"Urban Agenda for the EU" Newsletter Issues

Editorial (09/03/2023)

Dear readers,

Webstreaming of Cities forum sessions – 16-17 March 2023 (09/03/2023)

We are happy to announce that the main sessions of the 5th edition of the Cities Forum will be web streamed! Follow online the plenary sessions on our website on 16 and 17 March through the link provided below. A dedicated agenda for the webstreamed sessions is available. For the latest news and interviews from the event, do not hesitate to check the #CitiesForum on Twitter, the Facebook page and corresponding Event page.

Sign up for the EUI newsletter (09/03/2023)

As part of the support to the Urban Agenda for the EU, the European Urban Initiative will use its communication channels to ensure that the UAEU is known and visible, to promote participation in its activities and to boost the dissemination of its outputs. One of the key channels is the EUI newsletter which will have a dedicated section on UAEU. Please note that the newsletter you are now reading is the final UAEU newsletter. It will be discontinued afterwards. If you want to continue receiving future news and updates on the Urban Agenda and its Thematic Partnerships, you should sign up for the EUI newsletter through the link below. You can also continue to engage via the LinkedIn and Twitter accounts of the Urban Agenda for the EU that remain active.

Editorial (06/12/2022)

Dear readers,

The 2023 Cities Forum website is online! (02/12/2022)

The 5th edition of the Cities Forum will take place in Torino on 16-17 March 2023. We are pleased to announce that the official website for the event is online. This is the main information portal for interested participants. You can already find online the draft agenda of the event and a brief description of the workshops and thematic sessions. Registration to attend the event on site will open in January on the website. To remain updated on future news, participants are invited to follow our Facebook event #CitiesForum 2023.

Two new partnerships of the Urban Agenda for the EU approved and starting their work (06/12/2022)

On 26 October 2022, the Directors-General on Urban Matters (DGUM) have met in the city of Prague as part of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union. During this meeting the members have approved the composition of two new Urban Agenda for the EU (UAEU) Partnerships that have been officially launched as a result: The Partnership on Sustainable Tourism and The Partnership on Greening Cities. Find out more about them and their set-up through the link below.

Support by the European Urban Initiative as the new Secretariat for the Urban Agenda for the EU (06/12/2022)

The European Urban Initiative (EUI) is now acting as Secretariat for the Urban Agenda for the EU as part of the support provided by the European Commission. Communication on the initiative has started to progressively be transferred to their new platform and the EUI newsletter will now be gathering all relevant urban related developments from the initiative as well as of the Urban Agenda for the EU and its overall development and partnerships. Find out more information below and subscribe to the EUI newsletter to continue following the Urban Agenda for the EU.

The Policy Support Facility – Adaptation strategies for local and regional authorities (02/12/2022)

In 2021, the Covenant of Mayors Office launched the Policy Support Facility (PSF) to assist local and regional authorities develop and implement adaptation strategies. As part of the EU Adaptation Strategy, the PSF is a two-year programme specifically focused on 12 selected Member States. The programme proposes webinars, workshops, tailored technical assistance by experts, and additional peer learning exchanges for cities and regions. Please check the below link for more information.

The Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (02/12/2022)

The Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) is an initiative of the European Commission, launched by the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation as part of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan 2020. It contributes to the policy objectives of the EU Green Deal, including the 2050 climate neutrality target, and the EU Bioeconomy Strategy. Combining knowledge sharing, technical and financial support, the initiative offers stakeholders across Europe’s cities and regions comprehensive support over the whole life cycle of local and regional circular economy initiatives. The CCRI is funded by Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe.

The City Energy Saving Sprint - How can they save energy in the short run? (02/12/2022)

As part of the REPowerEU Plan, the City Energy Saving Sprint is a new joint initiative of the European Commission, the Covenant of Mayors – Europe and the European Committee of the Regions that encourages cities to take measures that will immediately reduce their energy consumption before and during winter. To face this winter’s challenges, the Covenant of Mayors has already published a Repository of energy saving measures and a Toolkit of tips and initiatives replicable across municipalities.

EUI Innovative Actions' first call is open (02/12/2022)

The European Urban Initiative (EUI) has launched a €50 million call to support urban innovation and cities' capabilities to build a sustainable urban development. It will allow for translating into practice of the core values of the New European Bauhaus (aesthetics, sustainability, and inclusion). The call is open for urban authorities to apply until 19th January 2023. More information are available through this link.

Energy Communities Repository - A new call for applications closing on 31 December! (02/12/2022)

The Energy Communities Repository is an initiative on behalf of the European Commission to assist local actors (including citizens and civil society organizations, local authorities and businesses) with setting up and advancing clean energy projects driven by energy communities in urban areas. The Repository will do this by providing to participants direct technical support and administrative advice. Interested actors can apply and find further information on the call clicking on the link below.

