Statement
Barcelona, 13th March, 2015
As mayors, presidents and political representatives of the European Metropolitan Areas, we have met in Barcelona to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by the governments of the European metropolitan cities.
Bearing in mind that more than 70% of the population in Europe lives in urban areas, and it is in these territories where the highest levels of wealth, competitiveness, employment, innovation and education are generated, we understand that the strength and quality of the structures of metropolitan governance are determinant in ensuring social cohesion and quality of life.
We are aware that the existence of successful metropolitan institutions is marked by political consensus, leadership and the shaping of government's actions over an evolving territory that has new needs and promotes new forms of citizen participation and transparency.
However, the actions of metropolitan governments are not always accompanied by well-defined institutional models, with a clear allocation of powers and with the necessary resources to carry these out.
Despite the growing metropolitanisation of the European continent we are still lacking an explicit recognition by national governments and the European Union of the importance that the development of quality metropolitan governance has on the daily life of European citizens.
For that reason, the European cities and metropolitan areas, gathered together in Barcelona, express the following commitments:
Bearing in mind that more than 70% of the population in Europe lives in urban areas, and it is in these territories where the highest levels of wealth, competitiveness, employment, innovation and education are generated, we understand that the strength and quality of the structures of metropolitan governance are determinant in ensuring social cohesion and quality of life.
We are aware that the existence of successful metropolitan institutions is marked by political consensus, leadership and the shaping of government's actions over an evolving territory that has new needs and promotes new forms of citizen participation and transparency.
However, the actions of metropolitan governments are not always accompanied by well-defined institutional models, with a clear allocation of powers and with the necessary resources to carry these out.
Despite the growing metropolitanisation of the European continent we are still lacking an explicit recognition by national governments and the European Union of the importance that the development of quality metropolitan governance has on the daily life of European citizens.
For that reason, the European cities and metropolitan areas, gathered together in Barcelona, express the following commitments:
- To promote and strengthen political relations between European metropolitan institutions in order to set a common position in relation to regulatory frameworks, powers and funding that affect us all.
- To drive the political debate among the leaders of the European metropolises and to promote joint projects in partnership with the economic agents, the education sector and civil society in our territories. Particular priority shall be given to the following areas of cooperation: job creation, the fight against social exclusion, competitive and intelligent growth, sustainability and climate change, transport and mobility, land management, and international advocacy.
- To require the European Union to integrate systematically and in an organized manner large cities and metropolitan areas in the preparation, definition and implementation of EU policies that affect us; and with a broader approach, to organize a permanent dialogue between cities and metropolis with the European Union on major issues and future challenges for the continent and its citizens.
- To call for the Committee of the Regions to recommend that Member States incorporate a greater number of representatives of the large European cities and metropolises within their respective national delegations.
- To request a differential treatment from the European Union in the management of the resources of the European budget for 2014-2020 and post-2020, especially regarding the management of the Structural and Investment Funds and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (the Juncker plan).
- To promote the transfer of knowledge, exchange of experiences and best practices in the sphere of metropolitan governance with other regions of the world, and promote global exchanges with economic stakeholders, the education sector and civil society.
- To work in coordination with local government networks and associations that represent the interests of large cities and metropolitan areas at a regional and global level, in particular with the World Association of Major Metropolises (Metropolis), United Cities and Local Governments, Eurocities, Metrex, Medcities and the Fonds Mondial pour le Développement des Villes (FMDV), as well as with other multilateral organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, United Nations and the World Bank.
- To have this declaration adopted by the governing bodies of each institution, to disseminate it to the media and make it applicable to other European metropolis so that they can join us.
- To send this Declaration to the European Union and the Member States.
- To organise a new edition of the European Metropolitan Authorities seminar in the city of Turin in 2016.
