EU: Cities of Europe, a network to live better

The statistics tell us that approximately 75% of the European population lives in urban areas and that by 2020 this percentage will increase by 5 points. The problem is therefore a serious one and must be confronted. These are the issues that were discussed in London on the 11th of December at the lasts. Five important European cities took part as partners: Milan, Prague, London, Amsterdam and Hamburg. The guest of honour: John Healy, Secretary Treasurer.

This journey has taken 32 months and has involved not only the 5 above mentioned administrations but also the third sector and local businesses . A practical guide for promoting enterprise in deprived urban areas summarises the findings and is also published on line.

How close London is

Different cities with different cultures that share a common desire to get things going and solve problems within their own territories and to renew the role that European cities play. Fabio Terragni, managing director of the Milan Metropoli Development Agency highlights this point before an expert audience: ?Europe needs a soul and it must inevitably run through the medium and big cities.?

This wasn?t only an expression of the usual Italian euro-enthusiasm as even Tony Medawar, director of the London Development Agency, let slip a few surprising observations regarding Europe?s future. ?During the course of this project London has realised that it has more in common with many European cities than with American ones.? To many this may seem like an obvious remark but not so to citizens of the English monarchy who are known for criticizing Brussels.

No synergie in Prague

So everyone is happy? Not quite. A few difficulties have been expressed by Marek Gajdos who works for the Check foundation for the development of civil society, Nros. The Czech representative explains that ?from the moment that we have brought civil society and private enterprise together in Prague a few problems have arisen.? He goes on to say that ?the diffidence and difference between these two realities has generated several misunderstandings that have, luckily, slowly been solved but that have stopped us from capitalising on the synergies between the private sector and civil society.?

The same difficulty is not unknown to Amsterdam, who has however overcome it. The Dutch representative of Campus Nieuw West, Daniel Roos, expresses his satisfaction with the experience but adds that: ?The project has been useful in that it has provided a frame for what already exists. Indeed we quickly noticed that many entrepreneurial experiences with the aim of supporting deprived urban areas had developed spontaneously. Many companies didn?t even know that they could be considered social enterprises or that they could benefit from tax breaks or logistical assistance.?

And now that the project is finished? ? We?re on the right track? is Mr Terragani?s conclusion, ?even though there is still much to be done. Now we have a network of relations, best practice and replicable experiences so that we can continue our work together.?

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