Creating sustainable cities: ENVE Commission to debate 7th Environment Action Programme - Hoofdinhoud

How best to deliver the eighth objective of the 7 th Environmental Action Programme - namely enhancing "the sustainability of EU cities" - will be the focus of debate on 24 April by members of the Committee of the Regions' (CoR) Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) Commission. Launched in 2012 by the European Commission, the 7th EAP sets out a framework for EU environmental legislation. The draft opinion, led by Ms Daiva Matoniene (LT/ECR), will examine how to improve delivery and help cities across the EU deal with the demands of ever growing levels of urbanisation.

Today 70% of citizens live in cities in Europe a trend that is expected continue for the foreseeable future. Building on previous CoR opinions, Ms. Matoniene, the Deputy Mayor of Šiauliai and Lithuania's Deputy-Minister for Environment, will argue that EU cities must improve the sharing of knowledge and experiences if it is to deliver on its commitment to the 7 th EAP. The draft opinion points out that 56% of towns and cities have populations of between 5,000 - 100,000 and only 12.3% live in cities of more than 500,000 so investment should not ignore helping these smaller towns become more sustainable. Given that cities and towns are primarily managed by local and regional authorities, delivering sustainable urban development can also only be delivered by strengthening their role and influence in the policy decision making process at national and EU level.

Funding structures must be more flexible and communication improved so as to encourage cities to be more sustainable. Ms. Matoniene also suggests that the European Green Capital Award should broaden its criteria and allow cities with at least a population of 50,000 ­- rather than the current 100,000 limit - apply. The opinion is expected to be presented for adoption at the CoRs' plenary session on 25-26 June 2014

Promoting biodiversity in Europe

ENVE members will also debate an opinion on "Multilevel governance in promoting the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020 and implementing the international Aichi targets" to be presented by Kadri Tillemann (EE/EPP), Chairman of Keila Rural Municipality Council. During the United Nations' 10th Conference of the Parties in 2010 the EU backed plans to promote biodiversity which included agreeing to 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets to be met by 2020. To address the issue of biodiversity loss in May 2011 the EU then agreed its Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 laying down a roadmap as part of its efforts to achieve the Aichi targets. Ms Tillemann will present her draft opinion which calls for greater involvement of local and regional authorities in achieving the biodiversity targets and, following a positive vote by the ENVE Commission, will be presented for adopion at the CoRs' plenary session in June later this year.

As part of the initial preparations for an opinion on the matter, Cor Lamers (NL/EPP), Mayor of Schiedam, will take the opportunity to discuss the EU's Clean Air Policy Package. His draft opinion will be presented to the ENVE Commission on 19 June 2014 with presentation at the CoRs' plenary session on 7-8 October 2014.

During the meeting members will also vote to select the new ENVE Commission's new Chairperson.

The meeting will take place at the Committee of the Regions' headquarters in Brussels on Thursday 24 April from 11am - 6pm .

See the meeting agenda for further details.