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EUROCITIES has six sector-specific forums, which are responsible for monitoring developments, addressing issues and coordinating activities in a specific policy area.
Our forums are open to all member cities, in order to encourage the widest possible sharing of know-how and exchange of experiences. Each forum organises two or three thematic seminars each year, focusing on particular topics that are relevant for cities.
Each forum is responsible for setting up and monitoring a number of working groups, and for drafting our position papers, for example in response to communications and other documents published by the European Commission. Each forum also elects its own chair and vice-chair.
Alongside the six thematic forums, the cooperation 'pillar' covers horizontal themes such as governance and urban research, as well as international networking and cooperation among cities. The working groups within this pillar report directly to our executive committee.
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Culture is a vital aspect of urban life and cities host all kinds of cultural
events, from popular events to high culture. For many European cities, culture
is now so important that it is placed at the heart of cities’ strategic plans.
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Our economic development forum provides a platform for policy development in
relation to innovation and economic development policies, at local, national
and EU level.
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For people living in cities, a good quality of life depends largely on the
quality of the urban environment. Europe's cities are therefore striving to
provide their citizens with clean air, safe water, and a healthy habitat,
including plenty of trees, parks and green spaces. Cities also play an active
role in helping to stabilise the global climate and adapt to the inevitable
consequences of climate change.
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The knowledge-based society, in particular the abundant availability and use of
Information and Communication technologies (ICT), presents great opportunities
to create employment, new tools for education and training, easier access to
public services, more sustainable lifestyles, supporting the social inclusion
of disadvantaged groups, and the economic development of Europe's cities. Our
knowledge society forum provides cities and business partners with a platform
for exchanging good practice and cooperating on relevant policy issues in a
European framework.
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The increasing volume of road traffic in urban areas leads to a wide range of
problems, such as congestion and accidents, air pollution and noise, harm to
the environment and to citizens' health. Our members are committed to promoting
more sustainable and integrated urban transport systems, providing citizens
with convenient and accessible public transport, and protecting the safety of
pedestrians and cyclists.
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Europe's cities are engines of growth and prosperity, but at the same time they
are the places where poverty and social exclusion hit hardest. In the European
Union more than 80 million people are affected by these issues and most of
them live in urban areas.
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Close cooperation between cities, regions, national governments and the EU
institutions is essential in order to address the most important challenges
facing Europe in the 21st century.
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