With urban issues featuring more prominently on the policy agenda, the European Commission organised a high level discussion group, the URBAN FORUM, to address the challenges faced by European Union towns and cities. UBC was represented in Vienna by Mr Bartuomiej Sochanski, UBC Vice President.

Within the context of achieving the overall objective of sustainable urban development, sessions within the URBAN FORUM (26-27 November' 98) addressed the Framework's specific proposals under the following headings:

• Strengthening productivity, employment and economic growth in towns and cities

• Promoting equality and social inclusion in urban areas

• Protecting and improving the urban environment: local and global sustainability

• Contributing to good urban governance and empowerment

The discussions at the URBAN FORUM allowed a wide range of actors from various levels of government and various perspectives to voice their views on how EC can best promote and or facilitate integrated approaches to sustainable urban development.

The Commission's Action Plan complements needs and expectations of UBC members. In particular, subsidiarity, integration, partnership, environmental sustainability, market efficiency - these are the principles fully supported by the organisation. The Commission's proposal of a total package of Euro 275 billion for structural policies for the period 2000-2006, as well as Euro 45 billion allocated to accession countries, including Euro 7 billion via the pre-accession instrument for transport and environment, is also appreciated.

It is our anticipation that pre-accession funds be primarily allocated in regions located close to the EU external borders, i.e. also around the Baltic Sea. Furthermore, the Commission intends to adopt guidelines including "urban dimension" for the use of the funds by Member States.

UBC in general supports the concept of integrated urban development action. Yet, it's necessary that regional plans and operational programmes refer explicitly to the urban areas, which should then be prepared and subsequently adopted jointly by cities and regional authorities.

The Commission proposal for ERDF funding through INTERREG III the co-operation between urban areas in different Member States can enable the UBC to fulfil many ideas concerning cross-border and inter-regional urban development strategies and planning approaches. Networking and clustering between EU actors and urban centres in accession countries is required besides others in order to familiarise and prepare those cities to successfully meet EU conditions and challenges: public procurement, free movement of goods and people, environmental requirements.

As one of the UBC main tasks is an exchange of experiences, action 20 supporting innovative urban development strategies is appreciated. In particular the CEE cities have special needs in terms of strategic planning, information policy and public participation, human resources, infrastructure, revitalisation of residential areas, housing, recovering industrial sites, architectural heritage and environment. Action 20 combined appropriately with PHARE and TACIS funds may lead to improvements in urban conditions in Central and Eastern Europe.

Union of the Baltic Cities considers the Action Plan for Sustainable Urban Development as a very positive step for the Baltic Sea Region's further integration.