This paper puts the European city back on the map as an important entity in delivering the Lisbon Agenda. Commissioner Danuta Hübner presented the paper on 06 December 2005 in Bristol, during the Informal meeting of ministers responsible for regional policy. 

The European Council of March 2005 reaffirmed that “Europe must renew the basis of its competitiveness, increase its growth potential and its productivity and strengthen social cohesion, placing the main emphasis on knowledge, innovation and the optimisation of human capital”. The Council underlined that the Union must “mobilise all appropriate national and Community resources – including Cohesion Policy”. Growth and jobs are the main priority for Cohesion Policy.

Local actors already play a crucial role as partners in the pursuit of growth and jobs. Cities and metropolitan areas are drivers of economic development. They are also key locations for removing obstacles to growth and jobs – notably social exclusion and environmental degradation. Accordingly, the draft Structural Funds regulations allow Member States to sub-delegate the implementation of urban actions to urban authorities.

This working paper can be used by Member States together with their relevant partners – particularly local authorities – in the preparation of the new round of Cohesion Policy programmes. In the meantime, the Commission will consult on this working paper. The results are to be integrated into the final version of the Community Strategic Guidelines.

The public consultation is open until 17 February 2006.

DG Regional Policy
city-consultation@cec.eu.int

23/11/2005

policy

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Competitiveness