Final report of the Digital Transition Partnership (06/12/2022)

The final report on the work of Digital Transition Partnership was finalized and includes links to all actions and deliverables produced by the Partnership members. Please consult the link below to access to report.

Editorial 072022 (14/07/2022)

Dear readers,

Call for partners for new partnerships of the Urban Agenda for the EU on Greening Cities and Sustainable Tourism – Open until 16 September (14/07/2022)

A call for partners has been opened to welcome applications for joining the 2 new partnerships of the Urban Agenda for the EU to be put in place on Greening cities and Sustainable tourism. Applications for being a partner or a coordinator should be submitted via the EU survey available through the below link and will be welcome until 16 September 2022.

Mark your agendas for the Cities Forum 2023! (14/07/2022)

The Cities Forum is a biennial major event of the European Commission that brings together key urban stakeholders from European, national regional and local levels. In the result of an open call for host cities, it has been decided that the Cities Forum 2023 will take place on 16-17 March 2023 in Torino, Italy. Stay tuned for more information to come in 2022.

New Action plan of the Public Procurement partnership ready for implementation (14/07/2022)

A new Action Plan of the Innovative and responsible public procurement Partnership has been endorsed as a continuation of its work. 3 new Actions have been chosen, focusing on a procurers platform and reflection board, achieving EU Green Deal goals by using public procurement and innovation as strategic instruments and Sustainable economic recovery through public procurement. Please see the link below to access the Action plan.

The Culture and Cultural Heritage Partnership reflects its legacy during its final meeting – and looks ahead (14/07/2022)

The Partnership organised a final meeting and conference in June in Rome to reflect on its work and on how to ensure the continuity of valuable actions with new outputs and to build bridges to future steps. In these next months in 2022, the Partnership will work on summarizing its legacy and finalising its political and strategic recommendations for the EU, Member States as well as regions and cities. Please read the article through the link below for more information.

Functional areas in the EU Pilot Project - crossing administrative boundaries for green transition and sustainable development (14/07/2022)

12 urban and non-urban functional areas will receive technical support for green transition and sustainable development through a pilot project launched by the European Commission and the World Bank. The project aims to strengthen the capacity of participants to plan and finance investments and services across jurisdictional boundaries for green transition and sustainable development. More information can be found through the below link.

New European Bauhaus: 20 small and medium municipalities to receive support for frontrunner projects (15/07/2022)

The European Commission announced the 20 winners of the first call of the New European Bauhaus dedicated to place-based transformative projects led by small and medium-sized municipalities. The projects are embodying the values of the New European Bauhaus – sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion – in one of four action areas: renovation of buildings and public spaces; preservation and transformation of cultural heritage; adaptation and transformation of buildings for affordable housing solutions; or regeneration of urban or rural spaces. Find out more through the link below.

Support to public authorities for participating in the management of Cohesion policy funds (15/07/2022)

In the 2021-2027 programming period for Cohesion policy funds, citizens will be able to participate to decision-making on investments, selection of operations and their monitoring in the context of integrated territorial strategies, sustainable urban development and sustainable urban mobility. The Commission and OECD are joining forces to support public authorities and civil society organisations to develop participatory processes in the management of EU funds through a pilot project notably involving regional and local authorities. More information can be accessed below.

New ESPON 2030 Cooperation Programme for 2021-2027 approved on 6 July (15/07/2022)

The new ESPON 2030 programme for the period 2021-2027 has been adopted and will be able to build on the work done for the past 20 years to provide quality territorial data and analysis. The programme aims at promoting and fostering a European territorial dimension in development and cooperation by providing evidence, knowledge transfer and policy learning to public authorities and other policy actors at all levels.

Driving Urban Transitions to a Sustainable Future (DUT) is the new programme of JPI Urban Europe starting in 2022 (15/07/2022)

The DUT Partnership steps up the game to tackle urban challenges. Through research and innovation, the programme will enable local authorities and municipalities, business, and citizens to translate global strategies into local action. As regards the expected outcomes, the skills and tools will be developed to make urban change happen and boost the urgently needed urban transformations towards a sustainable future with enhanced quality of life in cities.

The European Commission at the 11th session of the World Urban Forum (14/07/2022)

The European Commission was an active partner of the 11th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF11) that took place in Katowice, Poland between 26 and 30 June 2022. In order to highlight European dimension of the event, there was a series of events under the European Track, with a building block coordinated by the European Commission. Find out more through the article linked below.

