The present guide builds on the work presented in "Sustainable Urban Development in the European Union: A Framework for Action" and reflects a key mission of the Interservice Group. Its aim is to increase the visibility of the urban dimension of all EU policies for the period 2007-2013 by identifying the full range of initiatives under these policies with direct and indirect implications for the sustainable development of urban areas. These implications are multi-faceted, involving:
- the impact of EU policies in urban areas;
- the ways in which cities can benefit from EU policies;
- the ways in which cities can play a role in the implementation of EU policies