EUROCITIES. annual report

Transcription

1 EUROCITIES annual report

2 Together, we continue to push the message: Europe s cities will be vital to achieving the Europe 2020 goals. Some of the major issues facing Europe are those we confront every day in our cities. We want to see cities working in close partnership with the EU institutions and national governments. We need to act now: if not, we re at risk of losing a whole generation to unemployment. CONTENTS FOREWORDS 4 CITIES AS DRIVERS OF QUALITY JOBS & SUSTAINABLE GROWTH 8 INCLUSIVE, DIVERSE & CREATIVE CITIES 10 GREEN, FREE-FLOWING AND HEALTHY CITIES 14 The power of culture to bring communities together, create new opportunities and broaden understanding should not be underestimated. Culture has the potential to create more open, tolerant and inclusive societies. SMARTER CITIES 18 URBAN INNOVATION & GOVERNANCE IN CITIES 20 The run up to COP21 in Paris is a crucial time to prove cities have the answer when it comes to fighting climate change. Bristol is determined to play a significant role in that process throughout our year as European Green Capital Reconciling the growing demand for energy with social and environmental issues is a challenge and at the same time an opportunity for cities. We re coming up with creative solutions, like integrated mobility stations to make walking, cycling and taking public transport more convenient. By working together with citizens, industry and partners from various sectors of society, cities can develop the solutions of tomorrow for the problems of today. Drawing on the successful approaches being implemented in our cities, together we can create better mobility, cleaner energy and smarter cities. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS 22 FORUM CHAIRS & PRIORITIES 24 FAST FINANCIAL FACTS 26 MEMBERS & PARTNERS 27 3

3 FOREWORDS HANNA GRONKIEWICZ-WALTZ MAYOR OF WARSAW AND EUROCITIES PRESIDENT JOHANNA ROLLAND MAYOR OF NANTES AND EUROCITIES PRESIDENT Together, we continue to push the message: Europe s cities will be vital to achieving the Europe 2020 goals. This has been a thoroughly urban year. We ve seen the call for an EU urban agenda gather pace, and cities have gained a stronger role in many of the EU policies and programmes intended to deliver Europe And while we ve been a central part of the debate at European level, the work in our cities has continued to demonstrate the wealth of knowledge, expertise and commitment at local level. We have showcased our cities achievements through our involvement in a variety of European projects, on themes such as migrant integration, sustainable urban transport and local energy leadership. I have been fortunate enough to represent EUROCITIES in several initiatives, including the European Commission s High Level Group on smart cities, and the Cities Day at COP19. I am grateful to all the politicians and city experts who have devoted time to EUROCITIES, and to the secretariat in Brussels who have helped steer and coordinate these activities. Together, we continue to push the message: Europe s cities will be vital to achieving the Europe 2020 goals. Drawing on our members vast knowledge and experience, our new Strategic Framework will guide our work towards an EU urban agenda. I know that Johanna Rolland and her executive committee colleagues will ably lead our network into a more urban future. This is an interesting time to be leading EUROCITIES. The new Commission has launched a new start for Europe, setting out a number of high level priorities with a clear urban dimension. As the level of government closest to citizens, we have so much insight, knowledge and experience to share. I am keen to strengthen our relationships with the EU institutions, especially the new European Commission and Parliament, and to work in real partnership with them on the development of policies that impact directly on our cities. Some of the major issues facing Europe are those we confront every day in our cities. From employment, public investment and local public services to climate and COP21, energy, environment and smart cities, our experience and efforts at city level can work for Europe as a whole. And cities are developing their knowledge and capacity by networking and learning from each other through EUROCITIES. In 2015, we will work to maintain this urban momentum. This report is structured around the five areas of work that make up our Strategic Framework , developed in close consultation with our membership and designed to reflect urban realities. This framework paves the way for activities over the coming years, as we continue to reinforce and reiterate the contribution cities are making to European and global objectives. Some of the major issues facing Europe are those we confront every day in our cities. Together with my executive committee colleagues, I am looking forward to building on our success and extending the reach of our network. 4 5

