Eurocities

How can cities turn climate resilience from strategy into everyday reality? Ahead of the Eurocities Environment Forum, taking place this week, we caught up with Sofia Heden, Deputy Mayor of Malmö stad, who shares how the city is protecting people and places while keeping social inclusion at the centre. 💹 Predictable, long-term investment is essential. Cities know what to do, but they need funding tools that match their responsibilities and the scale of the challenge. 🏛️ Effective multilevel governance matters. Aligning local, national and EU efforts ensures city experience shapes decisions, and accelerates implementation on the ground. 🌍 Climate action must advance social justice. Greener neighbourhoods, heat resilience where vulnerability is highest, and measures that improve daily life for everyone deliver lasting impact. 👉 Read the full interview: https://lnkd.in/ecPfDyhM The Eurocities Environment Forum will focus on ‘Building resilient cities for all: supporting data-driven decision making.’ #Eurocities #UrbanResilience #ClimateAction #MultilevelGovernance #SocialJustice #LocalLeadership #Cities4Climate

No one should be without a home in Europe. Yet homelessness is rising, and cities are stepping up to protect the most vulnerable. From Barcelona’s investment in dignified housing to Vilnius’ new “Housing First” programme and Berlin’s migrant-led initiatives, local governments are leading the way towards inclusion. But local efforts alone aren’t enough. This week, local leaders met with Commissioner Magnus Brunner to call for direct EU funding in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), empowering cities to take real action on homelessness and migrant integration. 🎥 In this video, Rutger Groot Wassink, Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam and Eurocities Shadow Commissioner for Welcoming Cities, shares three key messages on how the EU can stand with cities to make change happen locally. 📄 Read the article in the comments to learn more ⬇️ Barcelona City Council Vilnius City Municipality #Berlin

🌐 In today’s digital world, trust is harder to build, and easier to lose. Cities are feeling the impact of misinformation first-hand, from confusion over public health advice to growing scepticism toward official information. Yet, as the level of government closest to citizens, they’re also in a strong position to rebuild trust. At the Smart City Expo World Congress, representatives from Stad Gent, Helsingin kaupunki – Helsingfors stad – City of Helsinki and Manchester City Council shared how human-centred design, clear communication and cooperation are helping them strengthen transparency and confidence in the digital age. 💬 As Sophie Woodville, Digital Programme Manager at Bordeaux Métropole and moderator of the session, put it: "Through our work in the Eurocities Digital Forum, we’re building solutions together, sharing what works, learning from each other, and helping cities apply EU legislation in ways that make sense for our citizens" Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/dZTdjTKM Mieke Hullebroeck Sherelle Fairweather Chiara V.

📍Eurocities is in Barcelona for Smart City Expo World Congress! Are you ❓ 👀 Find the Eurocities team covering topics from mobility, urban digital services, democracy and digital rights, local digital twins, emerging technologies, and energy and environment. 🚌 🌆 ⚡ 🍃 Check out our schedule below ⬇️ REALLOCATE project GOLIA Project CodeZERO Project CIVITAS Initiative Living in EU #Mobility #Democracy #DigitalRights #Environment

📩 Our monthly newsletter is out now! 📩 🤝 As Autumn draws in, Europe’s city leaders continue to take action to ensure urban voices shape EU decisions. Last month, a delegation of mayors travelled to Strasbourg, the seat of the European Parliament, to meet MEPs and European Commissioners. 📢 Their message was clear ➡️ the next seven-year #EUBudget must work for cities. Current proposals risk re-nationalising EU funds, side-lining city governments, and repeating past mistakes. 🔎 In this newsletter, you can read about this important meeting, along with updates on: 🏠 City actions - led by the #MayorsforHousing Alliance - to place housing high on the EU agenda. 🇪🇺 The Timisoara Cities Summit on EU enlargement ♻️ Cities’ proposals to decarbonise the EU housing and cooling sector 🚲 City highlights from European Mobility Week 🥗 Coverage of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact Global Forum, where cities discussed urban food goals Enjoy your reading 👇

