Understanding urban priorities across Europe: the Forward Looking Survey
This study presents the results of the 2024 ‘Forward-Looking Survey’ conducted in the context of the European Urban Initiative. The survey was launched as an open consultation to hear from cities and all relevant stakeholders across the European Union, in order to identify key trends, challenges, knowledge gaps and support needs in the field of sustainable urban development. In this way, the European Commission, the European Urban Initiative (EUI), and its entrusted entity the Hauts-de-France Region, will be able to gain a deeper understanding of the emerging dynamics and needs of urban areas – and ensure that EUI activities and services are aligned with them.
About
The survey was published on the Portico platform in June and July 2024, and promoted via the following EUI channels: the EUI website; Portico; social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram); and EUI newsletter. EUI Urban Contact Points also played a central role in promoting the survey at national level. It was made available in English and 22 other official European Union languages.
The main objective of the survey was to create a direct channel of communication between EUI and its target audience. In particular, it targeted representatives of urban authorities, and was also open to regional and national authorities, researchers, urban practitioners and representatives of associations and networks. No restrictions, nor quotas per category of respondents were set. However, the survey particularly aimed to reach public authorities benefiting from sustainable urban development (SUD) support through EU cohesion policy in the 2021-2027 period, as defined by Article 11 of the Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 on the European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund. While targeting cities of all sizes. EUI is particularly interested in engaging with small and medium-sized cities and towns, as well as less developed regions. Supporting these areas is a key goal of the initiative in its efforts related to cohesion policy, which aims to ensure balanced development across the EU.
Chapters
Data collection and analysis methodology
Learn moreAbout this resource
The European Urban Initiative is an essential tool of the urban dimension of Cohesion Policy for the 2021-2027 programming period. The initiative established by the European Union supports cities of all sizes, to build their capacity and knowledge, to support innovation and develop transferable and scalable innovative solutions to urban challenges of EU relevance.
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