The 6th Community Action Programme was adopted on 22 July 2002 and sets objectives and priorities for the decade to come. One of the priorities identified is the Urban Environment. The European Commission is committed to developing a Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment, which will be aimed at "promoting an integrated horizontal approach across Community policies and improving the quality of the urban environment".

According to article 4 of the Programme Thematic Strategies should include "an identification of the proposals that are required to reach the objectives set out in the programme and the procedures foreseen for their adoption" (Article 4.1). They should be developed and implemented in close co-operation with relevant parties (Article 4.3).

The European Commission has developed the strategy according to the following steps:

1. June 2003 - The organisation of a multi-stakeholder platform bringing together actors with an interest in urban policy (local authorities, NGOs, business sector and academics) to debate how the Thematic Strategy may contribute to the improvement of the environmental efficiency of urban areas and to secure a healthy living environment for citizens.

2. Jan 2004 - Commission Communication "Towards a Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment" issued for comments.

3. Throughout 2004 – Meetings of stakeholders at EU Expert Group on the Urban Environment. Also meetings of three special working groups on environmental management plans, sustainable urban transport plans and urban environment research and training needs.

4. End 2004 - Working group reports with recommendations for the Thematic Strategy.

5. Jan 2006 - The Commission published the Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment

Aims:

• Evaluate the Thematic Strategy that will be proposed by the Commission towards the end of 2005 assessing, whether it will have a concrete positive impact on the quality of life in cities as well as lead to the reduction of the ecological footprints of cities onto their surroundings and the regional and global environment.

Activities:

• Discuss and critically assess the Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment within the EEB working group on the urban environment

• Follow-up the publishing of Thematic Strategy Urban and provide comments and advise to the European Parliament and the Council.

• Engage in the work of the Austrian Presidency as far as that aims to develop specific activities on this Strategy.

• Work together with other environmental partners as well as NGOs of different fields of interest to promote a Strategy that is concrete, attractive and clear with regards to the role the EU can have.

• Maintain the email listserver for the EEB Working Group on Urban Environment