4 ANNA LISA BONI EUROCITIES SECRETARY GENERAL Europe s future lies in our cities. They are where challenges and opportunities come together, and where EU policies and programmes are likely to make the biggest impact. That s why we want to see an EU urban agenda that enables and empowers cities to help shape these. We want to see cities working in close partnership with the EU institutions and national governments to produce results that work for the 75% of European citizens that live in urban areas. We want to see cities working in close partnership with the EU institutions and national governments. And with 70% of EU legislation implemented at regional or local level, working in partnership with cities makes better regulatory sense. Why? Because it can bring about solutions that more accurately reflect the needs on the ground, that maximise the impact of resources, and that avoid legislation. Former regional policy commissioner Johannes Hahn kicked off the urban dialogue with the first urban forum in February We re looking forward to maintaining this momentum with the new Commission, ensuring full recognition of our cities in delivering the EU s strategic goals. We have also been working closely with the EU presidencies to help maintain a prominent position for urban issues on the European agenda. We are taking advantage of the new European institutional context as a chance to reinforce this work, reaching out to MEPs with an urban interest and engaging with the re-established urban intergroup. Cohesion policy is one of many new EU policies and programmes where we have helped secure a stronger urban dimension. It earmarks minimum resources to be spent on integrated projects in cities. We will continue to keep an eye on the implementation of these programmes, and engage with our members to offer new ideas for the future. 7

5 CITIES AS DRIVERS OF QUALITY JOBS & SUSTAINABLE GROWTH We need to act now: if not, we re at risk of losing a whole generation to unemployment. GETTING PEOPLE INTO WORK Challenges around employment are concentrated in urban areas. From youth unemployment to the working poor, it is in cities that strategies are developed to create quality jobs and help people access them. Our politicians have joined forces to launch a declaration on work in 2015, led by the mayor of Ghent. It will demonstrate the high political priority mayors give to creating jobs and reflect the important role cities play in developing employment policies. Building on its extensive research with European cities, our working group employment is preparing its statement on the EU s Youth Guarantee. With youth unemployment one of the most pressing urban challenges, getting young people into jobs, apprenticeships, training or education is a top priority. DANIËL TERMONT MAYOR OF GHENT GROWING SMALL BUSINESSES Small businesses thrive in cities, where the right mix of support, clusters and networking opportunities provides an ecosystem for growth and jobs. To help cities continue to nurture entrepreneurs and small businesses, we contributed to the European Commission s consultation on the Small Business Act for Europe, calling for it to have a strong territorial dimension and involve cities. SIMPLER SERVICE DELIVERY Simpler and more flexible EU procurement rules, agreed in January 2015, will help local authorities make more strategic choices when procuring works, goods or services. These changes reflect many of the issues we had been drawing attention to, and give cities greater room to choose how best to deliver services to their citizens. They will be able to take into account overall quality, innovativeness and staff experience, as well as including environmental and social clauses that encourage job creation. The simplified rules also make it easier to manage public contracts more effectively, saving time and resources, and encouraging SMEs to bid. 8 9

6 INCLUSIVE, DIVERSE & CREATIVE CITIES CELEBRATING DIVERSITY Cities diverse populations present challenges as well as opportunities. Through our ImpleMentoring project, which ended in June 2014, we showed how our cities increase social cohesion by involving migrants in different aspects of local life. The project supported our Integrating Cities Charter, which has now been signed by 33 mayors. It went global in December 2014, with Toronto in Canada being the first non-european city to sign. Experts from Tampere visited Lublin for an ImpleMentoring visit in June on enhancing public perception of migration and diversity. As a result, Lublin has created a post in the mayors office to manage migration and diversity projects. It also launched the Lublin for all campaign, and a competition for young journalists to report positive stories about migration