Let’s Go! Climate Neutral & Smart Cities Mission Kick Off Event (15/07/2022)

On 13 June, NetZeroCities and the European Commission hosted the Let’s Go! Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission Kick-off, an event that brought together the 112 cities selected to participate in the Mission for 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030, the European Commission ‘Climate Neutral and Smart Cities’ Mission team and the NetZeroCities consortium with the aim of facilitating contacts and experience sharing between cities, and introducing them to the services provided by NetZeroCities, the Mission Platform.

Launch of the European Handbook for SDG Voluntary Local Review – 2022 edition (14/07/2022)

During the 11th session of the World Urban Forum, JRC successfully launched the European Handbook for SDG Voluntary Local Reviews – 2022 edition. This new edition builds on the first one published in 2020 and it includes an updated analysis of the VLRs published globally and in Europe, their evolution over time and space in terms of use, main characteristics, and building blocks.

Open call under LIFE programme for local authorities: Developing support mechanisms for energy communities (14/07/2022)

A call has been launched by the LIFE programme to support actions that foster the collaboration between local and regional authorities and energy communities and/or actions that develop integrated services to facilitate the emergence and growth of community energy projects. They can target either local authorities collaborating with citizen-led-initiatives cope or be focused on developing integrated services to support community energy. More information is available below and the deadline for applications is 16 November 2022.

Editorial (13/06/2022)

Dear readers,

Series of 14 European Commission events at the World Urban Forum (27/06/2022)

This year’s – eleventh – session of the World Urban Forum will take place in Katowice, Poland. In order to present European perspective, within the WUF11 programme there will be a special group of events called the European Track. As part of a dedicated building block of the European Track, the series of 14 events organised or co-organised by the European Commission aims to highlight the EU approach towards integrated sustainable urban development through various dimensions. Please also take time to visit the European Commission Joint Research Center’s stand if you join the forum. More information can be found below.

URBACT activities in Katowice (26/06/2022)

Urbact will be present in Poland and organise two events at the WUF 11: a training on gender equality in cities, and a panel session based on the work of the pilot network Global Goals for Cities, supporting the localization of SDGs. Find more information below through the below link. Do not hesitate to also take the opportunity visit their strand.

Editorial (20/04/2022)

Dear readers,

MyData in digital transition – Elaboration of a European roadmap on “mydata” (20/04/2022)

The Partnership on Digital Transition wishes to present the result of its work to promote a human-centred approach to personal data developed in one of their actions. Results of internal workshops and outputs of this action introduce a common understanding of the usage of personal data in combination with concrete practices in personal data usage. Please follow the link below to access more information and deliverables from this work.

Co-creating a business model approach for cities (20/04/2022)

There is an increasing need for innovative ways to explore and exploit opportunities for digital transition in the urban context and the Partnership on Digital Transition worked to help cities to bring business model thinking to their digitalization work by providing knowledge of what business model thinking is and how cities could benefit from it in practice. One of their outputs is a practical online tool to notably help cities identify, map, and rank their needs and opportunities for developing digital services. Find more information about this tool and surrounding activities on this action below.

Consultation on the European Commission short-term accommodation rental services (‘STR’) initiative (20/04/2022)

In the context of the preparation of its initiative on short-term accommodation rental services (‘STR’), the European Commission is running a targeted stakeholder survey to gather information on data needs and sharing between public authorities and online platforms and support its analysis. It intends to collect the views and experiences from all levels of public authorities (national, regional and local) notably on their data needs and collection process. The survey is accessible through the link below until 26 April 2022 at noon.

What future prospects exist for dissonant heritage sites of the 20th century? Results from the Online Forum “Integrated Approaches to Dissonant Heritage in Europe – Insights, Networks, and Future Perspectives" (20/04/2022)

The Partnership on Culture and Cultural Heritage gathered 120 experts in February to exchange on integrated approaches to dissonant heritage in smaller towns and peripheral areas, and on a broad variety of topics related to dissonant heritage, such as adaptive reuse, European and local funding as well as pan-European cooperation. Below you can access more information about the event as well as the new project website around this action.

Call for evidence and consultation on brain drain (20/04/2022)

A public consultation and a call for evidence have been launched by the European Commission to collect views and suggestions from citizens and stakeholders on mitigating challenges associated with population decline. Inputs from local and regional authorities, professional associations and youth and student organisations will be particularly useful to grasp the scale and the drivers of brain drain and to shape future EU initiatives. Please use the below link if you wish to provide your input.

New European Bauhaus call for local initiatives (20/04/2022)

The European Commission launched a new call to make the New European Bauhaus (NEB) a reality on the ground through ‘Support to New European Bauhaus Local Initiatives'. It will provide technical assistance to small and medium-sized municipalities, which do not have the capacity or rich expertise needed to turn their NEB project ideas into reality. The call will be open until 23 May 2022. Please follow the below link to participle and find out more about it.

