Activities of Martina MICHELS related to 2021/2075(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the challenges for urban areas in the post-COVID-19 era
Amendments (17)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 8 december 2020 on access to decent and affordable housing for all,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
Citation 14 a (new)
— having regard to the new Leipzig Charta adopted on 30 November 2020,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)
Citation 15 a (new)
— having regard to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in September 2015 and endorsed by the Council, in particular SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities,
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas longstanding inequalities have been deepened by the pandemic; whereas cities face challenges such as access to housing, homelessness, social exclusion, poverty and a lack of accessibility as well as environmental issues;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas public transport plays an important role in the fight against transport poverty and COVID-19 pandemic has had a major financial impact on public transport in European cities due to reduced number of passengers and necessary sanitary improvements;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas speculative acquisitions of housing and land play a prominent role in the continuing escalation in housing prices; whereas a steep and continuous increase in house prices and market rents spurred on by gentrification, touristification and financialisation of the housing markets can be observed, in particular in cities and urban or suburban areas;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that overconcentration of the population in certain urban areas has already led to repercussions such as congestion, the growing challenge of affordable housing, pollution, a deterioration in quality of life, urban sprawl, inequalities and a significant risk of poverty and social exclusion for certain segments of the population;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Member States to promote the inclusion of marginalised communities such as people with disabilities, more isolated older people, homeless people, migrants and refugees and ethnic minorities such as Roma; calls for funding needs to be addressed at a local level, including those of urban areas, in order to support these marginalised communities sustainably; recalls that sufficient national resources are key to the successful implementation of policy measures put forward by the EU Roma strategic framework for equality, inclusion and participation;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure equal access to decent housing for all and to set the goal of ending homelessness by 2030;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Underlines the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on personnel needs and therefore the necessity to have a reorientation of skilled workers in the cities, notably with a strong focus on trainings for teachers, educators or social workers;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Underlines that cities are urban laboratories, since they are placed where sustainable future concepts and policies can be tested and where solutions for smart and inclusive communities can be developed;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers that in line with its commitments under the Paris Agreement, the Union must prioritise circular economy frameworks, sustainable urban mobility, - in particular cycle path networks - , public transport in public ownership which is affordable and accessible for all, rapid investment in green infrastructure and renewable energy in cities, and respect for the ‘do not harm’ principle;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Underlines that among the many inequalities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the digital divide is a serious one; notes that the pandemic has accelerated digitalisation; recalls that digitalisation and digital connectivity must be a priority for local communities in their recovery; Draws attention to the need to have a flexible access as well as synergies between digitalization funds, notably in schools and universities where the needs are numerous and various, e.g. devices, infrastructures or trainings;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Recognises the fact that despite the lack of explicit EU competences on urban development, a broad range of EU initiatives do have an impact on towns, cities and functional urban areas; Calls for the participation of urban local SMEs and start-ups in the context of urban and district development strategies and plans;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Calls on the Commission, Member States and local and regional authorities to establish specific strategies and appropriate measures to overcome obstacles to the right to housing such as discrimination, financialization, speculation, touristification, abusive lending practices, land grabbing, conflict, forced evictions, environmental degradation and vulnerability to disasters;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Commission to put forward a code of conduct on partnerships, which should set minimum standards for the involvement of regional, local, urban and other public authorities, economic and social partners, the relevant bodies representing civil society and non- governmental organisations, and the bodies responsible for promoting social inclusion, fundamental rights and non-discrimination; considers that such bodies should be involved in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EU programmes, including in monitoring committees; Recalls the need to have adequate administrative capacities in cities and urban areas, notably appropriately trained staff, in order to properly use EU fundings;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Calls for better involvement and participation of cities and urban areas in the planning and implementation of recovery and resilience plans in the context of Next Generation EU;