23.05.2006
CoR seeks cities to participate in “Lisbon” network
The Committee of the Regions (CoR) launched a call for expression of interest to European local and regional authorities. The CoR will establish a network of fifty regions and local authorities to monitor their progress towards implementing the Lisbo...read more

22.05.2006
Ministers and citizens debate urban environment
EU Environment Ministers, civil society representatives, non-governmental organisations, local authorities and MPs debated environmental issues on 19 and 20 May. The aim was to listen to citizens and to take account of their environmental concerns. A...read more

22.05.2006
235 million euros for citizenship programme
At their Council meeting on 18 May, EU Cultural Ministers reached a political agreement on the “Citizens for Europe” programme for 2007-2013. Over the next seven years, the programme will receive 190 million euros in 2004 terms, which is the equivale...read more

19.05.2006
EC to launch calls for tender on social exclusion
The European Commission has announced five open calls for tenders on combating social exclusion. A pre-publication notice can be found on the website of the Directorate-General Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.read more

19.05.2006
EU lags behind in immigrant education
In a report published last Monday, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) writes that the European Union member states are far less successful in educating the children of immigrants than countries such as Australia, New Zea...read more

19.05.2006
ECJ forces local authorities to tender out contracts
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled in favour of two Italian firms who objected to the Commune of Busto Arsizio's decision in December 2003 to give a contract to AGESP, a company the Commune owns for 99.98%. The ruling limits local authorit...read more

18.05.2006
Results of consultation on “Cohesion Policy and cities” available
The results of the public consultation on “Cohesion Policy and cities: the urban contribution to growth and jobs in the regions” are now available on the DG Regio website. Currently, the results are available in French only. Translations in other lan...read more

18.05.2006
Croatian local and regional authorities defend minority rights
The Committee of the Regions (CoR) hosted a seminar on the implementation of minority rights in Croatia on 16 May. At this seminar Croatia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Ms Grabar-Kitarovic, highlighted the special role of l...read more

18.05.2006
Cities needed to tackle unemployment
Social partners, regions and cities need to be more involved in the EU employment policies if Europe is to reduce unemployment. This was the message from Employment Week, taking place in Brussels from 16-18 May.read more

17.05.2006
Improved air quality saves thousands of lives
In a recent report, the European Environment Agency (EEA) stresses the positive side-effect of climate change policies on the effectiveness of existing air pollution abatement. Tackling climate change will improve Europe's air quality. By doing so it...read more

16.05.2006
Academy for Sustainable Communities (ASC) reveals vision for the future
On 11 May the ASC announced its strategy and key priorities at a stakeholders event in Leeds. They proposed to put skills and knowledge at the heart of sustainable communities. This strategy underpins the ASC’s commitment to working with other stakeh...read more

12.05.2006
More legal certainty for local authorities in the field of public services
The president of the Committee of the Regions (CoR), Mr Delebarre, is expected to call on the EU to launch a new directive on services of general interest. He will do so today at the general assembly of the Council of European Municipalities and Regi...read more

11.05.2006
Grants for research on social dimensions of sustainable development
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is to make available funds to sponsor research. In this context, the EIB has established the EIB University Research Sponsorship (EIBURS). In total, four universities will be selected to receive a grant of 100,000 e...read more

10.05.2006
More money for urban housing and regeneration in new Member States
On 5 May, the Council of Ministers reached agreement on European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund (ESF) spending for the next budgetary period (2007-2013). ERDF spending on housing will be eligible in the new EU member states...read more

09.05.2006
New Department for Communities and Local Government in the UK
In the United Kingdom, a Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has been created. DCLG will be the successor department to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM). It is an expanded department with a powerful new remit to promo...read more

09.05.2006
Wanted: cities to participate in Network on Integration Policy
The City of Stuttgart and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions initiated a city network on integration policy. It will pool practitioners on local integration policies from major European cities with researcher...read more

08.05.2006
MEPs want more money for training and cities
The members of the Regional Development Committee of the EP want more Structural Funds for training projects and urban areas. This is their main point of advice on the draft guidelines on the use of the Structural Funds for the period 2007-2013 propo...read more

08.05.2006
Commission considers urban transport policy
Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot staged the idea of a European policy on urban transport at a forum on EU urban policies. This forum was organised by the Committee of the Regions on 26 April in Brussels. The European Commission is considering to...read more

05.05.2006
Parliament drafts European Charter on Housing
The European Parliament's URBAN-Housing Intergroup adopted a European Charter on Housing on April 26. Housing is not a European Union responsibility in the strict sense, but policies developed and supported by the European Union do have an impact. Th...read more

04.05.2006
90.000 euros for 50 research networks
COST invites European researchers to submit proposals for research networks on the scientific, economic, cultural or societal development of Europe. This year, COST will select approximately 50 new research networks. On average financial support of s...read more