Towards
Local Sustainability in Central and Eastern Europe - The Sofia Statement
- November 14, 1998
Adopted
on 14 November 1998 by the participants of the Regional Conference
on Sustainable Cities and Towns in Sofia, Bulgaria
I.
Preamble
II. Our challenge
III. Our steps towards sustainability
IV. Our message to national parliaments and governments
in Central and Eastern Europe
V. Our Message to the "West"
VI. Our message to the European Union
I
Preamble
280 representatives
of local authorities, local government associations, national governments,
European Commission and non-governmental organisations convened
in Sofia, Bulgaria from 12-14 November 1998 for the conference "Towards
Local Sustainability in Central and Eastern Europe". As the second
in a series of four regional conferences on sustainable cities &
towns being held in succession of the pan-European conferences in
Aalborg, Denmark (1994) and Lisbon, Portugal (1996), the Sofia Conference
is a milestone event of the European Sustainable Cities & Towns
Campaign within Central and Eastern Europe leading up to the third
pan-European conference to be held in Hannover, Germany, in February
2000. - The participants pledge their continuous commitment to the
principles of sustainable development, demanding that the human
economy and development policies ensure health and quality of life
within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems. They emphasise
the vital role of local communities and local authorities in designing
and implementing national and international strategies towards sustainable
development, in particular the Rio Agenda 21, the UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change, the action programme Health for All in the 21st
Century, and the European Union's Environmental Action Programmes.
- The participants share the concern about the global environmental
degradation, which increases economic problems and social disparities,
and has a global and local dimension.
They regard
sustainable development as the only way forward to avoid conflicts
and ensure peace. - The participants in the Conference express their
gratitude to the City of Sofia and especially Mayor Stefan Sofianski
from the City of Sofia for having hosted the conference, to the
International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives for their
sound support to organise the conference in cooperation with the
Council of European Municipalities and Regions and the Coordinator
of the European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign, and to Directorate
General XI of the European Commission, the Netherlands Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, the Bulgarian Ministries for Environment and
Regional Development & Public Works, the National Centre for Territorial
Planning & Housing Policy, the Sofia Office of UNDP, the Regional
Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe, the Civil Society
Foundation and Public Service Reform Initiative / Open Society Institute
for their generous financial support. - During two days with plenary
sessions and 16 workshops the participants have come to the following
conclusions.
II
Our challenge
II.1 We, local
communities and municipalities and their associations in Central
and Eastern Europe, are aware of the common European culture and
history we share and want our countries to be integrated parts of
a common Europe. As many countries in particular have applied for
membership in the European Union we appreciate the benefits of EU
accession. However, at the same time we understand that it entails
new mutual obligations. For the applicants these are particularly
the fulfilment of EU membership criteria and the adoption of EU
legislation, the so-called aquis communautaire. Within this process,
based on our own identity and specific experiences, we will try
to learn from, and give valuable input into the future development
of the European Union. We have to strive for a recognition and respect
by Western partners of the diversity that distinguishes the countries
of "Central and Eastern Europe".
II.2 We are
glad about the move towards democracy and free societies that the
changes of regimes in our countries have brought about. However,
rapid transition to democracy, market-based economies, privatisation
and radical changes in the structure and working style of the administrations
are both, a challenge and a risk at the same time. We need to continuously
motivate and empower people to take initiative and to play an active
role within this new context. We appreciate the crucial role that
non- governmental organisations have in local community development
and public participation processes.
II.3 We have
to overcome the overwhelming problems inherited from the past. At
the same time we must try to avoid unreflected adoption of appealing,
but unsustainable patterns. Poverty, unemployment, poor housing
and working conditions, air pollution and noise, degradation of
land and habitats, and inadequate water management are posing severe
challenges. Unequal access to resources and power during the phase
of transition has increased disparities within our societies. Among
those suffering most from this situation are women, young and aged
people and minority groups.
III Our steps towards sustainability
III.1 Tangible
improvements in many fields have been achieved by Central and Eastern
European cities, towns and regions at an unprecedented pace. Many
of them have made substantial progress in meeting EU environmental
protection standards. 29 local authorities in Central and Eastern
Europe have already adopted the Charter of European Cities & Towns
Towards Sustainability (Aalborg Charter) and hereby made a commitment
to engage in a Local Agenda 21 process and join the European Sustainable
Cities & Towns Campaign.
III.2 We will
strive to bring emerging market economies and steps towards privatisation
in line with the principles of sustainability. New ownership patterns,
more market competition, new styles of management of the municipal
property, and foreign investments occur within our cities. We therefore
need to establish framework conditions which ensure that this process
will contribute to the development of stable economies, employment,
quality of life and social equity whilst at the same time reducing
the deterioration of the local and global environment. This will
require institutional capacity building, education and training,
and the use of a whole range of management instruments giving motivation
and incentives to investors to 'go sustainable'.
III.3 We will
undertake steps to create more sustainable infrastructures and services
such as separate waste collection and processing, local heating
networks based on co-generation, sewage treatment plants for the
benefit of the whole population, as well as for the benefit of future
generations. Sustainability requirements should particularly guide
the efforts in the construction sector, this will include the refurbishment
of the large pre-fabricated housing estates, where a large part
of our population lives. These need to become liveable urban quarters
featuring resource-efficient construction and facilities.
