At Cities Forum 2025, more than 200 in-person and online participants joined the session “Unlocking urban potential through European Cooperation”. The session, organised by the Urban Agenda for the EU, focused on how multilevel governance and cooperation can help cities address major urban challenges.

Representatives from six different Thematic Partnerships shared concrete examples of how the Urban Agenda serves as a unique and impactful tool to promote sustainable urban development and enhance the role of cities in EU policymaking, by fostering collaboration across all levels of governance and among diverse stakeholders.

The Urban Agenda for the EU will launch a Call for partners to join the new Thematic Partnership on “Compact Cities - Sustainable Urban Planning and Sprawl Mitigation” on 27 August.
To help potential applicants better understand the topic, we interviewed Ivana Katurić, the external expert behind the Ex-Ante Assessment (EAA), the analysis that underpins this Partnership by clarifying its scope and providing focus in preparation for the upcoming call.

Dive into the full article to learn more about her insights on the topic of the new Partnership.

Urban areas across the EU increasingly face complex challenges (e.g., shortage of affordable housing, urgent climate adaptation measures, gaps in inclusive and accessible social services) that demand effective and sustainable funding solutions. Municipalities, particularly small and medium-sized ones, often find it difficult to navigate and access the intricate web of EU programmes and funding mechanisms.