7 INCLUSIVE, DIVERSE & CREATIVE CITIES CULTURE BUILDING BRIDGES CITIES DELIVERING SOCIAL CHANGE The power of culture to bring communities together, create new opportunities and broaden understanding should not be underestimated. Culture has the potential to create more open, tolerant and inclusive societies. Culture has the power to improve social cohesion and tolerance in our cities. In Belfast and Derry in March 2014, members of our culture forum discovered how community arts and other cultural initiatives are building bridges between citizens. In October, they met Silvia Costa, chair of the European Parliament s culture committee, to explore how culture plays a part in celebrating diversity and fostering cohesion. We are currently compiling a collection of good practices describing how cities are getting underrepresented groups involved in cultural activities. And from 2015, we will lead on a project exploring how culture and cultural heritage contribute to social inclusion, urban regeneration and intercultural dialogue. Cities experience in designing effective and integrated strategies means they should be seen as crucial partners in the delivery and evaluation of the Social Investment Package (SIP). From childcare to homelessness support, we showcased local initiatives to improve citizens quality of life in a collection of good practices developed by our SIP taskforce. Mayors Daniël Termont of Ghent and Karin Stjernfeldt Jammeh of Malmo reinforced the need to involve cities as partners when speaking at the European Platform against Poverty convention on social innovation in cities. 90% SILVIA COSTA MEP, CHAIR OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT S CULTURE AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE 12 Birmingham s Youth Hub helps young people under 21 at risk of homelessness by providing a whole range of service, like advice on employment, education, training, housing and debt, under one roof. The council s homelessness service checks whether interim accommodation can be provided, while the children s service works with year olds. The Youth Hub has helped 90% of year olds through its doors avoid homelessness. 13

8 GREEN, FREE-FLOWING AND HEALTHY CITIES LOCAL EFFORTS FOR GLOBAL RESULTS CITIES PIONEERING CLIMATE ACTION The run up to COP21 in Paris is a crucial time to prove cities have the answer when it comes to fighting climate change. Bristol is determined to play a significant role in that process throughout our year as European Green Capital Climate action needs to start in cities, centres of population, economic growth and industry. In the run up to COP21 in Paris, we are continuing to promote the role of cities in achieving global climate goals. And as Copenhagen hands over to Bristol in 2015, it is one of a series of EUROCITIES members to have held the European Green Capital title, demonstrating local commitment to improving the global environment. GEORGE FERGUSON MAYOR OF BRISTOL, EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL 2015 The Covenant of Mayors now has over 6,000 signatories, and 81 cities have already signed up to its new initiative on climate adaptation, Mayors Adapt. Cities are leading by example when it comes to tackling climate change, reducing harmful greenhouse gases, and increasing energy efficiency. Our CASCADE project, which ended in May 2014, connected 75 cities in 19 countries working together on improving their local sustainable energy policies. Mayors speaking at our 2014 annual conference in Munich described how local action can help mitigate climate change and boost the transition to sustainable energy. DIETER REITER MAYOR OF MUNICH (HOST OF OUR 2014 ANNUAL CONFERENCE) Reconciling the growing demand for energy with social and environmental issues is a challenge and at the same time an opportunity for cities. We re coming up with creative solutions, like integrated mobility stations to make walking, cycling and taking public transport more convenient

9 GREEN, FREE-FLOWING AND HEALTHY CITIES SAFER STREETS, HEALTHIER CITIZENS Cycling and walking are some of the most sustainable ways to get around the city. Protecting these vulnerable road users is a top priority for cities. European Mobility Week 2014 saw citizens reclaim urban space from private cars under the heading our streets, our choice. We were also among a number of organisations calling for safer lorry cab design, a proposal due to come into force in And with air quality at the top of our agenda, we are stressing the need for strong, effective legislation to help member states and cities clean up their air. Some 2,000 cities and municipalities from 44 countries officially joined the 2014 European Mobility Week Campaign. Between them, they are responsible for a record 8,543 new permanent mobility measures