Innovative Implementation of the Partnership Principle - Call for expression of interest (20/04/2022)

If you are a public authority or a civil society organisation interested in strengthening citizen participation in Cohesion Policy through collaborative innovative solutions, discover the call for expression of interests on Innovative Implementation of the Partnership Principle. The deadline for applications is 30 April 2022. More information is available below.

EU cities acting for just transitions and climate adaptation (20/04/2022)

Urban Innovative Actions and the city of Seville are organising a 2-day event to discuss how EU cities can contribute to green and just transitions and showcase concrete experiments to make resilient cities from around the world. It will bring forward practical interventions and results that could inspire and foster locally-based transitions in EU cities through discussions, workshops, and inspirational talks on just urban transitions and how to innovate in cities when adapting to climate change. Find out more through the link below.

New call opening soon: Innovations for Managing Sustainable Urban Accessibility (20/04/2022)

JPI Urban Europe is going to launch soon a new call focusing on innovative solutions as part of the Era-Net Cofund Urban Accessibility and Connectivity (ENUAC). The call, which is looking for projects addressing applied research and/or innovation/implementation, will open late April with a full proposal deadline in early autumn 2022 and earliest start of the projects is beginning of 2023. Learn more through the link below.

Series of Webinars on the Art of Just-City-Making - 20, 26 April, and 16 May (20/04/2022)

The French Presidency of the Council of the European Union organises a series of three Policy Labs together with the EUKN and in cooperation with ICLEI Europe, URBACT, and the OECD. They will explore how to create just cities in a green, productive, and digital manner, emphasising the relevance of integrated approaches towards sustainable urban development. Besides being a platform for exchange and learning, The Art of Just-City-Making will contribute to guidelines for policymakers on ‘how to create a just city’. Please register through the below link.

Towards a just and clean urban transition - Join the Smart Cities Marketplace Forum on 26 - 27 April 2022 on-site in Brussels (20/04/2022)

This year’s Smart Cities Marketplace Forum will provide an opportunity to meet and discuss with various actors on building networks and capacity, exchanging knowledge for the clean energy transition as well as on funding and financing to improve citizens’ quality of life by the integration of innovative and cleantech solutions in Europe. Have a look at the planned activities, comprising a Marketplace Matchmaking mechanism, through the link below.

What are the possible directions for enabling temporary use regulation (20/04/2022)

The T-Factor project organises a webinar, on May 6 from 9.30 to 12.30, on the topic of 'Enabling Regulation for Temporary Use'. It will gather different cities across Europe in showcasing and discussing practical examples of regulatory and other enabling tools for temporary uses. Amongst the many speakers and cities invited, successful and pioneering cases should help to shed light on what cities and local authorities can do to advance temporary use practices in urban regeneration. Find out more and register for this event through the link below.

AGORA Thematic Dialogue - Making use of the 15 min city - levers, impact criteria and indicators for a sustainable and inclusive urban mobility system (20/04/2022)

On 31 May 2022, JPI Urban Europe organises an AGORA Dialogue, back to back with the Urban Futures-conference in Helsingborg/Sweden, to discuss the concept of the 15-minute city that has reached wide attention and has been taken up and interpreted in many different cities and contexts since the COVID-19 outbreak. Find out more and register through the following link.

URBACT City Festival 2022 (20/04/2022)

The URBACT City Festival 2022 will take place in Pantin/Greater Paris (France) on 14, 15 and 16 June 2022, under the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union. European cities will get the chance to exchange ideas, network, show the results of their work and get inspired for the implementation of their Integrated Action Plans. Please see the link below for more information.

Editorial (17/01/2022)

Dear readers,

A new phase for the Urban Agenda for the EU (17/01/2022)

On 26 November 2021, EU Ministers responsible for Urban Matters adopted the Ljubljana Agreement and its Multiannual Working Programme that materialise the start of a new phase of the Urban Agenda for the EU.  This document provides for concrete steps to renew the Urban Agenda for the EU with a common goal to make it more impactful and efficient. It is complemented by operational parameters and steps for the implementation of the next phase of the initiative. 

Article 8 - How under-used space and infrastructure can become testbeds for new cities (17/01/2022)

Our eighth article in the series of articles discusses the efforts of the Urban Agenda Partnerships on Circular Economy, on Culture and Cultural Heritage, on Jobs and Skills in the Local Economy, and on Sustainable Land Use and Nature Based Solutions. The article, which is organised under the Just dimension of the New Leipzig Charter, also shows practices that European cities have developed to address these concerns. Have a look at the article and read all about these examples!

