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An EU urban agenda – for and with cities. Brussels, 17 February 2014
Posted on: 18 February 2014
By: mackene
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This seminar was organized by EUROCITIES and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions. Commissioner Johannes Hahn, responsible for regional and urban policy, discussed the purpose of an urban agenda at EU level with the mayors of Warsaw and of Almere. The second part of the event features a panel debate with politicians from across Europe speaking about the priorities of an EU urban agenda. Panellists include the mayor of Ghent mayor, the deputy mayor of Venice, the State Secretary for European Affairs of Berlin, the mayor of Santander, the deputy leader of East Renfrewshire, and the vice mayor of Warsaw. A video of the event is available online.
Review of the balance of competences between the United Kingdom and the European Union: Culture, tourism and sport
Posted on: 13 February 2014
By: mackene
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This report examines the balance of competences between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom in the areas of culture, tourism and sport, and is led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It is a reflection and analysis of the evidence submitted by experts, non-governmental organisations, businesspeople, Members of Parliament and other interested parties, either in writing or orally, as well as a literature review of relevant material. Where appropriate, the report sets out the current position agreed within the Coalition Government for handling this policy area in the EU. It does not predetermine or prejudge proposals that either Coalition party may make in the future for changes to the EU or about the appropriate balance of competences. They aim is to analyse what membership of the EU means for the UK’s national interest, and also deepen public and parliamentary understanding of our relationship with the EU. This report covers the sectors of culture, tourism, and sport, drawing on 52 submissions received in response to a call for evidence which was distributed widely in the UK, to selected European organisations and members of the European Parliament.
Preferences of Europeans towards tourism
Posted on: 13 February 2014
By: mackene
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According to the new Eurobarometer survey, published by the European Commission, the tourism sector has been an engine of domestic demand-driven economic growth in 2013, with more people choosing to spend holidays outside of their own country but within the EU. In 2013, 38% of Europeans spent their main holiday in another EU country, which is 5 percentage points more compared to 2012. At the same time, only 42% of people spent their main holiday in their own country, a 5 percentage points decrease compared to 2012. Furthermore in 2013, only a fifth (19%) took their main holiday outside the twenty eight countries of the EU, which is a 2% decrease compared to 2012. The Eurobarometer survey on preferences of Europeans towards tourism also explores motivations and obstacles for Europeans to travel, the main destinations, the information sources used for planning a holiday, how Europeans arranged their holidays in 2013, their satisfaction with the sector and the level of safety experienced at the accommodation and services.
Ten reasons why Helsinki needs do-it-yourself urban planning
Posted on: 12 February 2014
By: mackene
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Helsinki’s City Planning Department is in the process of expanding the city into a 5.5 hectare piece of land on the northern edge of a neighborhood called Pikku Huopalahti that now hosts obsolete university buildings and green buffer zones. The author of this blog is a member of a seven-strong team of urbanists who have taken the initiative of illustrating their own interpretation of what the area could look like in the future. More than anything, their aim is to introduce the “urban” back into Helsinki’s urban planning. Their message with this plan is ‘no more sprawl’.
Social innovation and the environment
Posted on: 7 February 2014
By: mackene
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Grassroots innovations which bring both social and environmental improvements are explored in the latest In-depth Report from Science for Environment Policy, published online today. From urban beekeeping in Copenhagen to pedal-powered distribution in Paris and community farming in London, social innovation can help create new jobs, improve social inclusivity and strengthen local economies, whilst delivering benefits for nature, air quality and climate change mitigation, among many other valuable functions. The report presents case studies of social innovation as well as research into frameworks and evaluation methods which can help policymakers understand social innovation and its environmental implications.
Sustainable development in the European Union; Key messages
Posted on: 31 January 2014
By: mackene
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Measuring progress towards sustainable development is an integral part of the EU Sustainable Development Strategy and it is Eurostat’s task to produce a monitoring report every two years based on the EU set of sustainable development indicators. This 2013 edition of the monitoring report is the fifth quantitative assessment of whether the EU is moving towards its sustainable development objectives.
Towards a sustainable and just city region? Looking at Berlin, London and Paris. Berlin, 29 November 2013
Posted on: 30 January 2014
By: mackene
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This is the third seminar of the Regional Studies Association’s Research Network on Government Metropolitan Regions within a Localist Agenda. Berlin is currently in the process of developing a new spatial development strategy, the Stadtentwicklungskonzept 2030 (StEK 2030). Other plans and policies to shape the growing metropolitan region are also well under way, such as the new housing strategy and a new strategy of how to deal with municipal real estate. Many of these policies have been influenced by civil society stakeholders who demand a more sustainable development of the city, both in terms of climate change and socially. Extensive public participation processes have been launched to come up with development strategies, which will be perceived as ‘just’ while at the same time supporting Berlin’s economic growth. The conference discussed the proposed strategies and participatory approaches and whether they are as ‘just’ and ‘sustainable’ as promised. It will look at similar proposals in London and Paris and explore what these new approaches mean regarding current debates on governance, localism or sustainable urban development. Presentations and a report of the event are available online.
Employment in the EU transport sector
Posted on: 28 January 2014
By: mackene
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The newly released Transport Research and Innovation Portal (TRIP) Policy Brochure presents EU policy on transport employment and highlights the contribution of research in supporting policy development and implementation in meeting the challenges of retaining skilled workers and encouraging more and highly skilled people to join the transport workforce. The transport sector accounts for 4.5% of the total workforce in the European Union and represents 4.6% of the gross domestic product (GDP). As a whole within the economy, employment in the transport sector is facing the economic and societal challenges of a growing shortage of skilled workers in an increasingly competitive global environment.
Working together in Europe: A shared leadership
Posted on: 27 January 2014
By: mackene
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This report, which counted on the valuable contribution of 43 European countries and major Affiliate Members, presents a highly valuable and up-to-date regional analysis of the tourism sector throughout Europe. It reflects their assessment on key current and short-term trends, market development priorities, public-private cooperation initiatives, investment ambitions in hard and soft infrastructure, modalities for cooperation and the role that the World Tourism Organization can play in these collaborative endeavours.
The state of European cities in transition: Taking stock after 20 years of reform
Posted on: 27 January 2014
By: mackene
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This gives an in-depth overview of twenty years’ transformation efforts by the 23 countries and territories in northeast, central, east and southeast Europe that, in the early-1990s, embarked on a monumental transition from Socialist centrally-planned economies to democratic and market-based systems. As this report shows, the transition has been a long and winding road with these countries now in various phases of completing their reforms.
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