Asia-URBS - Strengthening links between local authorities
Asia-URBS is a new European Commission (DG 1B) programme aimed at strengthening links between European and South or South-East Asian local government. Launched in Kuala Lumpur in July 1997, the aim of the programme is to promote activities in the field of urban management, urban socio-economic development, urban environment, urban infrastructure and urban poverty. The general objective is to improve urban situations/conditions and promote sustainable initiatives involving both private and public partners on both sides. The programme fits within the Community's general cooperation strategy to support social and economically sustainable development and consolidate democracy and human rights. Priority will be given to: - Innovative activities aimed at forging and reinforcing networks of local governments; - Project designs or pilot projects where the substance and proposed form of participatory implementation has demonstration value; - Identification schemes designed to make the actors better able to formulate development projects (this phase will have a maximum duration of one year); - Sound proposals for the carrying out of activities and for the dissemination of results.