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Planning Sustainable Urban Development
Urban II is the Community Initiative
for sustainable development in the troubled
urban districts of the European Union
for the period 2000-06.
The programme forms part of the action
plan for sustainable urban development
drawn up by the European Commission
in 1998 in recognition of the importance
of the urban dimension in Community
policies.
Urban II builds on the success of Urban
I (1994-1999), and aims to promote the
creation and implementation of innovative
models of development to support the
socio-economic and environmental regeneration
of small and medium-sized cities, or
areas of large urban conglomerations.
The initiative also aims to encourage
the exchange of information and experiences
in the field of regeneration and integrated
urban management, so as to create a
collaborative network involving local,
national and European governments. |
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A Modern City Serving its Inhabitants
The beneficiaries of Urban II are areas
characterized by a situation of severe
deprivation and by specific problems:
high levels of unemployment, crime and
poverty, insufficient public services,
a high proportion of immigrants, and
a lack of green areas. The actions required
by the programme concern the restoration
of run down infrastructure, actions
in the economic and employment sectors,
measures aimed at combatting social
exclusion and at improving the quality
of the environment and the life of citizens. |
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Dialogue with the City
One distinctive aspect of this initiative
is its reliance on a strong partnership
at the local level. The strategies to
be implemented are based on the technical
and operative structures of the city
concerned, and on an intense dialogue
between local government on the one
hand, and citizens, private businesses
and social communities on the other.
The day to day management of the measures
is the task of local authorities, acting
in collaboration with national and regional
authorities, and with the European Commission.
The aim is to guarantee an integrated
approach, in line with European objectives
and the interests of the local community. |
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Investing in Growth
During the period 2001-2006 more than
728 million Euros from the European
Regional Development Fund (ERDF) will
be invested. These funds will be integrated
by local and national aid (also from
the private sector) up to a total of
1.6 billion Euros. The ERDF may finance
up to 75% of the total cost of a programme
if the urban area is a region whose
development is lagging behind (Objective
1), and up to 50% if the city is located
elsewhere (Objective 2). In addition,
loans may be granted by the European
Investment Bank (EIB). |
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Funds are targeted mainly at:
 Physical and environmental regeneration
Social inclusion
Training
Businesses
Employment |
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