During an informal meeting on 24 May 2007, the EU Ministers responsible for Urban Development and Territorial Cohesion signed the ‘Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities’, available for download in six languages on the right-hand side of the screen.
(Other languages available upon request)
This charter makes two main recommendations:
1. Make greater use of integrated urban development policy
- Creating and ensuring high-quality public spaces
- Modernizing infrastructure networks and improving energy efficiency
- Proactive innovation and educational policies
2. Pay special attention to deprived neighbourhoods
- Pursuing strategies for upgrading the physical environment
- Strengthening the local economy and local labour market policy
- Proactive education and training policies for children and young people
- Promotion of socially acceptable urban transport
Wolfgang Tiefensee, the German Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs, said that the Leipzig Charter would create the foundations for a new urban policy in Europe and reformulate the idea of the European city.
RICS had sent its position to the German government in which it welcomes the Leipzig Charter as recognition by Member States of the importance of sustainable development or urban areas, whilst at the same time regretting that the Charter does not seem to include a follow-up programme or action points.
On 21 February 2008, the Parliament adopted an own-initiative report on the Charter, stressing the necessity for an intergrated approach by all stakeholders. This report is also available for download.
For more information please contact Sander Scheurwater sscheurwater@rics.org, of the RICS EU Public Affairs Office.
