Advancing Sustainable Urban Transport in an Enlarged Europe through CIVITAS (CIVITAS VANGUARD)

Activities

CIVITAS I (2002-2006) involved 19 cities clustered in four demonstration projects; CIVITAS II (2005-2009) involved 17 cities in four demonstration projects; while 25 cities are participating in five demonstration projects in CIVITAS PLUS (2008-2012). Activities in the demonstration cities throughout Europe are funded by the European Commission.

Activities within the initiative are undertaken to:

• promote and implement sustainable, clean and energy-efficient urban transport measures;
• implement integrated packages of technology and policy measures in the field of energy and transport; and
• build up a critical mass and markets for innovation.

Horizontal projects support the CIVITAS demonstration projects and cities by:

• cross-site evaluations and Europe-wide dissemination in cooperation with the demonstration projects;
• organising the annual meetings of the CIVITAS Forum;
• providing secretariat services for the Political Advisory Committee (PAC); and
• developing policy recommendations for the long-term multiplier effect of the CIVITAS Initiative.

Achievements

Key elements of the initiative include the following lessons learnt:

• CIVITAS is coordinated by cities: it is a programme "of cities for cities".
• Cities are at the heart of local public-private partnerships.
• Political commitment is a basic requirement.
• Cities are living "laboratories" for learning and evaluating.

Partners