III.4. We
will strive to stop the emergence of urban sprawl and the increase
of road traffic, leading to massive land use, air pollution, social
segregation, and the death of city centres. Spatial planning, the
creation of sustainable transport systems and inter-municipal co-operation
will need to play a crucial role in this respect. Agricultural and
land reforms must be linked to theses issues, they should lead away
from industrialised agriculture, ensure regionalised food supply
of our cities and combat urban sprawl. Effective co-operative management
systems for international rivers and lakes need to be established
to protect them as ecosystems and common water resource.
III.5 We will
strive to build up democratic societies, to foster citizens' and
stakeholders' participation in public decision-making, and to achieve
policy integration, openness, transparency and accountability. Within
our local administrations, we need to create appropriate structures
to deal with this task. At the same time, we request our national
governments to set frameworks that encourage such ideas. This should
reflect the principle of subsidiarity and the provision of resources.
III.6 We pledge
our commitment to international partnership and co-operation between
cities and regions. Those of us, which are not yet participating
in the European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign, will seek to
join the Campaign through the adoption of the Aalborg Charter. We
also will seek to form and join international networks.
East-East,
East-West and North-South co-operation, mutual support and sharing
of resources will be essential for our move forward towards sustainable
development.
III.7 Local
Agenda 21 processes will give us the opportunity to develop a vision
and long-term action plan towards sustainability which is based
on, and involves the whole community. Local Agenda 21 should also
strive to create accountable sustainability policies, and to monitor
their implementation. Apart from Local Agenda 21, we should use
the whole range of tools for local sustainable development, as being
described in the 'Sustainable Cities Report', the Lisbon Action
Plan of the European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign and the
European Local Agenda 21 Planning Guide, to achieve progress.
III.8 We emphasise
the role of the young generation for building up our "new societies".
We therefore consider appropriate education as essential for preparing
a new generation for mastering the tasks ahead.
III.9 The
adoption of European Union environmental legislation will provide
us with opportunities to foster steps towards sustainability. We
shall proactively use the assistance offered by the European Commission
to prepare our communities for the desired accession of our countries
to the EU. In particular, we will work in partnership with the European
Union to develop long-term strategies for sustainability.
IV
Our message to national parliaments and governments in Central and
Eastern Europe
IV.1 We, local
communities and municipalities and their associations in Central
and Eastern Europe, call upon our national parliaments to ensure
a system of governance that guarantees local self-government and
allocates powers and resources according to the principle of subsidiarity.
Cities can make a crucial contribution to the sustainable development
of democracy, society and economy. In order to effectively fulfil
these functions local government needs to be given its own revenue
basis.
IV.2 We ask
our national governments to use the experience and insight of cities
in designing and implementing national sustainable development strategies.
We ask parliaments to make resources available to support local
sustainable development projects, and to support national and regional
networks of cities in their co-ordinating and capacity-building
role.
IV.3 We expect
our governments to widely publicise the rights of citizens according
to the Aarhus Convention.
V Our Message to the "West"
V.1 We, local
communities and municipalities and their associations in Central
and Eastern Europe, appreciate support received from governments,
local authorities, non-governmental organisations, foundations and
other organisations. This helped to build a basic capacity to meet
the challenges of sustainable development. We continue to need support
in the future.
V.2 Western
support is most welcome and effective when there is mutual exchange
rather than a mere West-East transfer. We need to use the experiences
of the West as a source of insight to set and achieve our own objectives
and to develop capacity for self-management. Otherwise the mere
call for compliance might not lead to effective actions.
V.3 We invite
Western municipalities to open themselves to increased bilateral
and multilateral co-operation. We would like to work together in
linking up actively with the European Sustainable Cities & Towns
Campaign, its co-ordinating networks and their support projects.
V.4 In this
regard we would like to see the Sustainable Cities Award for Central
and Eastern Europe encourage local authorities by awarding initiative,
creativity, innovation and substantial progress towards compliance
with European Union standards.
VI Our message to the European Union
VI.1 We, local
communities and municipalities and their associations in Central
and Eastern Europe, express our sincere wish that the European Parliament,
the European Council and the European Commission encourage and support
strong local self-government in the countries of Central and Eastern
Europe.
VI.2 We ask
the European institutions to support the development of local management
capacity through training and exchange of experiences.
VI.3 We ask
the European Commission to support the training of municipal officials
and other stakeholders on the environmental aquis communautaire
and its implications. Local governments can already accelerate the
harmonisation process by creating management structures and capacity
to implement and enforce EU-required legislation.
VI.4 We ask
the European Commission to recognise the crucial role of local authorities
in implementing and enforcing environmental law in the accession
countries and to pay due recognition to this in the work of informal
network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental
Law in the ten accession countries of Central and Eastern Europe
(AC-IMPEL).
VI.5 We call
upon the European Commission to strengthen its commitment and provide
specific support to actively involve local authorities of Central
and Eastern Europe in the European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign.
Editorial amendment: The following statement proposed by the Roundtable
on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Urban Development could not
be included in the Sofia Statement before its adoption. It is proposed
that it will be regarded as an informal amendment to Section III:
We recognise that sustainable development is inseparable from the
conservation of cultural heritage and its harmonious use for the
attainment of a better quality of life and economic development.
