Towards Liveable Cities: Progress in the European Union Urban Environmental Agenda

The 2006 oThematic Strategy on the Urban Environmento is the first piece of official European Union (EU) policy solely focused on the urban environment. It follows a process of several years in which the EU has tried to promote an integrated approach to urban management. During the 2005-2007 oLiveable Citieso project, reflection was given to the oThematic Strategyo. This resulted in important critiques on the EU's approach to the urban environment. Explaining how the initial top-down approach chosen by the EU contributed to the perceived ofailureo of the oThematic Strategyo, suggestions are made for alternative approaches to the creation of liveable cities in Europe.