🚄 Exciting times for European rail! 🗓️ On 5 November, Eurocities will be attending CER (Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies)’s joint event on high-speed rail, featuring leading voices from the European Parliament, European Commission, major European cities, and the rail and infrastructure sectors. 📣 During the discussion, speakers including Hanna Zdanowska, Mayor of City of Lodz Office and Member of the European Committee of the Regions, Dávid Vitézy, Chair of the Committee for Transport, Climate Action and Urban Development, Budapest City Assembly, and Thomas Lymes, Eurocities Policy Director, will explore how Europe can secure the political support, regulatory conditions, and funding needed to make high-speed rail the backbone of sustainable transport. 🛤️ With the European Commission’s High-Speed Rail Masterplan expected tomorrow, we hope to see the development of a comprehensive, high-quality rail network that links all European major cities and urban centres. 📄 Read our policy statement on prioritising fast and high-quality passenger train connections here: https://lnkd.in/ekRw4xxk EU Transport Alberto Mazzola #EURegionsWeek #HighSpeedRail #SustainableMobility #TEN-T #UrbanNodes #Eurocities #CER #Transport #EU

🎃 With Halloween behind us, November has officially arrived bringing new opportunities along with it! ➡️ Check out our latest newsletter for events, ways to get involved, and resources to keep you up to date on urban policy and best practices. 🌇

🏙️♻️☀️ City governments must have a central role in decarbonising Europe’s heating and cooling sector. ❗ Across Europe, heating and cooling use about half of all energy, yet most systems still rely on fossil fuels - slowing climate progress, harming air quality, and exposing households to volatile prices. ✅ The European Commission’s new Heating and Cooling Strategy - expected in early 2026 - is a pivotal chance to drive decarbonisation of the sector. 💡But to succeed, it must empower cities as central partners - shaping urban planning and engaging citizens and local partners. Cities can match technology to local needs, from expanding district heating to building-level heat pumps, geothermal and waste-heat recovery. ⚠️ The issue? In many EU member states, legal frameworks and local capacity are not yet in place to help cities deliver. 🔎 In a new Eurocities policy statement, city leaders call for an EU Heating and Cooling Strategy that gives cities: 🔹Clear timelines to phase out fossil systems 🔸Flexibility to choose what works locally 🔹Direct access to EU and national funding 🔸Practical guidance, tools and staff training 🔹Subsidies and social housing renovations to reduce energy poverty 🔸Co-creation between local and national governments 💬 André Sobczak, Secretary General of Eurocities, states: “This transition will be won or lost in our streets. Back cities with stable rules, smart standards and simple finance, and we’ll deliver clean heat faster and fairer.” 🔗 Read our article 👉 https://lnkd.in/ecRS3SRZ And view the Eurocities policy statement below 👇

Cities need to be involved in the European Commission's food dialogue. Cities act every day to deliver real impact through their food policy actions, says Anna Scavuzzo, Vice Mayor of Comune di Milano. Earlier this month, Scavuzzo welcomed over 500 urban delegates to her city to talk about food, as part of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact global forum. From school meal programmes to food waste reduction and sustainable public procurement, cities are shifting the paradigm on food policy. Cities, says Scavuzzo, "should be seen as key partners in the design and implementation of food strategies," and they have the power to "change the habits and behaviours of millions of citizens." Milan, for example, has reduced red meat and increased plant-based meals in its school canteens, cutting CO2 equivalent emissions of its public procurement by 34%. 🍏 🍞 Moreover, the city donates leftover fruit and bread to people in need. #EUFoodDialogue #SustainableFoodSystems #CitiesLead #UrbanInnovation #LocalAction #ResilientEurope

📢 "I believe that The involvement of cities from the European Union's point of view regarding food policies is absolutely essential and necessary because cities have a direct responsibility for the quality of life and health of their citizens." Carlotta Salerno, spoke to Eurocities at the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact global forum earlier this month. She explained that cities like Città metropolitana di Torino have specific roles in implementing food policies, for example to provide school catering, as well as assistance activities for vulnerable people. 🏙️ Cities should therefore be fully involved, valued, and supported by the European Commission, which can help build specific intervention programmes for cities; and to network knowledge learned in this way 🍽️ Turin, for example, provides around 35,000 meals a day; 6 million meals a year, for all children aged 0-13. 🥬 This food is organic, sourced locally, and involves coordination between the private sector, food producers, schools, children, parents, and teachers, including via food education and awareness raising efforts. 👉 Cities need to be involved in the European Commission's #EUFoodDialogue.