News & Events

On May 26–27, the Building Decarbonisation (BD) Partnership held its first in-person meeting in Mechelen, Belgium, bringing together stakeholders from local, regional, national, and EU levels. The gathering aimed to accelerate progress on the Orientation Paper and lay the groundwork for future collaborative actions.

On 21 May 2025, EU Ministers responsible for cohesion policy, territorial cohesion, and urban policy met in Warsaw for an informal gathering under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The meeting highlighted the importance of integrating the territorial dimension into post-2027 EU policies and financial frameworks.

On 12–13 May, the Urban Agenda Partnership on Innovative and Responsible Public Procurement held an in-person meeting to advance the implementation of its new Action Plan. The City of Haarlem, which coordinates the Partnership, welcomed 34 partners and associates to Zaamen, a vibrant venue and local entrepreneurial hub in the heart of the city.

Tourism is changing. Fast.

From smart booking systems and AI-powered itineraries to immersive digital storytelling, the way we experience and manage destinations is being transformed at a pace few could have predicted even five years ago. Digital tools are no longer “nice to have.” They are central to competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability.

And yet, many tourism departments and professionals across Europe are still navigating this transition without a clear map.

On May 13-14 2025, the Water Sensitive City (WSC) Partnership met in Coimbra for its first in-person meeting, bringing together local, regional, national and EU-level actors. The meeting aimed to advance the work of the partners on the Orientation Paper and pave the way for future actions.

The Food and Cities of Equality Partnerships of the Urban Agenda invite you to join the public consultation for their draft Action Plans and provide your insights and feedback on the proposed Actions aimed at addressing key urban challenges.

The Cities Forum 2025, the flagship urban event of the European Commission, will take place from 17 to 19 June in Krakow, Poland. Co-organised by DG REGIO and the European Urban Initiative (EUI), this biennial gathering will unite up to 800 participants, including urban practitioners and policymakers from across all levels of government to exchange ideas and shape the future of EU urban policy. With the theme “Empowering cities, shaping Europe’s future”, the Forum will address key urban challenges including housing, digital transformation, inclusive growth, and mobility.

The Action Plans of three Thematic Partnerships (Food, Cities of Equality, Public Procurement) were officially presented at the meeting of the Directors-General on Urban Matters (DGUM), held in Warsaw on 24-25 April. The DGUM serves as the central coordinating and decision-making body of the Urban Agenda for the EU; it brings together experts from EU Member States to discuss key issues emerging from the Urban Agenda, as well as broader challenges related to urban development across the EU.

The Greening Cities Partnership of the Urban Agenda for the EU has released a position paper urging bold reforms in EU and national funding systems to unlock large-scale investment in Urban Green Infrastructure (GI). As the European Union prepares its next Multiannual Financial Framework and aligns funding with the Green Deal, the Nature Restoration Regulation, and the Biodiversity Strategy 2030, this timely paper sets out a concrete path to ensure cities have the financial support to lead the green transition.

The European Commission has launched a new public consultation aimed at shaping the future of urban development within the European Union. Under the working title "EU Agenda for Cities", this initiative aims to strengthen the EU’s role in supporting cities and ensure urban challenges are better addressed in future policymaking.

Since the launch of the Urban Agenda for the EU with the Pact of Amsterdam in 2016, 20 different Thematic Partnerships have been established, with eight currently active. Each Partnership involves a diverse range of stakeholders, ensuring multi-level governance, cooperation, and coordination across various levels—from EU institutions to national, regional, and local authorities, as well as research institutions, umbrella organisations, and other stakeholders to address key urban challenges.

On the first day of April, eight active thematic partnerships of the Urban Agenda convened in Brussels for the annual "Coordinators and Action Leaders" meeting (CALM), alongside representatives from the European Commission and European Urban Initiative. The meeting aimed to explore ways to promote synergies, collaboration, and joint initiatives among the various thematic partnerships.