Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa share the opinion that only with the help of cities can the European Union achieve its objectives. Cities are the closest to citizens and serve as the driving force behind democracy. By 2050, 80% of the population of Europe will be living in urban areas.
The Helsinki Metropolitan Area's common EU objectives are built around four themes: democracy and well-being; the role of urban policy in the EU; competitiveness and the green transition; and the energy transition.
Urban policy needs to be higher on the EU agenda
The status of urban policy should be strengthened by placing it higher on the EU agenda and integrating it into EU policy areas. There needs to be more extensive and systematic dialogue between the EU and cities and between the Finnish Government and cities about EU matters.
Urban policy needs to be more effectively coordinated and integrated into the EU agenda, in relation to which the cities of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area propose the that the European Commission should appoint a Vice-President responsible for urban policy.
– Both the EU and cities and the Finnish Government and cities must create structures for active dialogue. That way the needs of different cities are taken into account at the different stages and levels of EU decision-making and preparation. A significant proportion of EU policies and legislation is implemented in cities, and only with the help of cities can the European Union achieve its objectives, state the mayors of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.
Democracy and well-being include the reduction of inequality
Regarding democracy and well-being, Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa highlight that cities need to be supported in reducing inequalities, preventing social exclusion, and promoting good relations between different population groups.
Even more developed regions of Europe must be provided with EU support to improve housing and transport in order to prevent segregation and urban poverty.
– Spatial segregation is more pronounced in the cities of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area than in other Finnish cities. This is a complex challenge, the tackling of which requires a number of different measures. Helsinki strives to tackle segregation in many ways, but support is needed from both the Finnish Government and the EU, says Mayor of Helsinki Juhana Vartiainen.
The preconditions for competitiveness and the green transition are being created in cities
The cities of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area emphasise that the preconditions for competitiveness and solutions for the green transition are being created in cities, so the development efforts of cities in these areas must be strengthened.
Cities, geopolitics, and security of supply must be taken into account in transport solutions. In addition to this, the regulatory burden of businesses and municipalities must be reduced.
– The Helsinki Metropolitan Area is an important driver of growth for both Finland and Europe and a place where people also develop technologies critical to the strategic autonomy of the EU. A good example of a key project in terms of the EU's global competitiveness is the Kvanttinova facility currently being built in Otaniemi, Espoo, which has huge growth potential, says Mayor of Espoo Jukka Mäkelä.
Support for cities in the energy transition
As regards the energy transition, the Helsinki Metropolitan Area cities call for EU to provide support for systemic change, which creates preconditions for sustainable development, for example.
Cities also need support to improve the energy efficiency of buildings as well as sensible policies and sufficient support for reducing emissions.
– Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa are forerunners when it comes to environmental issues, and all three aim to become carbon neutral by 2030. To achieve this goal, we need close cooperation with and support from the EU. Northern European cities play a key role in the adoption of innovative technologies intended to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and as scalers of mobility and energy transition solutions, says Deputy Mayor of Vantaa Tero Anttila.