Article 9 - How citizen’s health can be improved by looking at air quality policy through the lens of new mobility services (17/01/2022)

This article explores some of the most innovative solutions undertaken by European cities within the context of the Partnerships of the Urban Agenda for the EU on Air Quality and Urban Mobility, focusing on actions and strategies, demonstrating how the integration of many disciplines and tools will be critical for improving the health of urban population. Discover more by downloading the article below!

Article 10 - Reconquering public spaces by interlinking design, inclusion, and sustainability (17/01/2022)

Our final article reviews various initiatives implemented under the Sustainable Land Use and Nature Based Solutions, Circular Economy, and Culture and Cultural Heritage Partnerships of the Urban Agenda for the EU through the lens of the Green City Dimension of the New Leipzig Charter and the New European Bauhaus. Find out more by downloading the article!

New Action Plan 2022 for feedback – Public Procurement Partnership (17/01/2022)

On January 6, 2022 the Urban Agenda Partnership on Innovative and Responsible Public Procurement introduced its Action Plan 2022. You are invited to read it and provide feedback on the Action Plan before 11 February 2022. This link contains the dedicated form for you to contribute.

Online Forum: Integrated Approaches to the Dissonant Heritage in Europe: Insights, Networks and Future Perspectives (16-17 February 2022) (17/01/2022)

The Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB) and the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) are organising a two-day online networking event on 16 and 17 February 2022. It will be an opportunity for the working group of European experts to present and reflect on its results, as well as to highlight funding programs for dissonant heritage.

New European Bauhaus Info session on funding opportunities – 27 January 2022 (17/01/2022)

This online event will give the opportunity to prospective applicants to learn more about the EU funding possibilities available to support beautiful, sustainable, and inclusive projects and ideas. Join for practical information on the calls and a Q&A, and follow the link below to access the livestream of the event directly.

People-centered smart cities Virtual Event (17/01/2022)

Since the launching of the UN-Habitat flagship program, the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Greater East Region, with the coordination of the Fnau (French network of urban planning agencies) and their partners, are preparing the French contribution to the program of UN-Habitat on “People-centered smart cities”, including this conference. This contribution takes also part of the European Union commitments to implement the digital transformation of Europe by 2030. Find out more at the link below.

Self-Assessment Tool for Sustainable Urban Development strategies (17/01/2022)

The Self-Assessment Tool for Sustainable Urban Development strategies (SAT4SUD) is intended to be used by Local Authorities and Managing Authorities of EU Cohesion Policy. It aims to support them when verifying to what extent the strategy builds on an integrated and participatory approach. The tool focuses on a self-assessment as an important learning practice and it helps to assess the strategy’s completeness and quality, from its design and implementation, to its monitoring and evaluation. Access the tool through the link below.

Data standards supporting citizen participation in urban planning (17/01/2022)

The Public Procurement partnership developed an Action aimed to support citizen centric planning with a standardised data specification, which would facilitate the exchange and processing of participatory data, thus bringing benefits to all parties involved in a participatory process. This Action has developed several outputs are only the first steps to fully embrace the benefits of digitalisation in urban planning. Consult this material through the link below

Innovation ecosystems in Europe (17/01/2022)

The partnership conducted a comprehensive research study to develop a typology, which gives a better understanding of what kind of archetypes of European innovation ecosystems exist. Additionally, the study also developed a set of fixed and flexible criteria for the archetypes, which can be used by cities to classify themselves and develop the best strategies to enhance their innovation ecosystems. Find out more and access the study through this link.

Digitalisation of Urban planning (17/01/2022)

The partnership worked on gathering data and analysing the possibilities and different models that cities are implementing. The initial research of existing regulations and best practices are compiled in two reports to the Partnership from November 2017. Based on these reports and the expertise from the members of the Partnership Action 8 was developed and implemented proposing data standards for participatory urban planning. Access this information below.

Call for Cities Forum host city open until 31 January 2022 (17/01/2022)

DG REGIO will be organising the fifth edition of the Cities Forum in the beginning of 2023. Cities are invited to apply by 31 January 2022 to become host of this event gathering urban stakeholders from European, national regional and local levels. Please follow the below link to learn more and find the application form.

Open until 31 January 2022 - Call for Expression of Interest to join the Mission “100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030” (17/01/2022)

The Commission call for expression of interest addressed to cities to join the European Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities is open until 31 January 2022. The objectives of this mission are to achieve 100 climate-neutral and smart European cities by 2030 and to ensure that these cities act as experimentation and innovation hubs to enable all European cities to follow suit by 2050. Find more information through the link below.

Call for Expressions of Interest for the new Mission Boards (17/01/2022)

A call was has published as the European Commission is looking for experts to advise the 5 EU Missions as part of the Horizon Europe programme. Applications are open until 2 February 2022. More information is available through this link.

