Mobility was one of the topics mentioned at the Covenant of Mayors Ceremony in Brussels (Belgium), on 4 May 2010. President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, discussed the important role of mayors, describing them as the “essence and spirit of the EU”.

More than 500 towns and cities signed the declaration during the ceremony, and Barroso spoke of how the Commission is also doing its part to highlight the role of these mayors and cities in various ways, one being mobility initiatives. “EU research programmes are increasingly targeted to match the long-term needs of cities. In this context, the successful experience of the CONCERTO and CIVITAS Initiatives will be reinforced in the future.”

ICLEI is one of the partners in CIVITAS Plus, the third and current phase of the Initiative, which aims to generate a decisive breakthrough by supporting and evaluating the implementation of ambitious integrated sustainable urban transport strategies that should make a real difference for the welfare of the European citizen.

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