More cooperation within the EPP family and direct funding from the Commission to transform cities
The potential to use the crisis as an opportunity to transform cities and the need of direct funding for cities to be able to complete concrete projects on the ground and to help the EU fulfil its Green Deal were the key points raised by EPP-CoR Members during a debate 'An Urban Renewal: The Role of European Cities in our Future' organized by the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies.
Kostas Bakoyannis, Mayor of Athens said that reports on the death of the city were exaggerated as cities are the nucleus of human culture bringing people together, economically, socially and politically. Bakoyannis said "We have a once in a lifetime opportunity where we can bounce back or forward. A lot has happened and we have an opportunity to transform our cities."
Bakoyannis recalled how local and regional authorities implement 70% of all EU legislation, represent 1/2 of public employment, 1/3 of public spending and 2/3 of public investment. In this regard he called for 3 core issues to be addressed when thinking about the future of cities: 1) democracy, rights, accountability and facts; 2) the environment; and 3) integration, inclusion and forward looking policy for equitable cities. He added that now is the opportunity to build cooperation, to share experiences and to learn from each other.
Bakoyannis also spoke about multi-level governance. He said that two-dimensional politics has no future, and that local and regional authorities (LRAs) which enjoy the highest trust from the citizens had to be fully engaged in decision-making. He referred to the High-Level group on democracy established by the European Committee of the Regions, which will be chaired by Herman van Rompuy. "We have a unique democratic system in the EU. The CoR sees it as the 'European House of Democracy'. Local and regional authorities are its foundations and must be fully engaged."
Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw said that the EPP family needs to use the potential of cities and work closer together. He called for more mobilization of EPP Mayors so that their voice is heard more. "Cities will once again play an important role in the life of citizens even if some changes might stay. We have to start thinking about the changes that this pandemic had brought in our lives. We must adapt and make sure that cities will remain the hubs of social and cultural life as well as economic development. Investment in growth and environment is crucial and we have to work together with our citizens in order to have a fast recovery with the cities and in the cities."
Speaking about the role of cities in a sustainable recovery, he said that the EU can't fight climate change with cities as they implement 70% of EU climate mitigation policies and are also among the top polluters. "This is why we are asking for direct funding to complete projects such as to remove diesel buses from European cities. We can complete concrete projects on the ground that deliver results." Trzaskowski said that some governments spend money based on political criteria and aren't serious about fighting climate change. He added that all developments and changes in the future of cities must embrace sustainability.