Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities

On 1 January 2007, Germany has taken over the EU Council Presidency for six months. Within the context of its presidency, Germany hosted an informal meeting of the ministers responsible for urban and spatial development in Leipzig on 24 and 25 May 2007. The key policy issue of the informal ministerial meeting has been "Strengthening European cities and their regions - promoting competitiveness, social and territorial cohesion in Europe and in its cities and regions". This key policy issue of the German Presidency picks up the thread of the European Council decisions on sustainable development and applies them in concrete terms to the spatial development of urban neighbourhoods, cities and regions.

The main results of the German Presidency as well as the conclusions have been summarized in two policy documents which have been adopted at the conference:

• the Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities (at the informal ministerial meeting on urban development) and
• the Territorial Agenda of the EU (at the informal ministerial meeting on territorial cohesion).

Integrated urban development as a prerequisite for successful urban sustainability

On 24 May 2007, the first day of the ministerial meeting, the ministers responsible for urban development discussed the topic "Integrated urban development as a prerequisite for successful urban sustainability". The results of these discussions have been incorporated into the "Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities".

This key policy document is building on the results of the previous presidencies - in particular

• the Lille Programme (2000),
• the Urban Acquis (2004) and
• the Bristol Accord (2005).

The document "Key urban develpment policy areas of the German Presidency in the first half of 2007" provides an overview of the key urban development policy areas of the German Presidency.

Studies on good practice

In preparation for the presidency, Germany has commissioned five studies on good practice which will enhance a European exchange of information and serve as a basis for discussion by presenting European case studies.

Their respective current work status is published on this part of the website of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development. In doing so, Germany is launching a discussion process between Member States and makes European Policy more transparent for the citizens.

Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities

Germany expressly encourages a broad European discussion process on the qualities and prospects of European cities. On the basis of the current European exchange of experience, we liked to define joint objectives and possible solutions to sustainability issues. They have been included in the "Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities". It is the key policy document of the German Presidency in the field of urban development policy. The Leipzig Charter is built on a broad-based European consensus that is rooted in the cities of Europe.

Europe needs strong cities!

Urban policy has to make a contribution for the citizens of Europe, to ensure that all citizens perceive Europe positively in their day-to-day lives in their local communities.

The Leipzig Charter contains two key policy messages:

1. Integrated urban development should be applied throughout Europe and, in order to be able to do so, the appropriate framework for this should be established on a national and European level.
2. Deprived urban neighbourhoods must increasingly receive political attention within the scope of an integrated urban development policy. Europe must reach all of its citizens.