While there are currently a number of existing EU initiatives on urban policy, there is a lack of consistency between them and they lack a forward looking urban agenda at EU which matches the scope of the EU 2020 Strategy – this was one of the clear messages from the COTER meeting of the 5th May 2014.
The members of the COTER commission called on the Commission to present a White Paper for an integrated urban agenda which makes it possible to anchor the urban dimension structurally in European policies and legislation whilst fully involving town and cities.
Members of the COTER commission also strongly rejected a proposal to change the name of the CoR to the Committee of the regions and cities.
The EA coordinator in the COTER commission, Cllr Brian Meaney welcomed the adoption of a number of amendments that underline the key role of peri-urban and rural areas. Cooperation between urban areas and the surrounding countryside is crucial as the latter provide neighbouring towns and cities with foodstuffs, energy, space, recreational activities and nature. This reference is very important said Cllr Brian Meaney as an integrated urban agenda should take due account of rural hinterlands of towns and cities and strike a urban–rural balance.
COTER has also adopted the opinion on EUSAIR, EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) and the Urban mobility package.
