IX Biennial of European Towns and Town Planners

Presentation

The 9th Biennial of Town Planning and of European Town Planners, took place in Genoa on 14-17 September 2011, focused on how cities can contribute to re-launch European competitiveness through urban policies able to attract innovative investments that can offer firms and citizens more highly developed instruments for producing and better conditions for living in cities, having recourse also to the contribution that technology can offer in all the fields of urban life.

In the age of telecommunications, the gateway role that port cities have played in European history should be extended to many other cities which carry out that role not only in the field of transport and infrastructure, but also in the field of intangible communication flows which are at the basis of many contemporary productive processes.

The term Smart Planning is today applied to new applications of technology to urban governance, from which citizens and firms may obtain benefits as inhabitants and as producers. The Biennial intends to look into this new field that is unusual to contemporary European town planning practices, so as to offer ideas and opportunities useful for the institutions and the professions.

At the origin of the thematic reflections proposed by this edition of the Biennial, special attention will be given to the concept of European territory, a physical and relational space in which local, national and international firms and institutions cooperate and compete in a single market concerning half a billion inhabitants and which want to offer opportunities to all.

The Europa 2000 scenario represents the backdrop common to all the reflections which, from various angles, tackle the complex framework of relations and traditions constituting the scheme of Community building, and represent the motive to strengthen the internal ties and to consolidate the sense of belonging together.

More info : see website

The 8th Biennal Meeting of European Towns & Town Planners

The Biennial took place on 3-4 December 2009 in Nancy, France and was dealing with three questions:

- Is there really a "European City" model ? 

- How European Cities react to big today's economic, social, climate and demographic stakes ? 

- What strengths can European Cities draw on with a view to developmental leverage.

It has been organized by FNAU in cooperation with the Permanent International Working Party (PIWP) with the support of the ECTP.

Check this link for more detaile information.

(Mr João Teixeira, ECTP-CEU President during his presentation at the Biennal)