Sustainable cities in action: The European Urban Initiative at work

This June, Kraków will host the Cities Forum, the EU’s flagship event on the urban dimension of Cohesion Policy. Organised by the European Commission and the European Urban Initiative (EUI), the Forum will bring together urban stakeholders from across Europe. The EUI helps cities tackle challenges by offering funding, expertise, and collaboration opportunities, supporting sustainable development and better quality of life for urban communities.

The EUI’s role in realising cities’ potential

Created to tackle today’s urban challenges, the EUI strengthens the urban dimension of Cohesion Policy by giving cities the tools and resources to innovate and grow. Building on the success of earlier initiatives like the Urban Innovative Actions and the Urban Development Network, it helps cities learn from each other and find solutions tailored to their needs.

 The EUI funds cities for innovative action projects, offering a blueprint that fellow cities can follow or adapt. One of the EUI’s key strength is its ability to bring cities together, through peer reviews and city exchanges. This enables urban authorities to learn from successful projects and policies and apply the same ideas in their own communities, sending the ripples of positive change throughout Europe. Instrumental to this end is Portico: an online platform for urban professionals to help them access knowledge and opportunities from across the EU.

Working in partnership for greater impact

The European Urban Initiative does not operate in isolation. It works in partnership with other European programmes to align support efforts and maximise their impact on cities. In line with Cohesion Policy’s place-based approach, a network of urban contact points is available to cities in every Member State. This allows city administrators to access support in their native language at both national and local level. These contact points help cities navigate EU resources and provide guidance tailored to their specific needs.

Tangible benefits for cities and people

The EUI delivers real results for cities and their residents by funding innovation and helping cities work together, share knowledge, and build new skills.

For the Czech city of Ústí nad Labem, the peer review process, facilitated by the EUI, brought practical advice from peer cities, which led to tangible actions within the city’s Sustainable Urban Development strategy. The city enhanced citizen engagement through campaigns and workshops, while fostering stronger metropolitan cooperation. The process ignited a more strategic mindset, encouraging collaboration across 132 municipalities. Ultimately, the EUI supported Ústí nad Labem in taking significant steps towards a more inclusive and future-focused city.

In Belgium, the EUI funded a project  brought forward by the city of Mechelen which by reimaged its River Dijle as a central part of the city. By creating multifunctional public spaces along the river, such as swimming zones and recreational areas, residents gain direct access to nature, improving their quality of life. Through citizen engagement initiatives like the Citizen Assembly and Bioblitz - a nature research by citizens, people are empowered to actively participate in the development process, fostering a stronger sense of community and increasing environmental awareness.

The city of Jyväskylä, in Finland, engaged in a city-to-city exchange with the city of Tartu, in Estonia to improve social inclusion through culture, with the support of the EUI. Jyväskylä’s strategy focuses on creating accessible platforms for citizen participation, making the urban environment more welcoming for residents and tourists. By collaborating with Tartu, one of the European Capitals of Culture 2024, Jyväskylä is strengthening its cultural plan, which includes co-creation and networking to foster a vibrant cultural hub. This collaboration enhances well-being, social inclusion, and urban revitalization for both residents and visitors.

Opportunities for cities of all sizes

In just two and half years, the EUI engaged with 575 EU cities - 71% of them with less than 250,000 inhabitants - with almost €260 million from the European Regional Development Fund, making a direct link between urban policy, sustainable development and citizen participation. Whether it is public green spaces, affordable housing or air quality, the EUI is actively contributing to the creation of more resilient, inclusive and sustainable cities that truly benefit their inhabitants. By fostering collaboration, encouraging innovation and responding to local needs, the EUI ensures that both cities and their residents can thrive together. In addition, the EUI serves as the secretariat for the Urban Agenda for the EU, a collaborative multi-level governance framework that brings together cities, Member States, the European Commission, and other key stakeholders. This working method promotes effective cooperation in urban policy and practice, ensuring  multilevel governance is used to improve sustainable urban development across the EU.

How the EUI works on a daily basis?

The European Commission oversees the EUI, ensuring that cities receive the support they need and deliver a better quality of life for their residents. Day-to-day management is entrusted to the Hauts-de-France Region. A dedicated team ensures the smooth implementation of the Initiative’s objectives.

Strengthening cities and communities with EU Cohesion policy

The EUI highlights the crucial role of the EU Cohesion policy support in strengthening communities and cities. By providing targeted funding and fostering cooperation, the Initiative continuously delivers on the policy at local level and supports local stakeholders to improve its implementation, in view of the quality of investments made.  With major challenges, such as the housing crisis, the EUI will help address the evolving needs of European cities and their residents.

The Cities Forum in Kraków, taking place from June 17-19, co-organised by the European Commission and the EUI, will bring the EU Agenda for cities to the forefront. The Forum will showcase the key role of EU cities in shaping the future of urban life and will enable city leaders, experts and practitioners to better understand how the EU Cohesion policy and multi-level governance can support a better life in EU cities. It will also provide insights and opportunities to build partnerships for transferring solutions, learning, or funding notably through the EUI.

Are you working for a city administration or a national ministry in charge of urban affairs? You can still register!

European Urban Initiative website: https://www.urban-initiative.eu/

Portico, the EU one-stop shop for urban knowledge and opportunities: https://portico.urban-initiative.eu/

Urban Agenda for the EU website: https://www.urbanagenda.urban-initiative.eu/

Cities Forum 2025: www.citiesforum2025.eu