Eurocities

🏙️⚠️ Concrete and asphalt are leaving cities dangerously exposed to the climate crisis. As heatwaves and floods intensify, trees, green spaces and waterways are becoming some of our strongest defences. Yet nature is still too often treated as an attractive addition, rather than infrastructure that protects lives. 🌳 83% of cities regularly prioritise tree planting for climate adaptation. But isolated measures will not be enough. Nature must be built into streets, neighbourhoods and long-term urban planning. Cities such as Amsterdam and Guimaraes are already showing what this looks like, from replacing paving with greenery to reconnecting forests, rivers and natural corridors. But cities need the resources to act at scale. The upcoming EU Climate Resilience Framework must: 🔸 Recognise urban nature as essential infrastructure  🔸 Give cities the financial support to restore natural systems and protect communities from extreme weather Every space lost to concrete makes cities hotter, less resilient and more dangerous. There is no climate resilience without urban nature 🏙️ 🏘️ ➡️ Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eDrk_Kkv 

Every year in September, Europe’s largest participatory cultural event is celebrated: the European Heritage Days. Since 1985, it has invited millions, up to 20 million visitors a year, to explore and celebrate our shared heritage. This year’s theme, 'Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine', is a timely reminder that our heritage faces real threats, from climate change to urbanisation, conflict or digitisation.  Signatories of the Eurocities Lille Call to Action, a political commitment to sustainable and inclusive culture, know that protecting heritage for the future also means rethinking the sustainability of the building itself.  Read about how the signatory cities of Amsterdam, Guimaraes and Vienna are leading the way under Priority 6 of the Eurocities Lille Call to Action: improving the energy efficiency of cutural buildings, here and on the 👉 Eurocities Sustainable Culture website: https://lnkd.in/ewHSpc9W #SustainableCulture City of Amsterdam Município de Guimarães City of Vienna

🚍💡 Looking to get involved in EU-funded mobility projects but not sure where to start? From urban logistics and public transport to digital mobility services, EU-funded projects are helping cities test innovative solutions, build partnerships and accelerate the transition to more sustainable mobility systems. Yannick Bousse, Project Advisor at CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, shares insights on: ✅Funding opportunities available to cities through programmes such as Horizon Europe, CEF and LIFE ✅How EU mobility projects are evolving towards larger, more integrated consortia ✅What makes a strong project proposal ✅Practical advice for cities taking their first steps into European projects One key message stands out: cities should not underestimate the value they bring. Their local expertise, real-world challenges and capacity to test solutions are essential to delivering innovation that works for citizens. 📖 Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/g96Uv7bQ Nikki Johnston Octavia Anamaria Stepan Ewa Ptaszyńska, Paloma Aba Garrote

🏡For many years, cities have been at the forefront of Europe’s housing crisis, facing growing pressures on housing affordability, availability and the liveability of neighbourhoods. 💬"Housing is the first source of social inequality in Europe," says Jaume Collboni Cuadrado, Mayor of Barcelona. "We therefore welcome the first-ever EU regulation on housing, as it recognises that housing is primarily to live in, not to make profit and it shows the Commission’s commitment in supporting cities to address the housing crisis." Eurocities President and Mayor of Ghent Mathias De Clercq also welcomes the Act, particularly the focus on affordable housing, increasing supply and preventing speculative investment, as well as greater scope to act in areas under housing stress. 💬“However, we cities are concerned that some provisions could limit their cities’ ability to respond to the proliferation of short-term rentals, including where decisions on housing-stress areas rest with regional or national authorities,” adds De Clercq. Additionally, the impact of short-term rentals varies significantly between cities and neighbourhoods and can affect not only housing availability and affordability, but also the urban fabric. Excluding primary residences could further limit cities’ ability to regulate short-term rentals in response to local needs. European action should be improved, especially in: 🏛️ Preserving local authorities' ability to regulate short-term rentals 🏘️ Recognising the full range of impacts of short-term rentals, including their effects on neighbourhood liveability, local services and infrastructure 🔎 Strengthening the accountability of short-term rental platforms "We look forward to engaging with the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union to improve some aspects of the text, in particular with regards to primary residences," Collboni adds. André Sobczak Thomas Lymes Anna Iafisco Matthew Baldwin Irene Tinagli Agnese Papadia Gaby Bischoff Maria Ohisalo