European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award (17/01/2022)

The First edition of the European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award has been launched. The award recognises local authorities across the EU that actively promote inclusion and diversity, and gives a chance to showcase local authorities’ policies and initiatives covering sex, age, disability, LGBTIQ identity, religion, and racial discrimination. There are two categories: one for local authorities with fewer than 50,000 inhabitants, and one for those with more than 50,000 inhabitants. There is also a special prize for Roma inclusion. Applications are open until 15 February 2022. Follow the link for more information.

5G for Smart Communities - Works | Shaping Europe’s digital future (18/01/2022)

The Commission launched a call to support 5G innovative applications for public services in towns across the EU. The funding, coming from the recently adopted Connecting Europe Facility – Digital Programme, intends to cover the deployment of 5G infrastructure elements required to implement innovations in services that are essential for citizens’ daily lives. These could mean high performance networks for a digital education ecosystem or for a health centre wishing to implement electronic health records, real time medical imaging and patient health monitoring.

Editorial - brochure (25/11/2021)

Editorial - Nov 21 (09/11/2021)

Dear readers,

Material from the webinars: How are urban initiatives and actions supporting Green, Just and Productive Cities in the EU? (05/11/2021)

The series of webinars took place on 20 September, 27 September and 4 October 2021. A big thank you to all of you who participated! The material, including concept notes, recordings and reports can be found here.

Series of articles #6 - Breaking the cycle of poverty for a more social and inclusive Europe (05/11/2021)

The sixth article in our series of articles looks at two perspectives on urban poverty: the area-based approach, and the human-based approach. It also looks at some of the most affected and vulnerable groups, such as children, migrants, and refugees. Read the article here!

Series of articles #7 How to design safe and sustainable cities through the lens of public procurement (05/11/2021)

Our seventh article examines how procurement might used as a lever to enable facilitate more effective urban mobility within and between areas, as well as address security challenges. Follow the link below to read the article.

Action 8 - European Experts Meet for In-Depth Exchange on Integrated Approaches in Risk and Heritage Management (05/11/2021)

The Partnership on Culture and Cultural Heritage held a two-day interdisciplinary workshop in the framework of its Action 8 on "Guiding Principles for Resilience and Integrated Approaches in Risk and Heritage Management in European Cities." Follow the link to find out more about the meeting.

Outcomes from the Public Procurement Partnership meeting on prolongation of activities (05/11/2021)

The Partnership has decided to continue its activities and the partners are currently working on developing new Actions and a new Action Plan which will guide the work of the Partnership in the coming period. Read about their new proposed Actions here.

Launch the International City Partnerships-Acting for Green and Inclusive Recovery project (05/11/2021)

This project seeks to develop urban cooperation and foment city-to-city partnerships between EU and non-EU local authorities in Canada, South Africa, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, by facilitating the sharing of information and transfer of good practices and lessons learned on integrated urban practices. If you are representing a city interested in participating in the project, please fill the online questionnaire and submit your candidature before 15 November.

Atlas for the Territorial Agenda 2030 (05/11/2021)

On 1 December 2020, the Ministers responsible for spatial planning, territorial development and/or territorial cohesion have agreed on the Territorial Agenda 2030 of the EU. The Territorial Agenda 2030 provides an action-oriented framework to promote territorial cohesion in Europe, and can be used at national, regional and local levels, and in cooperation with other countries. A new atlas for the Territorial Agenda 2030 has been launched which you can access through the following link

European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award (11/11/2021)

On 22 November 2021, the European Commission will officially launch for the first time the European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award. This award will recognise the work done by cities, towns, or regions in the EU to promote inclusion and help create discrimination-free societies. The applications will be open from 22 November 2021 until 15 February 2022 and the winners will be announced at an Award Ceremony on 28 April 2022.

Renewed #TerritorialAgenda website increasing visibility of the TA2030 (11/11/2021)

From its inception the Territorial Agenda 2030 website has been temporarily hosted by Spatial Foresight on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (BMI) and the Federal Institute for Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR). During the first half of 2021 the website was redesigned and further developed by the Portuguese EU Presidency and ESPON will organise support on a long-term basis. See new design and functions with news, articles and more here.

EURegionsWeek 2021 - a record edition again! (11/11/2021)

With its 591 partners, 30 stands, 1261 speakers and moderators, 142 video testimonials, this year programme highlighted how cohesion policy and funding has helped communities navigate the COVID-19 crisis in countless ways. More than 4000 messages fed the discussion around the four themes of this edition: cohesion, green, digital and Citizens’ engagement. It was valuable to have the UAEU community participating.

Webinar: Sustainability in Public Libraries - Better funding for a great good place (05/11/2021)

Two freshly released reports will be presented during the webinar on November 23rd. The first includes an evaluation of funding structures of European public libraries as result of a survey carried out by the Action Group. The other presentation is a pre-synthesis of the second European report on sustainable development and libraries, a survey carried out by EBLIDA in the course of summer 2021. Register here!