10 SMARTER CITIES By working together with citizens, industry and partners from various sectors of society, cities can develop the solutions of tomorrow for the problems of today. Drawing on the successful approaches being implemented in our cities, together we can create better mobility, cleaner energy and smarter cities. SHAPING OUR SMARTER CITIES Finding innovative solutions for major urban challenges requires new approaches, using smart ICT, energy and traffic management. Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, mayor of Warsaw, represented us on the high level group guiding the European Innovation Partnership on smart cities, which links industry with European cities to speed up the large scale deployment of smart city solutions. Meeting in Bordeaux in October 2014, our knowledge society forum explored how the internet of things can humanise cities, while participants at our annual conference in Munich experienced some of the ways cities are using smart solutions to manage traffic and energy production. HANNA GRONKIEWICZ-WALTZ MAYOR OF WARSAW AND EUROCITIES PRESIDENT ( ) EMBRACING THE ENERGY SAVING POTENTIAL OF ICTs By signing our Green Digital Charter, 44 cities have already committed to increasing energy efficiency through ICT, and reducing the carbon footprint of ICT itself. For the past three years, the charter has been supported by the Networking intelligent Cities for Energy Efficiency (NiCE) project, which has carried out a series of training sessions, study tours, roadshows, and published a toolkit to support signatories. The success of NiCE means we are leading the follow up GuiDanCe project, which started in January

11 URBAN INNOVATION & GOVERNANCE IN CITIES NEW FORMS OF GOVERNANCE Urban challenges don t respect administrative boundaries, and many require cross-border solutions. Our metropolitan areas working group has been exploring how cities are dealing with these issues together with their surrounding areas. Our economic development forum in Brno considered the added value of having a coordinated governance approach throughout a metropolitan area, and compared the various forms of metropolitan governance in different countries CLOSING THE GAP WITH CITIZENS How can cities make sure their citizens have the chance to really contribute to local policies? Athens is behind a new EUROCITIES initiative which will explore innovative co-creation methods cities are using to make the most of input from civil society. Athens was one of the winners of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge , which we supported, for its online platform connecting citizens with local institutions and government. We are also involved in the FP7-funded SEiSMiC project, which is helping build a network of urban stakeholders to involve citizens in collaborative research into urban solutions

12 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON 1 DECEMBER 2014 JOHANNA ROLLAND MAYOR OF NANTES (PRESIDENT) DANIËL TERMONT MAYOR OF GHENT (VICE PRESIDENT) XAVIER TRIAS MAYOR OF BARCELONA IVO NESROVNAL MAYOR OF BRATISLAVA GIULIANO PISAPIA MAYOR OF MILAN AHMED ABOUTALEB MAYOR OF ROTTERDAM KARIN WANNGÅRD MAYOR OF STOCKHOLM PIERO FASSINO MAYOR OF TURIN MICHAEL HÄUPL MAYOR OF VIENNA HANNA GRONKIEWICZ-WALTZ MAYOR OF WARSAW 22 ALBERT BORE LEADER OF BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL (TREASURER) BURKHARD JUNG MAYOR OF LEIPZIG (SECRETARY) 23

13 FORUM CHAIRS & PRIORITIES ON 1 DECEMBER 2014 ANNELIES STORMS DEPUTY MAYOR, GHENT THOMAS FABIAN DEPUTY MAYOR, LEIPZIG CULTURE SOCIAL AFFAIRS 24 LOT VAN HOOIJDONK DEPUTY MAYOR, UTRECHT ENVIRONMENT Mainstreaming culture in the EU agenda Safeguarding culture in the EU creative agenda Connecting the forum to other areas and stakeholders and testing innovative ways of working Healthy city: cleaner air, less noise, green areas, biodiversity, spatial planning Resource efficiency: circular economy, waste prevention and management, litter prevention Climate: climate change mitigation, energy efficiency and renewable energy, climate adaptation EMANUELE PIAZZA DEPUTY MAYOR, GENOA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Employment & entrepreneurship Innovation Area-based cooperation SUE MURPHY DEPUTY LEADER, MANCHESTER KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY Digitally enabled citizens Collaboration within and amongst cities Smart technologies for growth MILAN OBRADOVIC VICE MAYOR, MALMO MOBILITY Social cohesion and diversity Inclusion and employment of young people Tackling deep-seated poverty and worklessness Sustainable urban mobility plans Funding, financing and new business models Smart, integrated and inclusive mobility 25

