Activities of Niklas NIENASS related to 2021/2075(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the challenges for urban areas in the post-COVID-19 era
Amendments (23)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
— having regard to the New Leipzig Charter - The transformative power of cities for the common good, adopted at the Informal Ministerial Meeting organised on 30 November 2020,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 30 June 2021 on A long-term Vision for the EU's Rural Areas - Towards stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas by 2040,
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas longstanding inequalities have been deepened by the pandemic; whereas cities face challenges such as social exclusion and a lack of accessibility to public and health care services as well as environmental issues;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas the pandemic added to the list of crises that continue hitting urban areas such as the climate emergency and demographic change; whereas the multiplicity of crises ultimately requires a response that is based on an integrated approach which brings together different sectors and challenges and looks for solutions that accommodate their needs while avoiding silo mentality;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas urban-rural linkages are highly important vice versa; whereas urban areas can act as driving forces for rural attractiveness and development and provide access to a number of services for their surrounding rural areas; whereas the benefits of stronger urban-rural cooperation include more efficient land use and planning, better provision of services (e.g. public transport, health) and better management of natural resources as well as opportunities for discharges of highly frequented city centres;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
E b. whereas challenges triggered by COVID-19 can be taken as opportunity for new thinking, for new approaches and for new dynamics (e.g. pop-up / temporary infrastructure in urban areas);
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas multi-level governance including the active involvement of urban authorities, based on coordinated action by the EU, the Member States and regional and local authorities, and in accordance with the partnership principle as laid down in the Common Provisions Regulation, are essential elements for the implementation of all EU policies; whereas urban authorities have competence over project selection under ERDF funding for sustainable urban development;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas the Urban Innovative Action under ERDF offers opportunities to test new solutions and approaches also in view of supporting urban areas for the post-COVID-19 era;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Emphasizes the need of rethinking ways and solutions to recover and reinforce inner city centres as they suffered from closures of businesses and cultural sites, vacancies, loss of attractiveness and increase of online trade during and after the pandemic;
Amendment 64 #
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, and a significant risk of poverty and social exclusion for certain segments of the population; calls for more support of public transport and its access, cycle paths and pedestrian zones to increase and recover city centres´ attractiveness and attract potential customers to support the weakened retailing sector after the pandemic and to boost local value;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Underlines the need of support of the cultural sector as culture and cultural heritage are vital assets for regional competitiveness and social cohesion and help to shape the identity of cities and regions; stresses the importance of more cultural sites and their recovery post- Covid-19 as well as the need to attract more young people to them;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Draws attention to unemployment and youth unemployment in particular, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic; calls on the Member States to actively involve urban authorities in devising programmes that meet the needs of young people in cities; highlights the need of accessibility to education as well as inclusion;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses the importance of sustainable urban development for the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the Union and, the quality of life of its citizens, and for reaching its climate neutrality goals; recalls the opportunities for urban areas presented by the New European Bauhaus initiative and its guiding principles which include sustainability, multi-level governance, aesthetics and inclusion;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers that in line with its commitments under the Paris Agreement as well as the Sustainable Development Goals, the Union must prioritise circular economy frameworks, sustainable urban mobility, rapid investment in green infrastructure and renewable energy in cities, and respect for the ‘do not harm’ principleand the ‘energy efficiency first’ principles; notes that initiatives such as the New European Bauhaus are a chance for urban areas to showcase the Renovation Wave, and projects prioritising the circular economy, sustainability and biodiversity; is encouraged that the New European Bauhaus is dedicated to following a participatory and transdisciplinary approach to building a sustainable environment for citizens to live in;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Warns that cities and towns are acutely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change; is highly concerned that heatwaves, which are already more extreme in cities due to the effects of urban heat islands, are increasing in both intensity and frequency, while extreme precipitation events and storm surges are likely to result in increased flooding such as that witnessed in Europe this summer; emphasizes the need for more greening of cities and urban areas as it provides important recreational value for human beings as well as animals and counteracts the effects of climate change and the loss of biodiversity;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses that the commitment of urban areas is crucial for the transition to a climate-neutral society; believes, therefore, that more funding must be made available for urban areas to achieve the targets of the European Green Deal and that urban authorities must have direct access to EU funding;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Emphasises that digitalisation has helped in many ways to address immediate challenges arising from the pandemic, in particular during lockdown periods, in the fields of public services, online shopping etc.; considers that further digitalisation continues happening on full speed and under competitive market conditions; calls on the Commission to monitor closely these developments and to ensure full compliance with the Union acquis, in particular as regards social and workers' rights;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Underlines the need to adapt to the new reality in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and to reflect on a new model for the EU’s urban areas while giving more room for creativity, civic engagement and experiments (piloting, testing, sharing), decreasing barriers and increasing accessibility of administrative procedures (“de-bureaucratise”);
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Considers that a series of innovative concepts will play a crucial role in the new model for the EU's urban areas: - strengthen common sense - increase multi-purpose, multi- functionality and diversity in urban spaces:living, working, producing, creating, public services, mobility, interaction etc. - support agility and hybrid use of urban spaces - land-use justice - 15 minutes city
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the Urban Agenda for the EU as a new model of multi-level governance; believes that this should not remain a voluntary process; underlines the need of stronger involvement of civil society in decision making process as well as the promotion of bottom-up approaches in order to address local and regional needs at its best;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Reiterates the need for further and directly accessible funding opportunities for cities to implement programmes locally; calls for the European Urban Initiative to be given a greater budget and scope;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Highlights that EU funding opportunities should target more explicitly participation processes, pilot projects (e.g. to test new concepts and share experience) and capacity building of urban actors which are as important measures as investive support in favour of more resilient and sustainable cities;