In adopting the report by Mrs Pasqualina NAPOLETANO (PSE, I) on the communication from
the Commission, 'Towards an urban agenda in the European Union' , Parliament noted the urgent
need to formulate a European urban strategy which, in addition to economic and social aspects,
would be concerned with sustainable development.
Such a strategy was an indispensable part of a broader spatial planning policy. By seeking a new
equilibrium between urban centres and the countryside, a contribution should be made to the
implementation of a balanced regional policy which would combat the rural exodus and ensure
the vitality of the countryside.
It was vital to improve knowledge of the true situation of Europe's cities; Parliament therefore
reiterated its call for the creation of a monitoring centre for spatial development, which could
gather the necessary information. In order to gain a better understanding of environmental aspects
of urban policy, Parliament called on the Commission to devise and develop comparable
sustainability indicators and promote activities of networks active with regard to the urban
environment.
Criteria regarding efforts to combat levels of environmental pollution which pose a danger to
public health should be included in the Structural Fund regulations. Parliament stressed the urgent
need to develop public transport systems accessible to all which could persuade the public not to
use private transport. In the social field, the Structural Funds should support local employment
initiatives. In view of the increase in the number and size of urban areas with social and economic
problems and of pockets of poverty, Parliament wished planning policies to prevent property
speculation, help young people to acquire a home of their own and facilitate the integration of
older people, the disabled and immigrants.
It stressed the possible role of European cities as laboratories for social innovation and the need
to promote the involvement of young people in local employment initiatives, and employment of
women.
In the field of civil liberties, Parliament supported unrestricted application of the provisions of the
Treaty on the right to vote for Community residents. Stressing the integrating function which
urban areas could perform, it called for training of social workers in order to combat
disintegration of the social fabric and to combat racism and xenophobia. Effective crime
prevention measures should be adopted. As crime was closely related to the problem of drug
dependence, Parliament suggested structural measures, measures related to the situation, and
measures related to the criminal in the context of a coherent interdisciplinary approach to fighting
urban crime.
The reform of the Structural Funds should help to reinforce the principle of partnership.
Parliament noted the Commission's proposal to introduce a new sphere of intervention under
Objective 2 for urban areas affected by serious pockets of poverty and social exclusion (new
Objective 2). However, it emphasised that the new area of application of Objective 2 did not
sufficiently tackle urban problems and called for Objective 1 structural policy to do more in this
field.
It called for the URBAN Community initiative to be extended under the reform of the Structural
Funds, on the basis of cooperation and partnership between urban areas and various small and
medium-sized cities. Parliament believed it necessary, as part of Community cooperation between
cities, to develop cultural networks and sports networks, and to promote diversity of religious
observance.