Commissioner Johannes Hahn - “Urban Policy Is at the Top of Our Agenda – and It Will Stay There”

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May 20, 2014
by Louise Hallman
Commissioner Johannes Hahn - “Urban Policy Is at the Top of Our Agenda – and It Will Stay There”

EU Commissioner for Regional and Urban Policy delivers keynote speech on cities as catalysts for regional cohesion session

Commissioner Hahn speaking at Salzburg Global Seminar

“Urban policy is at the top of our [Cohesion Policy] agenda – and it will stay there,” declared the EU Commissioner for Regional Policy and Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, Johannes Hahn in a keynote speech at Salzburg Global Seminar on Tuesday, May 20.

Delivering the annual Jacques Delors lecture on the Future of the European Union as part of the program of the Salzburg Global Seminar session “Mind the Gap! Innovating for Regional Cohesion and Smart Growth,” the Commissioner was keen to make the point that whilst there are European elections coming up and his own political future might not be certain, the importance of urban development policy for the European Commission is.

With 75% of the EU’s population living in cities, urban development policy provides a key starting point to tackle many of the EU’s 2020 goals, from climate change to social inequality. “All our European goals can only be successfully achieved if we address the problems that are challenging the cities, said the Commissioner. 

“If we are talking about reduction of poverty, it's a phenomenon of big cities. If we try to increase employment... most job opportunities are given in cities.”

After Latin America, Europe is the most urbanized continent in the world, but despite this high level of urbanization, unlike Asia and the Americas, and the continent only has two metropolitan areas that are actually larger than 10 million people: London and Paris. Whilst the Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) held a meeting of the mayors of the EU’s capital cities last year, DG REGIO is concerned with much more than just Europe’s capitals. Much of its urban policy is directed towards small and medium-sized cities.

These smaller cities can be catalysts for regional development, argued the Commissioner. Developing smaller cities can help stop migration to the (sometimes overstretched and overcrowded) capitals, thus becoming “anchors” for their regions.

In the last policy period of 2007-2013, 40% of DG REGIO’s budget was allocated to cities, with this share expected to rise in the next period of 2014-2020, reflecting its growing importance on the agenda for DG REGIO and the European Commission as a whole.

"We have changed the focus of the [urban] policy from being focused on the infrastructure investments," Comissioner Hahn explained. "It's now about the promotion of the economy, it's about creating jobs, it's about qualification of people and then it can reduce poverty."

Speaking of the partnership between Salzburg Global Seminar and DG REGIO, the Commissioner said: "I think it was an excellent idea to have now established well functioning cooperation between the European Commission and Salzburg Global Seminar.

"It's an excellent opportunity to discuss the EU agenda and to getting into contact with people not only from Europe but from all over the world."

See more about the Commissioner’s speech and visit to Salzburg Global Seminar on the European Commission's website: http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/video/player.cfm?sitelang=en&ref=I089539

The Commissioner was speaking on the third day of the Salzburg Global program, which is being supported by DG REGIO. 65 participants from 30 countries on four continents are taking part in the program, which is looking at the EU’s reformed Cohesion Policy and how it can lead to greater economic and social prosperity for Europe.


The session, 'Mind the Gap! Innovating for Regional Cohesion and Smart Growth', runs from Sunday 18 until Wednesday 21 May. Please regularly check the session page www.salzburgglobal.org/go/534 and our social media platforms using #SGSEuro for updates.