La Banque de l'UE

Event summary

Europe’s success on the global stage depends upon the successes of its major cities and metropolitan areas. Europe’s cities are the places where the goals of greater prosperity, environmental sustainability and economic dynamism converge. Without these urban communities to attract and sustain a diversity of skills and talent, there can be no knowledge economy and no centres of innovation. If Europe is serious about becoming the world’s most dynamic and competitive economy, its cities must become sustainable and be able to provide first class infrastructure and unsurpassed living standards for their citizens.

Financing mobility and fostering sustainable cities is the twin imperative. EU enlargement has led to new waves of migration placing a greater strain on many city infrastructures. Work and lifestyle patterns are being transformed by information technology and old transport strategies need to be updated. Meanwhile environmental targets to combat climate change need to be met. Making the right investments in the right transport and infrastructure networks can go a long way to meeting these challenges.

But times are tough. In the light of the current financial climate, new investment mechanisms and new opportunities must be generated if ambitions to transform public infrastructure into high performance assets are to be realised. Governments, energy and infrastructure providers, and investors need to work together to deliver the sustainable urban environments that will raise the quality of life and support tomorrow’s economic growth.

For all details, please visit www.eib.org/forum