Since 2002, the Liège City Contract has supported activities in eight districts: Saint-Léonard (North), Sainte-Marguerite, Centre, Outremeuse-Amercoeur, Burenville-Glain, Bressous-Droixhe, Sainte-Walburge and Angleur-Kinkempois-Vennes. These districts are identified as priority areas because they present the weakest socio-economic indications.

With regard to the integrated development of the districts, a quarter of the total budget is dedicated to district projects. In particular these projects concern public facilities aimed at improving the quality of life and security (parks, playing fields, lighting, signs, pedestrian walkways, etc.); and other projects relating to the organisation of festive events encouraging social cohesion (between cultures, generations and social backgrounds). 

Regarding social cohesion, the City is especially looking to improve the participation of associations and the districts’ young people. The implementation of sporting, culture and intercultural activities must recreate links between the inhabitants. Each district is served by an intergenerational coordinator, a socio-sporting coordinator and a “youth and inter-cultural” coordinator. The non profit organisation Cocktail-Longdoz organises sporting activities (mini-football and boxing) for young people from broken homes and the non profit organisation Ateliers d’Art Contemporain offers workshops in photography, computer graphics and web design to all inhabitants from the four priority districts.

Socio-economic concerns are not omitted from the city contract.

The City of Liège wants to combat the problem of unoccupied and unsanitary housing or housing which is too small and support economic activity. Since 2001, building inspectors have been responsible for confirming that works conform to the urban development permit issued and updating the land register with regard to the de facto situation of some buildings. Since 2005, they have also had to draw up an inventory of land and buildings available for the setting up of new economic activities.
The aim of the non profit association Gestion Centre-Ville is to energise and develop the expertise and diversity of businesses in the city centre.
In the centre, a day nursery has been opened for children of jobseekers and in the Sainte-Marguerite district, a job training scheme has been set up which ai ms to prioritise the socioprofessional integration of young people, women and immigrants.
To combat exclusion, the City has also formed partnerships with associations active in emergency assistance,  day accommodation (Day Shelters), night time accommodation (Night Shelters), food and heath assistance (Resto du Cœur, Opération Thermos) and help with housing (Public Social Welfare Centres – emergency housing).

Finally, in the field of public cleanliness, the City is strengthening the street cleaning teams and raising its inhabitants’ awareness of recycling.  It has put in place a "cleanliness umbrella” under which the different communal departments and the manager of public nuisances are brought together.

The City is involved in an approach of citizen participation to develop its city project 2003 – 2010.  This is based on a double annual assessment: an overall analysis on City level and a specific analysis on district level. This assessment is drawn up by experts from the strategic development committee, who start from an inventory with updated data.
The inhabitants are consulted to determine the priority actions to be taken on both levels.

On the city level, the project is subject to the opinion of the population who come to a decision about the priority actions to be taken. Some projects are financed by the city contract.

On the level of each of the eight districts, the participative approach is much more pronounced, since a coordinator works with the inhabitants to establish the district projects which meet their requirements.  The projects are devised from September of the previous year; they are presented to the programme coordination at the beginning of the year and subject to the agreement of the Board in the spring.  All actions approved as a priority are financed by the city contract.

Coordination City Contract Urban Policy Programme
2, Rue Lonhienne
4100 Liège
Ms. Latifa Es-Safi (Administrative Coordinator)

//2005

case

Urban Policy

Security & crime prevention