The European Urban Charter and the Reality of Albanian Cities

Abstract

The Council of Europe has been implementing for several years the European Urban Charter. Its focus is the city and urban areas in Europe, relating to rights such as urban transport and mobility, environment and nature in cities, urban architectural heritage, cultural integration in the city, civic participation, urban management and urban planning. The European Urban Charter is provided by the Council of Europe in relation to urban policy. It came as a logical outcome of the European campaign for urban renewal organized by the Council of Europe in 1980-1982.The purpose of this charter is to provide a practical tool and a manual for urban management authorities. Moreover, this charter is committed to provide a business card for the Council of Europe on issues related to the environment and the act of building. After this outline of European urban space, the environment and its principles it is clearer which is the road where the Albanian society will have to walk and on what principles will be built the national plan for urban spatial planning. The development of our cities modeled on European cities is likely to be cost, not only because of the historical developments, but more for reasons of political transition in the Albanian society which continues to hold back our cities.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n8p560