UNECE ministers tackle pressing urban challenges at meeting in Geneva
(Palais des Nations, Conference Room VII,
19 September 2006, 10:00-18:00)
Geneva, 19 September 2006 -- Urban areas throughout the UNECE
region are under strain. In West European countries, economic changes
and unemployment have led to urban segregation and the emergence of deprived
neighbourhoods. Residents of such neighbourhoods have limited access to
public and private services, and they often feel that their personal security
and safety is threatened. Tightening public budgets have resulted in less
investment in housing. In a number of countries, social tensions last
year led to protest and unrest.
In countries of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) and South-Eastern
Europe (SEE), the move to a market-based economy has meant that the
state no longer oversees housing policy. After mass privatization of the
housing stock, today in many countries the bulk of high-rise buildings are
located in an administrative "no-man's land", with nobody feeling real ownership.
Weak institutional, legal and financial frameworks and deficient management
of the multi-family housing stock - which accounts for 60 to 80 per cent
of total housing stock - have aggravated the situation. Basic rules of urban
planning are often neglected. There is a decline in housing conditions,
infrastructure and social services.
Against this background, UNECE ministers of housing, spatial planning and
land management are meeting in Geneva today to discuss the significant challenges
confronting urban areas in many countries. The meeting takes place
under the auspices of the intergovernmental Committee on Housing and Land
Management and the chairship of Ms. Maria Antonia Trujillo Rincon, Minister
of Housing of Spain (Chairperson), and Mr. Laszlo Borbely, Delegate Minister
for Public Works and Territorial Planning of Romania (Vice-Chairperson).
Debates in the two panel discussions focus on questions crucial for future
urban development: What can be done to alleviate social and economic exclusion?
How can housing policy, urban planning and land administration help
in tackling these challenges? Which legal and institutional changes
have proved most effective? How can management and maintenance of the multi-family
housing stock be improved? Ministers and deputy ministers, representatives
from around 40 countries, and international and non-governmental
organizations are participating in the debate.
The meeting is expected to adopt a Ministerial
Declaration on Social and Economic Challenges in Distressed Urban Areas
in the UNECE Region. The draft Declaration reconfirms the goals and challenges
of the UNECE Strategy for a Sustainable Quality of Life in Human Settlements
in the Twenty-First Century, which was adopted at the Ministerial Meeting
in 2000. Ministers are expected to commit themselves to contributing
to social cohesion, development of social and affordable housing, effective
management of multi-family housing estates and the achievement of good practices
in land management and spatial planning. It is also stressed that urban development
needs to be integrated with other policy areas like education, employment,
health and transport. The decisions taken will guide the Committee's work
in the next five years.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Michael KUNZ
Environment, Housing and Land Management Division
United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 1357
Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 0107
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.unece.org/hlm/sessions/67thsession.htm
Ref: ECE/ENV/06/P08