EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Cohesion policy: cities are motors for growth and jobs

Cohesion policy: cities are motors for growth and jobs

02-01-2006

During the informal meeting of ministers responsible for regional policy on 6 December 2005 in Bristol, United Kingdom, Commissioner Danuta Hübner presented a paper on “Cohesion Policy and cities: the urban contribution to growth and jobs in the regions”. The paper explicitly mentions cities as being the "motors for growth and jobs". That is why, according to Hübner, policy at national and European level needs to have an urban dimension.

The paper sets out an agenda for the promotion of a more integrated and strategic approach to urban development that can deliver more growth, jobs, social inclusion and improved environmental quality. The proposals are part of the Commission’s reform of cohesion policy for the 2007-2013 period.

According to the paper, urban policy should focus on a number of specific themes, in order to exploit the European cities´ full potential:

Attractive cities: cities are to be made more attractive, by improving both accessibility and the urban environment;
Knowledge economy: cities must better support innovation, entrepreneurship and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs);
Social cohesion: cities need to be safer and more inclusive;
Governance: cities must better cooperate with their regional partners, stimulate active citizenship and exchange more knowledge with other cities;
Finance: cities are encouraged to make more use of public-private partnerships; the European Commission and the European Investment Bank together seek to improve access to finance for start-ups, for the development of SMEs and for micro-enterprises.

On 6 December a public consultation on the Commission’s paper has been launched. The results of the consultation are to be published and will inform the final version of the Community Strategic Guidelines for Cohesion, the document which will set the framework and future priorities for European funded programmes in the 2007-2013 period.

The Commission invites all interested parties to participate in this consultation exercise and welcomes comments on the paper before 17 February 2006. Comments can be made by e-mail.

Links
Source: European Commission - DG Regional Policy Read the full report online.

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