‘Bristol Accord’ sets out EU approach to Sustainable Communities
A major conference of European Ministers was held in Bristol in December to agree a new Europe-wide approach to creating sustainable communities in the rapidly changing global economy.
As part of the UK's Presidency of the European Union, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister brought together Ministers from the 25 EU Member states, and Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Turkey to discuss a practical approach to improving people's quality of life in delivering economic progress, social justice and a better environment.
The event culminated in the signing of the 'Bristol Accord', which sets out eight key characteristics that will inform future European regional policy to deliver places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. These state that sustainable communities should be active, inclusive and safe; well run; well connected; environmentally sensitive; thriving; well designed and built; and fair for everyone.
Importantly for the Core Cities, the document notes that:
The role of cities is key to success. Successful cities with strong cultural identities deliver sustainable communities beyond their limits - regionally, nationally and even internationally. And achieving the goals of Lisbon will require Europe's cities to be places of international excellence that allow the knowledge economy to thrive.Ministers also agreed to the establishment of a group of EU experts to consider how European Investment Bank (EIB) loans can contribute to the development of sustainable communities, and to hold a Sustainable Communities Skills Symposium in Leeds in November 2006.
The Deputy Prime Minister said:
We are united in our common goal - a European approach to creating sustainable communities. We are committed to delivering the quality of growth our people need and the quality of life they deserve. Sustainable communities is a big idea for a bigger Europe. In Bristol this week, we have taken a major step forward in realising this shared ambition, with the signing of this Accord.
Councillor Barbara Janke, Leader of Bristol City Council, said:
We were delighted to welcome EU Ministers, their officials and the international media to our beautiful and historic city. For over 800 years, Bristol has been at the forefront of Britain's international trade and relationships with the rest of Europe and this conference was an important recognition of the city's continuing role at the heart of the European Union. The conference provided a great opportunity for all of Europe to reach a new understanding about the importance of balanced and sustainable communities, particularly in urban environments.
The Bristol Accord builds on the Rotterdam urban acquis, the Lisbon agenda for jobs and growth, the goals of environmental sustainability agreed at Gothenburg, and effective democratic governance agreed at the Warsaw Summit in May. Copies of the document are available at www.odpm.gov.uk/eupresidency2005