Self-Assessment Tool for Sustainable Urban Development strategies (11/11/2021)

Register here to this Urban Development Network webinar, taking place on 25 November from 10.00 to 12.00. The event focuses on the Self-Assessment Tool for Sustainable Urban Development strategies (SAT4SUD), an online tool developed to assess your urban strategy, recognising strengths and identifying opportunities for improvement.

Review of the contributions of the Urban Agenda for the EU to the New Urban Agenda (11/11/2021)

The Urban Agenda for the EU (UAEU) represents the first of the EU’s three voluntary commitments to implement the United Nations universal New Urban Agenda (NUA). In this context, the European Commission launched a review of the UAEU contributions to the NUA by exploring the UAEU characteristics, the work of its partnership sand its implementation in the period between 2016 and mid-2021. You can find the report here.

Action 1 - Results of Pilot Self-Assessment tool to assess and measure security and safety in urban areas (05/11/2021)

The Urban Agenda for the EU Partnership on Security in Public Spaces has been working on a self-assessment tool that evaluates and measures urban safety and security. It is meant to support urban policies and provide indications on how to implement relevant approaches and tools. Please see below a report showcasing the outcome of the pilot study, as well as the accompanying user manual.

Action 2 - Analysis on EU integration indicators at infra-national level (05/11/2021)

The Partnership on Inclusion for Migrants and Refugees has been implementing a variety of Actions, one of which focuses on facilitating evidence-based integration policies in cities. As part of this Action, an external expert recently conducted an analysis that explored the effect of national immigration and integration policies on infra-national immigration.

Action 2 - Final Report on EU financing for urban security projects in 2021 - 2027 (05/11/2021)

As part of the implementation of Action 2, the Partnership on Security in Public Spaces published a guidebook introducing local and regional urban policy makers to a wide range of EU funding opportunities in the field of security in public spaces.

Action 4 - Toolkit for the re-use of dismissed or abandoned open spaces or buildings (05/11/2021)

The Partnership on Culture & Cultural Heritage has been developing a toolkit that contains good practises and suggestions related to the reuse & management of vacant buildings and underused urban areas, focusing on co-design and collective management processes that engage with social actors (e.g., local communities, private and public bodies, cultural associations, etc.). You can find the toolkit here.

Action 5 - Final report on The importance of social cohesion for urban crime prevention (05/11/2021)

This Action sought to contribute to the development of a more secure, safe, and resilient local community. It provided local policymakers and security managers with a hands-on method for measuring the impact of local social cohesion actions on urban security and feelings of insecurity within the local community.

Action 6 – 10 Rules of Thumb for the Security by Design approach (05/11/2021)

As there is limited knowledge and/or expertise on the SbD approach in various local and regional authorities, the Partnership on Security in Public Spaces has developed material with concrete recommendations to enhance authorities' working processes connected to urban planning and design for safer public spaces. The materials were to be hands-on and user-friendly in order to encourage their adoption.

Action 7 - Recommendations and proposals for an analysis of tourism flows of an urban reality for a better governance (05/11/2021)

The Urban Agenda for the EU Partnership on Culture & Cultural Heritage has issued recommendations for an in-depth analysis of tourism flows as part of Action 7 from the Action Plan. See the outcome here.

Urban Case Study #13: Using FRT technology at Nice Carnival to assess the efficacy of AI security applications (05/11/2021)

Facial recognition technologies (FRT) can help authorities to combat with threats, such as terrorism. However, it may spark debate in the areas of data privacy and individual freedoms. Our next case study looks at the practical use of FRT during the Nice Carnival and how its effectiveness may create the basis for improved European legislative control on the usage of AI applications. Follow the link to find out more about this Action!

Editorial (05/10/2021)

Dear readers,

Series of articles #5 - How UAEU partnerships can be used by policy and decision-makers to end homelessness and provide adequate and affordable housing (05/10/2021)

Our fifth article in our series of articles questions the definition of a just city and the role of housing. It depicts city examples framed by Urban Poverty, Housing, and Inclusion of Migrants and Refugees Partnerships, reflecting on viewpoints and solutions for the future of European housing policies, as well as how cities may benefit from the examples presented.

5 EU missions launched by the European Commission to tackle major challenges - among them the mission on climate-neutral and smart cities (05/10/2021)

The Commission launched five new missions under Horizon Europe which represent a new and innovative way to work together and improve the lives of people in Europe and beyond. They will support research and innovation to deliver on the Commission priorities and find responses to some of the greatest challenges we are facing today such as living in greener cities and adapting to climate change across regions and cities. The mission on climate-neutral and smart cities is aimed to deliver 100+ climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030 and inspire all other cities to follow suit by 2050. The Call for Expression of Interest for cities interested to join this mission is foreseen to be published in November 2021.

