Within the context of the European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) announces the launch of the third European Sustainable City Award.

This initiative is supported by European Commission DG XI - Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection.

OBJECTIVES

To encourage and motivate local authorities which have made significant progress in developing long-term action plans for sustainability with a view to implementing concrete projects;

To raise awareness in the local community of sustainable development action and the implementation of Local Agenda 21, encourage participation and modify behaviours;

To highlight examples of good practice in the field of sustainable development and to encourage exchanges of experience and networking.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Applications for the European Sustainable City Award 1999 are open to all local authorities in Europe that have politically committed themselves to sustainable development action (for example by signing the Aalborg Charter, by Council decision) and that have made progress in developing long-term action plans towards sustainability.

Candidates are invited to complete the enclosed questionnaire, which is available on paper and on floppy disk or can be downloaded from the CEMR web site: http://www.ccre.org and the web site of the European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign: http://www.sustainable-cities.org

Please note:

• The questions must be answered in English or French.
• Please ensure that your answers do not exceed one page per question.
• Please send 3 paper copies of the completed questionnaire. Applications on disk will not be accepted.
• Please attach to the application any material which could support the assessment of your sustainable planning process, e.g. minutes of meetings, conference proceedings, articles or other publications, brochures, photos, folders, posters, technical briefs, detailed results.

The completed application, including the questionnaire and relevant documentation, must be submitted by 30.04.1999 to the CEMR Brussels Office:

Anne VAN OOST
CEMR
22 rue d'Arlon
1050 Brussels
Tel: +32 - 2 - 511 74 77
Fax: +32 - 2 - 511 09 49
E-mail: avanoost@ccre.org
Web Site: http://www.ccre.org

The evaluation will be carried out on the basis of your local authority's activities in the field of sustainable development, for example:

• Commitment to sustainable development with an integrated and holistic approach;
• Establishment of a multi-sectoral partnership body to oversee the process;
• Consultation of citizens and targeting of priority groups;
• Establishment of working groups to cover all aspects of sustainable development;
• Commitment to training and awareness-raising actions.

Innovation would be an asset, as would any steps already taken towards the implementation of sector-specific sustainable development projects.

The applications will be evaluated by a panel of representatives from the European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign, European networks of local authorities and European urban environment experts.

TIMETABLE:

Deadline for submission: 30.04.1999
Award presentation: June 1999

INFORMATION:

For further information on the European Sustainable City Award 1999 and on CEMR's activities within the framework of the European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign, please contact the national association of local authorities in your country or the CEMR Brussels Office.

For further information on the activities of other Campaign partners, please contact them directly.

For further information on the European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign, please contact the Campaign Office.