more attention in matters of crime prevention and public safety. First and foremost crime prevention and victim support for particular vulnerable groups is of importance. Therefore measures are being implemented to help decrease and prevent crime. For tackling crime also structures for dealing with offenders are necessary, for instance street social workers. Last but not least public safety includes the issue of risk management referring to unexpected and undesired events, such as natural and industrial disasters.
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Skills & Capacity Building
In order to promote sustainable and cohesive communities adequate skills and capacities are necessary. By developing the capacity of organisations and individuals to transfer their practical experience, joint learning will be possible. Therefore knowledge transfer is a key factor. Furthermore engaging individuals and partnership working are basic components to develop the capacity needed. This will enable professionals and practitioners in a sector to work with those in related sectors in an atmosphere of mutual trust and on behalf of sustainable communities.
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Social Inclusion & Integration
Social inclusion and integration stand for ensuring that all groups in society participate in and have access to services and opportunities of the city in general and of the urban district in particular. This calls for developing the social, economic and cultural aspects of local communities. Therefore services that improve well-being, education, employability and income are important. Respective strategies involve local integration concepts, enhanced housing, residential environments and public spaces, qualified schools, education and training measures. Important instruments to strengthen derelict districts are provided by “Social City”, a funding programme of the Federation and the federal states and by the European Social Fund (ESF) programmes.
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Transport & Infrastructure
The requirements for the city as an area of living, economy, culture, education, recreation and traffic in Germany have never before been as high as today. Ensuring a compatible and affordable mobility for all plays a decisive role here. A current challenge is to rebalance proximity and distance. A sustainable urban and transport development ensures mobility in the city comprehensively. It is oriented towards mixed uses, compatible densities of building and use, strengthened decentral centres and polycentric location systems at the local and supralocal level. In this regard local services and amenities, technical infrastructure and public space are of high importance.
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Urban Environment
Among other superior aims urban policy in Germany is focussed on combating climate change and striving for sustainable urban environment. This includes the designing of the physical, cultural and biological surroundings of urban areas. In this framework a principal duty is the management and control of actions to prevent environmental degradation. Furthermore a sustainable land use has to be ensured. Regarding the existing development, urban renewal is of great importance. This includes redevelopment and rehabilitation of urban areas. Last but not least the cultural heritage has to be preserved, including areas or buildings which have aesthetic, historic or social value.