News & Events

The EU Directors-General Responsible for Urban Matters (DGUM) met on 5 December 2025, to discuss strengthening the strategic vision for urban development, regulatory frameworks, and improving investment conditions to better support cities across Europe. The meeting also provided an opportunity to review progress on ongoing initiatives under the Urban Agenda for the EU (UAEU). Following this meeting, the Compact Cities Partnership was formally endorsed via a written procedure and is expected to begin its activities in January 2026.

To support its 2024–2027 Action Plan, the Partnership is inviting stakeholders to contribute through two surveys focused on disinformation and funding. Explore the article to learn more and have your say.

What happens when cities don’t just participate in activities, but actively connect the dots between them?

Several cities involved in the Urban Agenda for the EU partnerships are demonstrating how engagement in other activities of the European Urban Initiative (EUI) can strengthen their knowledge, capacities, and long-term strategies. By combining policy co-creation, funding opportunities, capacity-building, and peer learning, these cities are generating synergies that drive sustainable urban development.

For many of them, the EUI has become a genuine community, a space to learn from peers, exchange experiences, and shape new visions for urban development. Coimbra Region, Galați and Genoa are clear examples of this dynamic.

Dive into their stories and discover the inspiring journey they’ve taken.

The members of the Water Sensitive City (WSC) Partnership gathered during December 4–5, 2025 in Greece, hosted by Commonspace Co-op (Athens) and the Municipal Council of Chalandri. The event focused on refining the Action Plan currently in drafting phase, with an intensive programme combining workshops, a field visit to a flagship Urban Innovative Actions project and a roundtable discussion.

Members of the Cities of Equality Partnership gathered in Paris on 27–28 November for two days of shared learning and planning for the year ahead. Hosted by the French National Agency for Territorial Cohesion (ANCT), the meeting marked an important milestone following the adoption of the Partnership’s Final Action Plan.

On 17-18 November the Partnership on Innovative and Responsible Public Procurement convened for an in-person meeting in the historic city of Haarlem. Since 2018, the City of Haarlem has coordinated the Partnership and welcomed 38 partners and associates from across the network for this event.

The two-day gathering was more than just a meeting; it served as a hub for collaboration, learning, and inspiration. Participants discussed progress on the new Action Plan, exchanged insights on the latest developments in public procurement, and attended a masterclass on emerging trends shaping the future of the field.

Following the endorsement of its Action Plan, members of the Food Partnership convened in Barcelona from 19 to 21 November for three days of learning, collaboration, and shared progress. Hosted by the University of Barcelona, the gathering coincided with the second training module of the Urban Food Policy Training, a key component of the Food Action Plan.

As climate change continues to challenge the sustainability of Europe’s most beloved destinations, a new set of practical guidelines offers cities and regions concrete support to embed climate resilience into their tourism strategies. Developed under the Sustainable Tourism Partnership of the Urban Agenda for the EU, this document marks a significant step forward in translating strategic climate ambitions into local-level action.

The Food and Cities of Equality Action Plans, following the public consultation and incorporation of key feedback, have been endorsed by the Directors-General on Urban Matters (DGUM) and are now available on the Thematic Partnerships web pages.

The Call for Peer Review opened on 8 October and will close on 18 November 2025 at 12:00 CET. The aim of the call is to identify urban authorities whose Sustainable Urban Development Strategies will be reviewed during Peer Review events taking place between March and July 2026.
Dive into the article to learn how the process works and discover the experiences of other beneficiary cities who have already taken part.

The Urban Agenda for the EU continues to foster collaboration and innovation in sustainable urban development. The latest call for a new Thematic Partnership on Compact Cities, which closed on 1 October 2025, attracted significant interest from cities and stakeholders across Europe. The high number of applications demonstrates the growing relevance of compact, efficient, and liveable urban models for cities of all sizes.

The Inclusion of Migrants and Refugees (IMR) Partnership of the Urban Agenda for the European Union met in Milan from 21 to 23 October 2025. The meeting, which combined a study visit to the Milan Welcome Centre and a partnership session, offered a new opportunity to deepen cooperation with the Cities of Equality Partnership and identify concrete avenues for joint work.