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Uddannelses- og Forskningsudvalget 2014-15 (1. samling)
FIV Alm.del Bilag 36
Offentligt

MEETING OF CHAIRPERSONS OF COMMITTEES ON EMPLOYMENT,

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Session III – Cities as drivers of innovation

Concept note

Cities have long been the locus of the highest concentration of energy, activity

and resources, driving the evolutionary processes that would produce the

greatest changes. For the same reasons, cities represent complex systems, the

governance of which becomes more difficult as their size increases owing to high

congestion risks.

According to the Commission Communication

COM(2014)490,

entitled “The

urban dimension of EU policies – key features of an EU urban agenda”, Europe

is the most highly urbanized area in the world: some 359 million people, equal to

72% of the total EU population, live in metropolitan areas, generating more than

two thirds of European GDP, consuming 75% of total energy, producing 80% of

emissions and 75% of waste. The share of the urban population continues to

rise, and is likely to reach more than 80% by 2050.

At the same time, the size of European cities, with the exception of the urban

agglomerations of Paris and London, cannot be compared with that of the most

populous and extensive cities on other continents. This should represent an

advantage for Europe, given that smaller size makes for easier governance of the

complex systems that urban areas are.

European cities have not lost their attractiveness and they are still perceived

as places that offer the greatest opportunities for development, as engines of

innovation and growth. Nevertheless, in order to ensure harmonious and

sustainable development, cities must possess appropriate infrastructure to

ensure that resources are used efficiently.

European policies for smart cities, smart transport, the green economy,

resource management and waste treatment are geared to foster the creation of

urban environments that are equipped and organized to improve the quality of life

of urban residents without undermining cities’ role as a driver of the economy and

development.

The scant attention paid to urban issues in European policymaking can be

attributed to the lack of an explicit legal basis, given that the Treaties make no

direct reference to cities or the issues involved in urban life. The various

initiatives undertaken in this arena, from the Urban programme to the Structural

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Funds, have addressed the issue from the perspective of sustainable

development.

In 2011, the European Parliament adopted a

resolution

asking for the

strengthening of the urban dimension in EU policies, urging the establishment of

a joint working programme or a European Urban Agenda.

With Communication

COM(2014)490

of July 2014 on the urban dimension, the

European Commission initiated a public consultation on the future of the

European Urban Agenda, which concluded on 26 September this year. The

preliminary findings of the consultation were discussed in Rome on 1 October

2014 at a conference organized by the Italian Presidency of the European

Council.

It is estimated that over the course of the 2014-2020 financial framework, at

least 50% of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), for a total of

€80-90 billion, will be invested in urban areas through general operational

programmes, while 5% of national ERDF allocations has been earmarked for

sustainable integrated urban development to ensure that it is a priority for all

Member States. The creation of a network of contacts and exchange among

cities continues to be promoted by the next generation

URBACT

programme.

A growing number of EU sectorial policies are focused specifically on urban

areas – energy, information society, environment, education and culture,

transport, climate action and support initiatives such as the European capital of

culture, smart cities and communities – while many other EU initiatives and

directives address urban issues indirectly.

In the light of the foregoing, the issues to be assessed are:

whether the creation of an urban agenda as envisaged by the European

Commission would be sufficient to address the diverse issues concerning the

governance of urban areas from an innovative perspective, with a view to

preserving and leveraging the driving role they can play within the European

Union;

whether the initiatives undertaken in Europe are sufficient to ensure that

cities can achieve sustainable urban development and smart, inclusive and

environmentally compatible growth; more specifically, whether those

initiatives are incorporated within a complete and comprehensive strategy or

instead are flawed by inconsistencies and contradictions;

whether overall European resources can be considered sufficient for the

purpose. In particular, consideration should be given to other channels and

financial instruments that could be used to increase the amount of funding

available;

what best practices should be adopted in projects for smart cities, mobility,

urban renewal and waste management.