The Food and Cities of Equality Orientation Papers have been officially published
Urban Development Group meeting in Budapest, 25 September 2024
A key collaborative achievement
The Cities of Equality and Food Orientation Papers were officially presented at the Urban Development Group meeting, held in Budapest on September 25th. This informal group is the main intergovernmental communication and articulation structure for urban matters and the Urban Agenda for the European Union. It brings together the experts from the 27 EU member states, partners states and several European institutions in preparation for the meeting of the Directors-General.
Launched in January 2024, both partnerships have produced their first key document following a collaborative process of brainstorming, consultation, and refinement. This document offers a comprehensive framework to guide the drafting of the Action Plans, ensuring alignment with shared vision, objectives, and expectations of all members of the Partnerships.
Food Orientation Paper
“The approval of the Food Partnership Orientation Paper is a significant milestone for the food ecosystem of cities and stakeholders active in Europe. This process has showcased the potential to enhance the development of a European food policy framework, supporting innovation, biodiversity, food security and, at the same time, promote a sustainable socioeconomic growth within communities”,
stated the representatives from the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon and the City of Milan, coordinators of the Urban Agenda Partnership on Food.
The Food Partnership's vision focuses on advancing a policy shift in food systems. By promoting policy alignment and pooling resources, the Partnership can drive systemic changes in food systems and position cities as catalysts for this change.
The Food Orientation Paper identifies three overarching themes that reflect the most relevant and high-priority topics for the Partnership’s members: Innovative Funding, City-Region Framework and EU/National Regulation. Each thematic area contributes to the three UAEU pillars, by:
- Creating a Food funding agenda with input from local, regional, and national authorities as well as umbrella organisations.
- Developing an exchange mechanism to leverage existing innovations and aid in designing future actions.
- Generating momentum for broad EU initiatives to enhance the food system, addressing key urban issues and identifying major obstacles to transformation, ultimately having a positive impact on legislative processes that guide future urban investments on the European food system.
Visit the Food webpage to further explore the contents of the Orientation Paper
Cities of Equality Orientation Paper
“Our Orientation Paper is the outcome of a challenging work of synthesis due to the nature of the topic. Equality is not a one-size-fits-all topic. We are proud to present our Orientation Paper as the result of joint and shared work with all partners. This document sets out the ambitions of the partnership in two identified areas, Tackling spatial segregation at city and neighborhood level and Engaging communities for fair and open access to services in a meaningful democracy. Much more remains to be done, and we hope the synergies that were created in the first phase of the Partnership will lead to an impactful action plan",
the coordinators of the Urban Agenda Partnership on Cities of Equality at the French National Agency for Territorial Cohesion (ANCT) and the Metropolitan City of Rome.
The Cities of Equality Partnership aims to bring about better regulation, funding and knowledge for urban equality by working at the intersection of inclusive urban planning and social inclusion.
The Partnership, led by the French National Agency for Territorial Cohesion and the Metropolitan City of Rome, will work to strengthen the urban dimension of EU-level regulation and policies, such as cohesion funds and equality strategies, and increase the engagement of all citizens in the design of local services and in public life. The group will explore an intersectional and human-centred approach to policy making with a view to avoid negative externalities that could worsen social and spatial inequalities.
The Orientation Paper of the Cities of Equality Partnership identified two main themes that reflect its members’ expertise and ambitions: “tackling spatial segregation at city and neighborhood level” and “engaging communities for fair and open access to services in a meaningful democracy”.
Visit the Cities of Equality webpage to dive into the content of the Orientation Paper
Future steps
The two Partnerships have now entered the second phase of their journey towards the definition and implementation of the Action Plan. Both the Food and the Cities of Equality Partnership will hold in-person meetings in October in which partners will brainstorm potential actions for each thematic area identified in the Orientation Papers. Both Partnerships will produce Draft Action Plans in the first half of 2025, after which they will be opened for public consultation before finalisation and implementation.