The city - opportunities and challenges

In the context of transition towards more sustainable development cities play a decisive role. Over two-thirds of the European population lives in cities, places with a rich historical and cultural heritage. Cities are the basis of European society, they are vital centres of learning and culture and are able to draw on a huge economic and social potential. As a result of the high concentration of persons, cities also present a major source of economic, social and environmental problems. Further unification within Europe will be perceived in cities in tangible form, in towns and cities the dynamism and rapidity of the process will be manifest, however, the inherent difficulties will also be perceptible. 

Cooperation between metropolises

Berlin is not the only city to be facing these challenges. The majority of Central European metropolises, which were at the margins of power and economic blocks whilst Europe was divided, are now at the centre of the continent which is growing together. Warsaw, Prague, Budapest, Vienna ... all these cities are required to solve problems similar to those in Berlin. And the same applies for other European cities too. In order to cope with these challenges, cooperation between cities is at the top of the list of priorities: exchange of experience, both good and bad, mutual assistance, coordinated approaches to the public...

The European Academy of the Urban Environment

The Academy (EA.UE) was set up in 1992 by the Berlin Senat and the European Parliament, in order to facilitate both transition towards sustainable development and cooperation between the capital cities of Central Europe as well as between other European cities.

The goal: exchange of experience amongst decision makers

The Academy is an organisation for further education and training oriented towards Europe. By means of conferences, seminars and workshops, as well as through its publications, the aim is to promote exchange of experience and ideas amongst local government decision makers in all spheres of sustainable urban development.

Topic fields within the context of sustainable urban development

In this context the following topic areas form the focus of the Academy's attention and efforts:

• strategies for sustainable cities
• environmentally desirable urban traffic, transport and mobility
• ecological and careful urban renewal and renovation
• managing large residential estates / pre-fabricated housing
• new sustainable settlements
• careful and climate-oriented urban planning
• urban development perspectives in major conurbations
• renewal and re-development of inner-city derelict land
• city centre versus suburban development / urban sprawl
• public participation and awareness raising
• local and neighbourhood job creation in the environmental sector
• economic cooperation in the environmental sector between Berlin and central and eastern European countries
• modernisation/refurbishment in pre-fabricated housing and large new residential estates
• noise abatement at local level
• Agenda 21
• effects of EU enlargement on the Berlin and Brandenburg region
• environmental communication

Target groups

The network of Central European Metropolises (CEM)

Following on the Central European Metropolises conference, held in Berlin in June 1992, the European Academy of the Urban Environment has continued to support initiatives in Berlin, Bratislava, Budapest, Ljubljana, Prague, Sofia, Vienna and Warsaw. The conference brought together municipal decision makers from at the time five Central European capital cities and resulted in the decision to support cooperation between cities in the fields of the urban environment and urban management. EA.UE has organised or supported numerous events on various topics within sustainable urban development in these cities and provided practical support in a wide range of projects.

Publications and studies

In addition to the events, EA.UE has also compiled over forty substantial publications, the majority as a result of the activities. There are also independent studies and publications, for example on questions of relations between the urban area and the hinterland; new settlements or urban renewal.

Legal status

Legally the Academy is part of The European Academy Berlin, but is managed and budgeted independently. The statute of this non-profit organisation is to "make a contribution to international entente, with particular emphasis on furthering European cooperation and integration, including the sphere of environmental protection."

Financing

Principal sources of funding for the Academy are Land Berlin and the Commission of the European Communities, but EA.UE activities have also received support from the Länder North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenburg, the Federal Government, several European cities and from charities or foundations..