29-11-2006

Urban sprawl – which is "when the rate of land-use conversion exceeds the rate of population growth" - has in Europe consumed an area three times the size of Luxembourg between 1990-2000 alone. If the trend continues, Europe's urban area will double in just over a century, warns the EEA.

According to the report, Europeans' increasing demand for land - partly because they live longer and more live alone – is a danger to the EU's environment as well as its social and economic balance.

The report indicated that EU cohesion and structural funds are among the major contributors to urban sprawl in Europe. New member states, therefore, should be provided with "policy guidelines to help avoid the environmental pitfalls that a sudden injection of funds can encourage", said Professor Jacqueline McGlade, EEA executive director.

Although the EU has little or no competences in the area, urban development is fast moving up the European political agenda. One of the priorities of the upcoming German EU Presidency will be the role of cities as motors for economic growth and sustainability. Germany will be holding an informal ministerial meeting on territorial cohesion and urban development in Leipzig on 24-25 May 2007. On the occasion of this meeting, the EU will adopt a Territorial Agenda for the European Union.

In January 2006, the Commission launched a Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment as part of the seven strategies called for by the 6th Environmental Action Programme. It is also preparing a Green Paper on Urban Transport (expected for September 2007).