Cities Forum 2025 - Stakeholders’ dialogue and consultation on an EU policy agenda for cities

This session opened a consultative reflection for the European Commission, with the participation of Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, to hear from key stakeholders and the Cities forum’s audience on 3 main areas related to the upcoming EU Agenda for cities: policy priorities, programmes and types of support, and multi-level governance cooperation. It allowed to collect the views of different representatives of umbrella organisations for local and regional authorities, youth and housing cooperatives. The session also presented an opportunity to feed the debate on the role of the EU for supporting cities with the results of a Eurobarometer survey recently carried out on ‘Public opinion on urban challenges and investments in cities’ which were officially published on the day of the session.

The European Commission’s Executive Vice President reiterated that EU cities are a top priority, and that cooperation with different levels of governance is essential to bring forward new solutions. The forthcoming agenda for cities will aim to give a stronger voice to cities in EU policy making, and streamline existing EU support for cities. Many instruments are in place currently; this offer is positive, but we need to facilitate access to make it fit for cities of all sizes and build on existing instruments such as the European Urban Initiative. The current Mid-term review of Cohesion policy programmes will already provide an opportunity for the use of resources in more targeted way towards essential services and investments in housing, energy and water notably.

The Mayor of Ghent and President of Eurocities, Mathias De Clercq, highlighted the importance of assessing EU legislations for their urban impact and ensure better implementation and work on better aligning EU and local policies. The effectiveness of existing instruments for direct funding to cities was mentioned as well as the need for stronger capacity building support. He evoked the need to have in the future Cohesion policy, 15% of the funds earmarked for urban areas, as well as an urban chapter in the future plans.

The Secretary general of POLIS, Karen Vancluysen, emphasised that the Green Deal and competitiveness objectives go hand in hand and trigger opportunities for EU companies in the clean tech sector. As important policy files are now reaching the deployment phase, strong mechanisms are needed to monitor the implementation of legislation and evaluate if additional tools are required to support it further. A good example is the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans: which allow for vertical and horizontal governance, multi sectoral approaches, and cross border cooperation. It should feed the reflection on way to finance urban nodes in the future.

The Secretary General from Housing Europe, Sorcha Edwards, called for new housing paradigm, and for cities to benefit from strong support from the EU and national level, both in the areas of financial and regulatory competence, to perform on crucial policy deployment such as housing education, and health. A Mission approach for housing would be welcome and could be fed with successful current approaches and financial instruments generating revenue.

The representative from the European Youth forum, Sina Riz à Porta, pointed to the priorities of intergenerational fairness and housing, in a context where precariousness can keep young people from being active citizens and being involved in local life. Better funding for youth organisations, mechanism for involvement in programmes affecting young people and ways to securing dialogue and participation are important considerations to keep in mind for policy-makers at all levels. Innovative models of youth involvement notably from the European youth capitals can benefit all cities.

Some final messages towards the new EU Agenda for cities targeted the need to reduce fragmentation and increase impact, with plea for cities to benefit from the future EU competitiveness fund, the proposal to include a youth test for legislation, impact on young people, and support for multistakeholder dialogues. Speakers also expressed their hope for the EU Agenda for cities to be a step forward from the Urban Agenda for the EU in place since 2016.

In its closing message, the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission recalled the key principles of Cohesion policy including multi-level governance and shared management, which must be defended, together with tailor-made approaches to the needs of cities. He highlighted the fundamental nature of the suggestions received through from this Forum for the work of the European Commission and the need to continue collaboration will all stakeholders.

The results of the Eurobarometer survey on cities can be further disseminated on Portico and via EUI communication channels. They can be used to feed upcoming activities under the EUI. Results are accessible here: Public opinion on urban challenges and investment in cities - June 2025 - - Eurobarometer survey

The European Commission has taken note of the different points discussed and will benefit from the general collection of inputs form this session and the overall Forum in its preparation work for the EU Agenda for cities.

The European Week of Regions and cities will take place on 13-15 October 2025, and will notably cover the theme “Cities building tomorrow”.