Join the European Heritage Hub on 18 September for 'Sharing Local Stories: Cultural Heritage for Inclusive Cities and Regions', a webinar exploring how local authorities and cultural heritage practitioners are using heritage to strengthen participation, community connections and sustainable development. Building on insights from the Hub's recent peer-learning visit to Rotterdam, participants will discover practical experiences from across Europe, exchange ideas with peers and explore approaches that make heritage more accessible, relevant and inclusive for diverse communities. Whether you're working on heritage, culture, urban development or community engagement, this session is an opportunity to learn from local experiences and connect with professionals facing similar challenges. 📅 18 September 🕗 11:00 - 12:30 CET 💻 Online 👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/e_8SksGw #CulturalHeritage #PeerLearning Gemeente Rotterdam Stad Antwerpen

A new chapter for EU public procurement The Public Procurement Act was released today. This much-anticipated step in the revision of the EU public procurement framework, last updated in 2014, is the result of a long preparation and engagement process managed by the European Commission.   “Having actively participated throughout the preparatory phase, Eurocities now looks forward to a continued contribution during the legislative negotiations,” says André Sobczak, Eurocities’ Secretary General. “Cities make up a substantial part of the 250,000 public authorities which every year purchase goods, services and works for a total value of around €2 trillion – and they have been using this purchase power strategically and ambitiously, in order to advance their sustainability goals and commitments.”   A Public Procurement Act reflecting these ambitions is key to accelerate and scale up efforts EU-wide. We will be working with our members to ensure that the final legislation: ✅ Provides public buyers with the necessary flexibility to integrate sustainability considerations into their tender processes; ✅ Supports local administrations with simplification and capacity building measures; and ✅ Enables cities to deploy innovative approaches to public procurement.   Read Eurocities’ position paper "Purchasing with Purpose" 👇 Follow Big Buyers Working Together to learn more about our flagship project on public procurement.

🎤 How can European cities transform streets into vibrant public spaces that work for everyone? Join us for an interactive discussion featuring: 🔹 Luka Korlaet, Deputy Mayor, City of Zagreb 🔹Elke Van den Brandt, Minister for Mobility, Public Works, Road Safety and Animal Welfare, Brussels-Capital Region 🔹Matthijs Sienot, Deputy Mayor, City of Utrecht 🔹Kei Adunmo, Policy Coordinator, Sustainable Urban Mobility, DG MOVE, European Commission 🔹Thomas Lymes, Eurocities Together, they will explore how cities can move beyond traffic-dominated streets and create places that support people, climate goals and quality of life. 📅 12 October 2026  📍 Brussels  🕓 16:00-18:00 We look forward to welcoming city practitioners, policymakers and urban innovation enthusiasts! Register here: https://lnkd.in/eTrMt7BQ This event is part of the European Week of Regions and Cities #EURegionsWeek REALLOCATE project

We have joined local government networks in the #LocalAlliance to call on Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to keep cities & regions at the heart of Europe’s decisions and investment. This summer’s wildfires and extreme heat have again shown why local governments are indispensable to protecting communities and building resilience. In her State of the Union address on 16 September, we ask President von der Leyen to reaffirm cities & regions as trusted partners and ensure the next #EUbudget gives them the investment to deliver for every community. 🔗 Read our joint letter 👉 https://lnkd.in/eAWnBWNs #SOTEU #MFF

📢 NEW POLICY STATEMENT: Lower speeds in cities - A key lever for #VisionZero in Europe The EU has committed to eliminating road deaths and serious injuries by 2050. But progress is stalling, particularly in urban areas, where road users remain exposed. 🚶♀️🚲 Cities are already showing what works, combining lower speed limits with safer street design, traffic calming and better enforcement. But their ability to go further is reliant on national rules and support. In a new policy statement, Eurocities and the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) are calling for stronger action at every level of government. 🔎 To accelerate road safety: 🔸National governments must make 30 km/h the default urban speed limit, or give cities the power to introduce city-wide limits themselves. 🔸The European Commission must formally recommend #30kmh as the urban default and provide funding for infrastructure & enforcement. 🔸Cities need simpler rules, stronger cooperation with police, and better frameworks for sharing data & good practice. Cities are already demonstrating what is possible. Stronger national and EU support can help turn successful local action into change at scale. 📅 The new policy statement will be presented at a Eurocities webinar tomorrow, Wednesday, 9 September at 10:00 CET. 👉 REGISTER HERE: https://lnkd.in/d4RVPhSW