Urban Environment

The European Environmental Agency published a report on the quality of life in Europe's cities and towns. The report aims to raise awareness of the various perspectives on, and perceptions of, the quality of life with a specific focus on cities and towns.

Ensuring quality of life in Europe's cities and towns

2 February 2010: The deadline for submitting applications for the European Commission's new European Green Capital award is now closed. This annual award is a new initiative to be presented to a city in the vanguard of environmentally friendly urban living. Some 17 cities from 12 European countries have applied for the 2012 and 2013 awards. The applicants are: Antwerp, Barcelona, Bologna, Budapest, Espoo, Glasgow, Łódź, Ljubljana, Malmö, Murcia, Nantes, Nuremberg, Reykjavík, Rome, Seville, Toruń and Vitoria-Gazteiz. The applications will now be considered by an evaluation panel. A shortlist will be made for each title year and finalist cities will then be asked to submit a more detailed presentation. By September, the evaluation panel will present their recommendations to a Jury which will then make a final decision. The announcement of the European Green Capitals for 2012 and 2013, will take place at an award ceremony in Stockholm, 20-22 October 2010. For 2010, Europe’s first Green Capital is Stockholm, and Hamburg has already been chosen as the winner for 2011.

Integrated Environmental Management - Guidance in relation to the Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment

Following European Commission's commitment within the Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment a Guidance document on Integrated Environmental Management Plans (IEMP) (pdf ~353 Kb), has been elaborated by the Environment DG. Requests for information in relation to this guidance should be sent by email to: env-iemp@ec.europa.eu

The text of the Guidance document is available in all official languages:

This document is not legally-binding but represents a synthesis of the information and experience available to the Commission. They are intended as a summary of the current state of the art with respect to best practice on integrated environmental management which recognises the diversity between conurbations across the EU. They should be seen more as a procedural aid and a summary of the key elements and good practice that could be considered when developing Integrated Environmental Management Plans at local levels.

The European Commission adopted the Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment on 11 January 2006.

The Strategy is based on extensive consultation with stakeholders and builds on existing European policy initiatives for improving the quality of the urban environment. It sets out new measures to support and facilitate the adoption of integrated approaches to the management of the urban environment by national, regional and local authorities. The text of the Thematic Strategy is available here: (pdf ~65Kb)

An Impact Assessment (pdf ~218Kb) was prepared to support the development of the Strategy.

This website also gives information on the preparations for the Thematic Strategy, details of key policy initiatives relevant to the urban environment and provides links to different sources of support for local authorities (funding opportunities, results of research projects and sources of urban environment data).

The pilot European Urban Knowledge Network has been launched (www.eukn.org) on 27th October 2005. The pilot project led by the Dutch Government in cooperation with 15 Member States provides a network of national focal points to provide advice and information to cities on a wide range of issues, including urban environment. The network is now open for use.

The new Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution (COM(2005) 446) has been adopted by the Commission on 21 September 2005.

Order your free copy of the EU Expert Group on the Urban Environment's report "European Sustainable Cities" (available whilst stocks last). To order, complete this form. The report is available in different languages.

How good is your Local Agenda 21 process? Use the new internet evaluation tool developed by ICLEI with European Commission financial support to find out and receive specific advice on how to improve it. Click here. Available in 20 languages.

How green are your buildings? With the financial support of the European Commission, Energie Cities has developed a label and calculation tool for energy use, water use and CO2 emissions in buildings. It will help authorities meet the requirements of the energy performance of buildings Directive (2002/91/EC). Click here. Available in French and English.