EUROCITIES

Complementary information

EUROCITIES cooperation Close cooperation between cities, regions, national governments and the EU institutions is essential in order to address the most important social, economic, environmental and political challenges facing Europe in the 21st century. EUROCITIES is therefore committed to developing a permanent "territorial dialogue" at European level, covering all policies that affect local and regional governments. EUROCITIES promotes international networking and cooperation between EU and Eastern partnership and enlargement partner cities on numerous issues, including core local government and EU values. EUROCITIES culture Culture and creativity are a vital aspect of our societies, and people need access to a wide range of arts and cultural activities. Europe's cities are home to a rich mixture of people including migrants from all parts of the world, and this diversity represents a valuable source of cultural wealth and human potential. EUROCITIES believes that culture and creativity should be supported by public policies at all levels, including the European level, and that the impact of culture on the economic development and social cohesion of cities should be recognised. EUROCITIES economy Europe's cities are engines of economic activity and centres of growth and innovation. Economically successful and prosperous cities are essential for creating employment, increasing cohesion and strengthening Europe's competitiveness. EUROCITIES is committed to promoting sustainable urban economic development and supporting the creation of new employment opportunities. EUROCITIES environment For people living in cities, a good quality of life depends largely on the quality of the urban environment. Europe's cities are therefore striving to provide their citizens with clean air, safe water, and a healthy habitat including plenty of trees, parks and green spaces. EUROCITIES supports its member cities in their efforts to bring about a better environment and work towards achieving sustainable development, by developing and sharing knowledge and expertise. We also work with the EU institutions and with national governments to make sure that European legislation and programmes can be implemented successfully at the local level, in order to improve the urban environment and also to protect the global environment. EUROCITIES knowledge society The rapid development and increasing use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs), and especially the "Internet Revolution", has transformed our societies and our economies, how we do business and communicate with each other, and how we work and learn. New technologies are also transforming public administration at all levels, as citizens are learning to expect easy access to real-time information and reliable online services. EUROCITIES mobility The increasing amount of road traffic in urban areas leads to a wide range of problems including congestion and accidents, air pollution and noise, harming the environment and undermining citizens' health. EUROCITIES social affairs Europe's cities are engines of growth and prosperity, but at the same time they are the places where poverty and social exclusion hit the hardest. In the European Union more than 60 million people are living in poverty, most of them in urban areas. Cities must strive to be inclusive, by helping the most vulnerable groups and individuals to participate fully in society, with access to decent housing, education and employment