The Brussels Parliament held an interparliamentary conference on European Union urban policy on Monday as part of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU.
In total, representatives from 32 parliaments from 24 countries came to the Brussels Parliament. In his opening speech, parliamentary president Rachid Madrane (PS) pointed out that the Belgian Presidency of the Council does not only concern the Belgian federal level but also the regional ones.
"The regions that make up our country and the different parliaments are also mobilised on our common future and how we will build it together," he said. The Brussels Parliament chose as the conference topic the EU's urban policy, "which is crucial as the majority of European citizens live in urban areas."
"More and more citizens want to take action rather than be subjected to global dynamics that affect the areas where they live. It is also important to recognise that citizens are stakeholders, rather than users, in order to help the region prioritise and develop what is best for residents."
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In all, representatives from 24 countries descended on the parliament. Madrane particularly welcomed a delegation from Georgia – participating for the first time in a conference as an official EU candidate country.
Spread throughout the day, four discussion panels took place on the financing of urban policy, involving citizens in the development of major urban projects, adapting urban environments to climate change and issues of urban mobility.
