| Series Title | European Voice |
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| Series Details | Vol.10, No.6, 19.2.04 |
| Publication Date | 19/02/2004 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date: 19/02/04 THE European Commission has suggested that Europe's 500 biggest towns and cities be required to adopt sustainable transport and environmental management plans. Such a move would give the EU a much greater role than ever before in land-use planning, a traditional preserve of member states. "As 80% of EU citizens live in towns and cities, it is very important to improve the quality of urban life," said Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström. "Pollution, noise, heavy traffic and many other environmental problems are concentrated here. Meeting environmental targets and objectives is vital to making conurbations healthy places to live in. This is why we need a coordinated and coherent strategy." To this end, the Commission on Monday (16 February) launched an open internet consultation that concludes on 1 April, and said talks with a wide range of stakeholders will continue throughout 2004. The idea of binding EU rules for some towns and cities - loosely defined as those with more than 100,000 inhabitants within an enlarged EU of 25 member states - is the lynchpin of a communication on the urban environment. It was issued last month by the Commission in preparation for a formal urban environment strategy due to be put forward in summer 2005. The strategy is one of seven being developed under the Sixth Environment Action Programme, which was adopted by member states and the European Parliament in 2002 and sets out the EU's environmental policy agenda until 2012. Other strategies in the policy pipeline are for the marine environment, air, soil, pesticides, natural resources and waste. The European Commission has set out its approach to help Europe's towns and cities improve their environments and make them healthier and better places to live in. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Subject Categories | Geography, Mobility and Transport |
