On 11 February 2004, DG Environment launched a consultation process on urban environment which invites comments on a draft strategy on improving the quality of life for citizens.
80 % of Europeans live in towns and cities but in many places, poor air quality, noise, heavy traffic, neglect of the built environment, poor environmental management and a lack of strategic planning have led to a lower quality of life, health problems and even premature deaths.
The Commission document identifies 4 focus areas for policy recommendations:
urban environmental management;
urban transport;
sustainable construction;
urban design.
The proposed approach is for the largest towns and cities in the EU 25 (the 500 or so towns and cities over 100,000 inhabitants) develop and implement an urban environment management plan. Similarly, to reduce the environmental impacts of urban transport and help cities meet their air quality targets, cities need to develop and implement a sustainable urban transport plan.
Deadline for submission of comments to the Commission is 15 April 2004.
The Thematic Strategies are a new way of developing environmental policy for complex priority problems that require a broad approach. They are being developed in 2 stages: widespread consultation and analysis leading to an interim Communication. A second round of consultation results in the Commission’s final strategy (summer 2005 for the Urban environment strategy).
See the Commission press release.