Open consultation on the Tourist services – short-term rental initiative by the European Commission (05/10/2021)

This initiative aims to develop responsible, fair and trusted growth in short-term rentals, as part of a well-balanced tourism ecosystem, and ensure a level playing field for all accommodation service providers. This will involve offering balanced solutions for cities, peer and professional short-term rental providers and platforms. This consultation is open until 14 October (today!).

Union for the Mediterranean Urban Agenda (05/10/2021)

The UfM Strategic Urban Development Action Plan 2040 establishes a common vision to tackling urban challenges in the region. It is the result of a 3-year collaboration between the European Commission and all 42 UfM Member States, aiming to improve the quality of life for all citizens by building better, more inclusive, climate-resilient communities. Read more here.

Please take part in a survey on funding structures for public libraries in European cities! (05/10/2021)

The action 'Raise awareness for public libraries and their new tasks on a national and European level' within the framework of the Partnership Culture/Cultural Heritage is intended to make public libraries more visible at European level. Its aim is to raise awareness among decision-makers, to recognise the importance of public libraries for Europe and to derive recommendations from this for the European level. Please contribute to their efforts by taking part in this survey!

European Week of Regions and Cities 2021 (05/10/2021)

You can now register to the 19th EURegions Week! You can expect 300 sessions spread over 4 days, almost 850 speakers from all over the EU and beyond, 365 hours of interactive conferences, more than 100 video clips and 30 stands, as well as sessions from some of the Urban Agenda Partnerships! Register now via the link.

Integrated Approaches to Europe’s Dissonant Heritage (05/10/2021)

The German Federal Ministry of the Interior for Building and Community (BMI) and the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) are organising an online expert discussion, in the framework of the Partnership on Culture and Cultural Heritage in the Urban Agenda for the EU, on Wednesday, 20 October 2021 from 15:00-18:00 CET. You can view further information and find out how to register by following the link.

Promoting Equality and Addressing Discrimination at the Local Level (13/10/2021)

Equinet is hosting a conference on the 25-26 October to explore cooperation, in particular with local authorities, to promote equality and tackle discrimination at the local level. Registrations are open until 20 October, 2021. For more information follow the link below.

Urban Case Study/Focus on Action #11 (05/10/2021)

Our 11th post looks at an Action developed by the Culture/Cultural Heritage Partnership: Promoting the role of public libraries at the EU level, contributing to raising the importance of public libraries for sustainable social urban development and providing recommendations to the European level on how to include public libraries in its policies and programmes.

Urban Case Study/Focus on Action #10 (05/10/2021)

Take a look at our 10th post focusing on UAEU Actions, this time looking at a local Academy in Genova on Urban Climate Change Adaptation. This political training was developed as a response to the need for accurate and reliable data for planning and decision-making in regards to urban adaptation. Read more about this Action and its results here!

Report on Approaches and Tools to Assess and Measure Security and Safety in Urban Areas (05/10/2021)

This study contributes to Action 1 of the Urban Agenda Partnership on Security in Public Spaces. In this light, the Action Plan foresees evolution of a self-assessment tool that would support EU cities and regions in urban safety and security. It seeks to diminish the knowledge gap within the urban authorities and ensure the creation of effective policies for an improved urban security.

Case studies on the impact of COVID-19 on public procurement practices in Europe (05/10/2021)

The case studies on the impact of COVID-19 on public procurement practices were commissioned by the Urban Agenda for EU Partnership on Public Procurement, with the aim of examining to what extent (if at all) European cities changed their public procurement approach as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find the report here.

Conference documentation: Digital Forum Urban Agenda for the EU (05/10/2021)

The conference documentation summarizes the in-depth discussions during the two-day event, which the Partnership on Culture and Cultural Heritage organized under the German EU Council Presidency. See the full documentation here.

Public procurement of nature-based solutions - Addressing barriers to the procurement of urban NBS (05/10/2021)

This handbook prepared in the context of Horizon 2020 provides an overview of the major challenges facing NBS procurers in the EU, along with case studies of success in addressing those barriers across nine European cities. Findings may help public authorities adapt their procurement processes to procure NBS more effectively.

EU research and innovation for and with cities (05/10/2021)

This report provides a mapping of the main EU Research and Innovation actions for and with cities to help them accelerate their transition towards sustainability and climate neutrality. It also maps new city policy priorities and future trends under Horizon Europe, and provides an EU quantitative knowledge base on innovative urban policies and planning, for decision makers and urban planners and practitioners.

Register to our series of webinars! (07/09/2021)