14 FAST FINANCIAL FACTS , IN EUROS MEMBERS AND PARTNERS INCOME AND EXPENDITURE INCOME EXPENDITURE OVER 130 OF EUROPE S MAJOR CITIES 35 COUNTRIES total income * * * members operating expenses 1/4 OF EUROPEAN POPULATION total expenditure result end of period associates/partners projects & grants other staff costs projects & grants 26 * projected results

15 FAST FINANCIAL FACTS , IN EUROS MEMBERS & PARTNERS ON 1 DECEMBER 2014 In 2014, EUROCITIES welcomed two new members: Cardiff and Reykjavik; and five new partners: Acharnes, Besiktas, Nacka, Ostend and Solna INCOME AND EXPENDITURE INCOME EXPENDITURE * * * total income members operating expenses total expenditure associates/partners staff costs result end of period projects & grants projects & grants other * projected results MEMBERS AL AM AT BA BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR Tirana Yerevan Vienna* Banja Luka, Sarajevo Antwerp, Brussels Capital Region, Brussels City, Charleroi, Ghent* Burgas, Sofia, Varna Geneva, Zurich Nicosia Brno, Pilsen, Prague Berlin, Bonn, Chemnitz, Cologne, Dortmund, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Leipzig*, Mannheim, Munich, Munster, Nuremberg Aarhus, Copenhagen Tallinn Barcelona*, Bilbao, Gijon, Madrid, Malaga, Murcia, Seville, Terrassa Metropolitan Area, Zaragoza Espoo, Helsinki, Oulu, Tampere, Turku, Vantaa Angers Loire Metropole, Bordeaux, Grand Nancy, Grenoble Alpes Metropole, Lille Communaute Urbaine, Lyon, Nantes Metropole*, Nice Cote d Azur, Paris, Rennes Metropole, St. Etienne Metropole, Strasbourg, Toulouse FYROM Skopje GE Tbilisi GR HR HU IE IS IT LT LV NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SK SI TR UA UK Athens Zagreb Budapest Dublin Reykjavik Bologna, Florence, Genoa, Milan*, Palermo, Rome, Turin*, Venice Vilnius Riga Amsterdam, BrabantStad Metropolitan Area, Eindhoven, Rotterdam*, The Hague, Utrecht Bergen, Oslo Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Gdansk, Katowice, Lodz, Lublin, Poznan, Rzeszow, Warsaw*, Wroclaw Lisbon, Porto Timisoara Novi Sad Gothenburg, Malmo, Stockholm* Bratislava* Ljubljana Bursa, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Izmir, Konya, Sanliurfa Kharkiv, Kyiv, Lviv, Odessa Belfast, Birmingham*, Brighton & Hove, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle/ Gateshead, Sheffield, Sunderland ASSOCIATED PARTNERS BE CY CZ ES FR GR HR IT LU NL NO PT RU SE SK TR UK Kortrijk, Ostend Turkish Cypriot Community of Nicosia Ostrava Fuenlabrada, San Sebastian Amiens Metropole, Brest Metropole Oceane, Reims Metropole, St.Nazaire, Tours Acharnes, Amaroussion, Heraklion Rijeka Cesena, Pisa, Salerno Luxembourg Almere, Netwerkstad Twente Stavanger Matosinhos Barrier free city foundation Karlstad, Linkoping, Nacka, Ronneby, Solna, Umea Kosice Bakirkoy, Besiktas, Beyoglu, Nilufer, Ozmangazi, Pendik, Serdivan Derry, Preston, Wolverhampton ASSOCIATED BUSINESS PARTNERS ATOS, ERDF, GDF Suez, IBM, Kapsch, VEOLIA * executive committee members

16 1, Square de Meeûs B-1000 Brussels tel