A3-0194/93

Resolution on the urban environment

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Collins and others on the urban environment (B3-0624/93),

-having regard to Article 130r of the EEC Treaty,

-having regard to its resolution of 16 December 1988 on the environment in urban areas,

-having regard to the Commission's Communication to the Council and the European Parliament entitled 'Europe 2000: Outlook for the Development of the Community's Territory (COM(90)0544),

-having regard to the Community's Fourth Action Programme advocating an integrated approach to the urban environment (COM(86)0485),

-having regard to its resolution of 12 September 1991 on the urban environment,

-having regard to the Commission's Fifth Environmental Action Programme (COM(92)0023),

-having regard to the report on the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A3-0194/93),

A.whereas almost 80% of the Community's population live in urban areas,

B.whereas the improvement of the urban environment should be a Community priority, particularly in view of the wider social and environmental repercussions of a lack of concerted action,

C.mindful of the need for an integrated approach to urban policies, taking into account environmental considerations in transport, energy, waste, tourism and Structural Fund policies,

D.whereas air pollution, due to inefficient energy production and consumption, and an overwhelming rise in road and air transport, has reached an intolerable level in many of the Community's urban areas,

E.having regard to the pressing problems of overcrowding, social unrest and deteriorating quality of life in the large urban areas of Europe,

F. having regard to the lack of progress made on urban issues in the Fifth Environmental Action Programme along the lines advocated in the Fourth Action Programme,

1.Reiterates its support for the Commission's Green Paper on the urban environment and continues to hope that it will result in a framework programme for the management of the urban environment, but is very disappointed that in spite of its promises the Commission has developed few concrete policies;

2.Calls for urgent action, including preventative measures, to be taken to reverse the deterioration in quality of life in urban areas; this in turn will contribute to the alleviation of the global environmental crisis;

3.Underlines its belief in the need for the Community to work closely with local, regional and national authorities in the Member States to achieve this;

4. Urges the Commission to develop specific guidelines at a Community level designed to influence local practice to take environmental considerations into account in both town planning and transport infrastructure and management;

5.Calls on the Commission to submit further proposals for measures to bring about a real improvement in the environmental conditions of the Community's urban areas;

6.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission.