1. URBAN - Mission
“economic and social regeneration of cities and neighbourhoods in crisis”
Lewis Dijkstra, Ph.D.
DG Regional Policy

2. Prior to URBAN II: 1989-1999 Urban Pilot Projects URBAN I: 1994-99
33 from and 26 from
Article 10 innovative and pilot actions
164 million EURO
Economic, social, environmental, urban regeneration projects
Participation & integration
URBAN I:
118 programmes
85 launched in 1994 and 33 in 1996
900 million EURO from EU
plus 900 million from national sources
3.2 million people targetted
average 560 EURO per capita

3. Urban Policy
1997 Commission Communication Towards an Urban Agenda in the European Union
1998 Commission Communication Urban Sustainable Development in the EU: a Framework for Action

4. Urban policy - A Framework for Action
4 policy aims:
Strengthening economic prosperity and employment in towns and cities
Promoting equality, social inclusion and regeneration in urban areas
Protecting and improving the urban environment: towards local and global sustainability
Contributing to good urban governance and local empowerment

5. URBAN II Method rehabilitation of obsolete infrastructure
integrated approach
rehabilitation of obsolete infrastructure
upgrade quality of the environment
economic and labour market actions
combat social exclusion

6. Objectives of the URBAN II Community Initiative
1. Innovative strategies for sustainable regeneration of small and medium-sized towns and cities or distressed urban neighbourhoods in larger cities
2. Enhance and exchange knowledge/experience regarding sustainable urban development

7. Key characteristics of URBAN II
70 urban zones
inside or outside Objectives 1 and 2
geographical coherence
smaller towns now included…
...but targeted areas must be over 10,000 population
innovative solutions to problems
sustainable urban development
exchange of experience

8. 70 URBAN II Programmes

9. Principles for URBAN II programmes
critical mass
local partnership
link strategy to wider region
access to jobs
equal opportunities
EU environmental policy
complementarity

10. The eligible zones score high on 3 out of the 9 criteria below:
1. high level of long-term unemployment
2. low level of economic activity
3. high level of poverty and exclusion
4. specific need for conversion, due to local economic and social difficulties;
5. high number of immigrants, ethnic and minority groups, or refugees
6. low level of education, significant skills deficiencies and high drop-out rates from school
7. high level of criminality and delinquency
8. precarious demographic trends
9. particularly rundown environment.
"Indirect zoning"
Commission lays down guidelines for selection of sites
Quota of sites for each Member State
Member State chooses areas:
-socio-economic indicators reflecting guidelines as well as national priorities
-quality of programme proposed
-territorial balance
-coherence with EU and national actions

11. Context Indicators “Minimum Set”
Population
Surface area
Unemployment Rate
Long-term Unemployment
Enterprises per capita
% of population dependent on social transfers
% immigrants or ethnic minorities or refugees
School drop-out quota
places in child care facilities per capita
Crimes per capita
% of population <16 years
% of population > 60 years
Average Living space
% of green area
Length of public transport network

12. Optional Indicators Number of users of public transport
Length of bicycle tracks
average waiting time for public transport
average speed of public transport
doctors per capita
members of cultural or sports organisations
Number of internet access points
Number of SMEs/ professions with an Internet presence

13. Area characteristics Unemployment (%)

14. Area characteristics Ethnic Minorities (%)

15. Area characteristics Crime Rates
Crimes per 1000 inhabitants

16. Allocation of 700 million EURO
Large Member States
Germany 140 million
UK 117 million
Italy 108 million
Spain 106 million
France 96 million
Networks 15 million
Other Member States
Netherlands 28 million
Greece 24 million
Belgium 20 million
Portugal 18 million
Austria million
Denmark, Ireland, Finland, Sweden 5 million each
Luxembourg 0

17. URBAN II Priorities (1)
Mixed use and environmentally friendly brownfield redevelopment:
reclamation of derelict and contaminated land
rehabilitation of public spaces
renovation of buildings for economic and social purposes

18. URBAN II Priorities (2) Entrepreneurship and employment:
support for SMEs
support for training and skills development
addressing social exclusion
integration of minorities/immigrants

19. URBAN II Priorities (3) Environmental improvements:
public transport & communications
waste minimisation
energy efficiency
air quality

20. URBAN II Priorities (4)
Technology transfer and access to information technology
Improvements in governance:
New and modern urban management structures

21. URBAN II Type of spending

22. URBAN II Area characteristics
Type of city
12 (17%)
27 (39%)
31 (44%)

23. URBAN II Area characteristics
Type of neighbourhood
4 (6%)
8 (11%)
31(44%)
27 (39%)

24. URBAN II Co-operation and networking
Exchange of experience among cities: structured approach of URBACT, involvement of national administrations and other bodies
Monitoring and evaluation of URBAN II based on common sets of indicators inspired by Urban Audit
New phase of Urban Audit to deepen understanding of urban conditions