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| Commission helps to make the most of new cohesion policy Regional policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner and Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment Social Affairs and Equal opportunities set out a strategic vision for the new generation of European programmes for the period 2007-2013. The first of two documents, a draft proposal for a Council decision on Community Strategic Guidelines for Cohesion policy, establishes the priorities for investment under the new programmes in accordance with the European Union's growth and jobs agenda agreed by the Member States in 2005. The second document presented is a Communication on the specific contribution of cities to growth and jobs. In this communication, the Commission offers tools for an integrated urban policy, on the basis of the needs of cities, urban areas and regions. The Community Strategic Guidelines contain the principles and priorities of cohesion policy and suggest ways the European regions can take full advantage of the € 308 billion that has been made available for national and regional aid programmes over the next seven years. National authorities will use the guidelines as the basis for drafting their national strategic priorities and planning for 2007-2013, the so called National Strategic Reference Frameworks (NSRFs). The Commission notes that there is no single path to sustainable urban development. Actions can take various forms depending on the particular characteristics and needs of urban areas. Suggested interventions include building the attractiveness of cities, increasing networking between cities, reinforcing the role of cities as poles of growth, promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and the knowledge economy, supporting SMEs, decreasing disparities between neighbourhoods and social groups, and tackling crime and the fear of crime. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Construction News :: home page |