EUROCITIES
EUROCITIES is a network of major European cities. Founded in 1986, the network brings together the local governments of more than 130 large cities in over thirty European countries. EUROCITIES provides a platform for its member cities to share knowledge and ideas, to exchange experiences, to analyse common problems and develop innovative solutions, through a wide range of forums, working groups, projects, activities and events. The DCMR and the city of Rotterdam participate in the the EUROCITIES Environmental Forum and the working groups Health, Air Quality and Climate Change, Water Management and Noise. DCMR participates in the working groups Air Quality and Climate Change and the working group Noise. The Rotterdam health Service (GGD) and Public Works Rotterdam participate in the other working groups. The Working Group Noise is presided by Mr. Henk Wolfert of the DCMR, see elsewhere on this site.
Dialogue
EUROCITIES gives cities a voice in Europe, by engaging in a dialogue with the European institutions on all aspects of EU legislation, policies and programmes that have an impact on cities and their citizens. The network is active across a wide range of policy areas, including: economic development and cohesion policy, provision of public services, environment, transport and mobility, employment and social affairs, culture, education, information and knowledge society, governance and international co-operation.
Better environment
EUROCITIES supports its member cities in their efforts to bring about a better environment and work towards achieving sustainable development, by developing and sharing knowledge and expertise. We also work with the EU institutions and with national governments to make sure that European legislation and programmes can be implemented successfully at local level, in order to improve the urban environment and to protect the global environment.
Liveable cities
The DCMR participates in the 'liveable cities' project. The objective of this project is to encourage and support cities in their efforts to develop local sustainable urban management plans. This objective is to be achieved through the development of a clear set of guidelines, based on practical and challenging situations, and through the organisation of thematic workshops in which experiences are shared and co-operation between cities is strengthened. It is expected that cities from across the European Union will begin to develop their own local sustainable urban management plans with the help of the guidance tool developed during the project. These plans will have a clear and important focus on environmental aspects while taking an overall integrative view. The partner cities are expected to adopt such a plan by the end of the project. The project will also contribute to the thematic strategy on the Urban Environment through recommendations emanating from concrete experiences at local level.
Working Group Noise
DCMR EPA participates in and presides the Working Group Noise of Eurocities. Chair of the Working Group is Mr. Henk Wolfert, manager of the Noise Section of DCMR EPA. The main objectives of this Working Group are:
- Monitoring and responding to European policy development.
- Participation in EU working groups and projects.
- Responding to proposals for requirements reached by the EU.
- Supporting EUROCITIES members with the implementation of the requirements of Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise.
- Exchanging experience and knowledge about noise, preventing and reducing noise amongst associated cities.
The Working Group Noise also cooperates with the other working groups of Eurocities such as Working Groups Greening the Local Economy, Liveable Cities, Health and Environment, Climate Change and Air Quality, which are within the Eurocities Environmental Forum (EEF), but also the Working Groups within the Mobility Forum (International Accessibility and Sustainable Urban Transport Plans). For more information about Eurocities, see www.eurocities.org. In the EEF, that is lead by an Alderman of The Hague, also the chair of Working Group Noise participates.
The Working Group Noise meets three times per year in different places. The participants within this Working Group are Bologna, Copenhagen, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Lyon, Bristol, Sheffield, Belfast, Dublin, and Birmingham. Beside these members, there are also agenda members that will be keeping abreast of the progress of the Working Group Noise.
There is much experience within the current Working Group Noise about producing noise maps. The first comprehensive noise maps for a major city was the Birmingham Noise Map, which was completed in 1999. More information about this subject is available at www.noisemapping.org. Other cities do have also experience in making noise maps. DCMR’s Noise Section has produced noise maps a several times. The very first noise map goes all the way back to 1999 when a noise map for the whole region was set up for industrial noise, traffic noise, railway noise and aviation noise. Nowadays DCMR Noise Section produces the Rotterdam Noise Map according to the EU directive 2002/49. The Rotterdam Noise Map will be published after summer holidays 2006.
Eurocities members, interested in participation in the Working Group Noise can contact Mr. Henk Wolfert. The Working Group is still looking for new participants especially from South- and East European cities either. In particularly cities from new Member States EU are very welcome in the Working Group Noise! More information can be found at http://workinggroupnoise.web-log.nl.
