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Justice policies must feature in EU Urban Policy
October 13, 2005 3:13 PM
By Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP in The European Parliament
By Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP in The European Parliament
Sarah Ludford (ALDE). - Mr President, in the budget there is a whole title devoted to agriculture and rural development which indeed gobbles up half the available EU money, but there is no heading for urban support, despite the fact that, as Mr Beaupuy's report reminds us, four-fifths of Europeans live in towns and cities.
Some of the worst deprivation, the most severe needs and the biggest environmental challenges are indeed found in our towns and cities. However, I say to Mr Libicki that they are also the source of Europe's greatest dynamism, prosperity and cultural richness. We pay the bills. I can and do argue to my eight million constituents in London - a figure, incidentally, which makes us a city state larger than 11 Member States but without the equivalent representation - that they should pay for sustainable rural development. However, I cannot and will not persuade them that their hard-earned tax money should assist the purchase of another Mercedes for a cereal baron. Nor can I honestly explain to them why the interests of the 80% majority are so overlooked in EU policy. That is why I so welcome Mr Beaupuy's report and indeed his leadership of the Urban and Housing Intergroup in this Parliament. I also welcome Commissioner Hubner's promise of a study on the contribution of cities to regional development and the UK Presidency's apparent intentions to make urban development a specific objective. It is a pity the Presidency is not represented here today.
My own particular concern is with the impact of justice and security policies on urban areas. Asylum and immigration, and policies on tackling crime and terrorism, are of crucial concern to cities. It is here that most migrants arrive. It is among the ethnic minority communities of cities like London, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam and Brussels that we seek cooperation to counter terrorist threats, but where alienation and poverty are sources of tension which repressive policing will only inflame.
I would be grateful if the rapporteur is able - as he has kindly indicated that he wishes to do - to make some small oral amendments to mention justice, security and liberty policies in his excellent report.
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