News & Events

During the European Week of Regions and Cities 2025, members of the UAEU Building Decarbonisation Partnership were in the spotlight across Brussels. Four key events, from award ceremonies to policy dialogues, highlighted how cities and regions are driving the energy transition through innovation, collaboration and inclusive governance.

In October 2025, the Urban Agenda for the EU Partnership on Greening Cities hosted two dynamic sessions at the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels, spotlighting how cities can turn data into action and nature into investment. Across two days, the discussions brought together experts, policy makers and city representatives, offering concrete examples and emerging methodologies to accelerate the transition towards greener, more resilient urban environments.

As part of Action 4 of the Food Action Plan, the Urban Agenda Partnership on Food held its first Urban Food Policy training session. Hosted by the City of Milan on 13 October, the training was organised within the framework of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) Global Forum. It brought together members of the Partnership alongside representatives from various external cities, fostering exchange and learning around urban food policies.

The Urban Agenda for the EU Thematic Partnerships have delivered Action Plans to address key urban challenges. But how can we track progress during the implementation phase and learn more about their key outputs and achievements?
The newly updated Monitoring Table of Actions is a key tool that captures the progress and results of the ongoing partnerships that have already started implementing their actions. It sheds light on how multi-level governance efforts are driving urban policy and practice across Europe.
 

Implementing the EU Nature Restoration Regulation is a complex task for cities, regions, and national governments. To help navigate this process, the Greening Cities Partnership launched a webinar series that features expert insights, concrete case studies, and practical solutions. All recordings are now available online to guide restoration strategies at every level of governance.

The Urban Agenda for the EU continues to bring local voices into the heart of European policymaking. Following extensive public consultations on their draft Action Plans, the Food and Cities of Equality Partnerships have now published reports summarising the key outcomes of these collaborative efforts.

Cities are at the heart of shaping solutions to the challenges of tomorrow, and urban mobility stands out as one of the most urgent and complex. From the way we commute to the way we access jobs, education, and public spaces, mobility defines our daily lives.

But how can cities tackle these challenges in practice? Find out how the Urban Agenda for the EU Partnership on Urban Mobility turned ideas into concrete actions, through collaboration and real-world case studies, practical tools and success stories that show what’s possible when all levels of government work together.

The Building Decarbonisation and Water Sensitive City Partnerships have officially presented their Orientation Papers at the Urban Development Group (UDG) meeting, held in Køge (Denmark) on September 17, as part of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU. The UDG is one of the main intergovernmental communication and articulation platform for urban matters, including the Urban Agenda for the EU. The informal group brings together experts from the 27 EU member states, partner states and several European institutions in preparation for the meeting of the Directors-General on Urban Matters (DGUM).

Starting their work in January 2025, both Partnerships have now delivered their first major output: Orientation Papers. These documents narrow down the thematic scope of the Partnership and define their objectives, considering the mandate of the partner organisations, as well as the knowledge, and resources available within the partnership.

Urban planning is no longer just a local concern; it has become a shared responsibility among local, regional, and national authorities. These actors are instrumental in implementing EU policies that shape how urban spaces develop. The new Thematic Partnership on "Compact Cities – Sustainable Urban Planning and Sprawl Mitigation" aims to promote dense, efficient, and sustainable urban development as a strategic response to the widespread challenge of urban sprawl across Europe.

But what exactly does this new Partnership focus on? What are the benefits of joining? If you're still uncertain, read on. This article explores the objectives, practical examples, and key advantages of participating in this important initiative.

In the warm, late-summer light of Crete, the City of Heraklion welcomed representatives from across Europe for the 23rd meeting of the Sustainable Tourism Partnership. Overlooking the sea and surrounded by a land that has shaped history for millennia, the city offered more than a venue, it offered a mindset: that tourism is not a product, but a living process, shaped by the people and places at its core.

The Urban Agenda Partnership on Innovative and Responsible Public Procurement has released two key outputs as part of the new Action Plan 2025–2028:
1) A position paper aimed at strengthening sustainability and innovation in EU procurement rules
2) A survey designed to identify funding gaps that hinder strategic public procurement

Dive into the article to learn more and share your input through the survey.