In 2018, during the General Assembly of Atlantic Cities in Donostia / San Sebastian (Spain), the member cities decided to reaffirm their compromise with a sustainable urban development, by adopting, on June 15, 2018, the Atlantic Charter entitled: “The local and citizen dimension in the future of the European Union”, and to launch a study on the future of Atlantic cities for the period 2020-2030 to redefine the priorities and strategies of the association and its members , so as to establish an action plan focused on territorial aspirations, favoring the entire Atlantic Arc.
After a call for tenders, the Study was carried out by a consortium of three laboratories from the University of Rennes 2. It was based on semi-directive surveys carried out with representatives and/or in charge of European relations for the twenty member cities. The recommendations formulated are based on the study of members’ internal policies and strategic planning, and on European factors, taking particular account of the various European cooperation programs.
The results were presented on October 22 at the 2019 extended board in Cherbourg. In addition, the study’s conclusions and the minutes of the meeting were submitted to members for consultation between November 2019 and January 2020.
Members indicated their preference to maintain the five priorities identified by the study. However, the responses also indicated that the blue dimension should focus on a “single” priority in order to enhance its visibility.
Consequently, the 5 priorities to be developed in the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan are as follows:
– Mobility
The Strategic Plan will be voted at the next General Assembly. To know more about the study, it is available for consultation here