Urban Agenda for the EU
Description
The Urban Agenda for the EU is a multi-level working method and institutional innovation promoting cooperation between Member States, cities, the European Commission and other stakeholders. The Urban Agenda for the EU was initiated within the framework of intergovernmental cooperation. The Pact of Amsterdam, which was signed on 30 May 2016 at the informal meeting of EU Ministers responsible for Urban Matters, established the Urban Agenda for the EU and set out its objectives.
Its objectives include achieving a more integrated and coordinated approach to EU policies and legislation that have impact on urban areas.14 Thematic partnerships have been established to develop actions on how to improve the urban dimension of policies and develop better initiatives for cities. Each partnership is initially planned to work for three years and can choose to continue cooperating beyond this timeframe.
Some crucial cross-cutting aspects are also highlighted in the work of the partnerships; in this respect, the implementation of the New Urban Agenda is reflected in the actions proposed, which are also often connected in many ways showing the linkages between the different goals and the integrated character of the agenda.
In its objectives and through its processes, the Urban agenda for the EU is very much aligned with the fundamental drivers of change identified by the New Urban Agenda (policy and legislation, governance, urban planning and design). Through this initiative, the European Commission also shows that the urban dimension of the 2030 Agenda as a priority for the EU response to sustainable development as it clearly reflects the EU added value in terms of: integrated territorial and cross-cutting policy approach, high impact and return of investments and strategic partnership with local authorities and civil society.
The Urban Agenda for the EU is implemented through Partnerships involving the European Commission, Member States, cities and stakeholders in a multi-level governance format. The Partnership coordinators are in most cases a Member State and a city. The Commission contributes to the work with an input on the topic dealt by the Partnership and facilitates the process. In concrete terms, working groups are established to identify problems, share perspectives and recommend solutions through Action Plans that are addressed to the EU, Member States and cities through a participatory approach.
This initiative has been consistently carried our since 2016 with the organisation of regular meetings of the partners, as well as meeting of the coordinators of each partnership. DG REGIO is closely following the implementation of the work through progress meetings. In 2017, the Cities Forum organised by the European Commission was centered on the implementation and work of the Urban Agenda for the EU.
A Monitoring table providing overview of all the produced action plans with the implementation pace of all the actions that are undertaken by involved partners is our main reporting mechanism. More than a 100 actions have been proposed and are now in a phase of implementation. Some of the most prominent results have been that Member States are more open to cities, Cities are very much willing to participate, the Commission is improving its work on urban matters and tends to reinforce its coordination on this field.
The Urban Agenda for the EU is also embedded in the work of the Commission due to its horizontal dimension. In the long-term, we hope the improvement of regulation, funding and knowledge will have a significant impact at the EU, member state and local level in order to progress towards the objective of leaving no one behind.
This innovative method of working in a participatory and multi-level approach on urban matters has proven to be very well perceived by all its members, especially in the way that is brings the cities closer to the European Union. It is however also challenging as it is constantly needing ideas and directions on how to proceed, implement and move forward on all stages of the work that is being developed. The support to the Secretariat provided by Ecorys is guaranteeing the organisation of the Urban Agenda and supporting concretely its day-to-day delivery.
Specific constraints are more targeted towards internal mechanisms of support within the Commission and other institutions in order to secure the awareness and knowledge around the results of the Urban Agenda.
The Urban Agenda for the EU is one of the key delivery mechanism showing the EU is already implementing SDG 11, the urban-related dimension of the 2030 Agenda, and the New Urban Agenda. The UAEU is an institutional innovation delivering tangible results, at the policy level, but also by creating a new form of dialogue amongst stakeholder.
The Futurium website stores all the information about the Urban Agenda: https://www.urbanagenda.urban-initiative.eu/.
Deliverables & Timeline
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
Feedback
Action Network
Share
Timeline
Entity
SDGs
Region
- Europe
Geographical coverage
Website/More information
Countries
Contact Information
Lucian Parvulescu, Policy Officer