City innovation gets a boost with the Urban Agenda for the EU

The Urban Agenda for the EU is a strategy that promotes multi-level governance to improve cities

How can urban areas contribute to the objectives of the European Union? To realise their full potential, the Urban Agenda for the EU was established in 2016 as part of the Pact of Amsterdam.

This is a strategy that promotes cooperation between cities, the European Commission and Member States to stimulate growth, liveability and innovation in Europe’s cities. It takes the form of partnerships to develop action plans that implement laws more effectively. It is an example of multi-level governance, in which multiple actors negotiate and participate in the processes of designing and implementing urban policies.

Its three pillars

8 November is World Urbanism Day, and the Urban Agenda for the EU is one of its best tools to contribute to the sustainable development of cities. It seeks improvements in three key areas – regulation, financing and knowledge:

Better regulation

It aims at a more effective and coherent implementation of existing policies, legislation and instruments. It aims to informally contribute to the design of future regulation and the review of existing regulation, especially at EU level, so that it better reflects urban needs, practices and responsibilities.

Improving financing

It contributes to identifying, supporting, integrating and improving traditional, innovative and user-friendly sources of funding for urban areas at the relevant institutional level, including the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) (in line with existing legal and institutional structures) with a view to achieving effective implementation of interventions in urban areas.

Improving knowledge

The EU Urban Agenda will promote the exchange of best practices and knowledge. With reliable data, urban policies can be better informed and tailor-made solutions to key challenges can be developed.

Its areas of action

The Urban Agenda for the EU covers a wide range of issues, but here are the ones that it considers to be priorities for improving the quality of life in cities:

· Safety in public spaces.

· Air quality and climate adaptation.

· Sustainable urban mobility.

· Innovative public procurement.

· Energy and digital transition.

· Employment and skills development.

· Poverty and the reception of immigrants and refugees.

· Culture and heritage.