Cities Forum online event

Dive into the core of urban innovation through an interactive online session showcasing the tangible results of the Urban Innovative Actions and EUI-Innovative Actions projects. This session featured an interview and question-and-answer format, allowing representatives from pioneering cities to share their experiences, challenges, and successes. It was an inspiring opportunity to learn how cities can become true drivers of transformation across Europe.

How can cities strengthen their capacities to tackle urban challenges? This online session offered a comprehensive overview of the European Urban Initiative’s Capacity-Building services — including Peer Reviews, City-to-City exchanges, and national events. Using Coimbra’s journey as a concrete example, participants learned how cities can navigate the full EUI service pathway and translate these opportunities into lasting impact. The session also highlighted the role of EUI Urban Contact Points in supporting urban policymakers and practitioners at the local level.

This session reviews the key moments from the first day of the Cities Forum with the Director of the European Urban Initiative.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development presented this insightful online session focusing on how cities can unlock their potential and stimulate their economic progress while fostering inclusive growth and ensuring accessibility and affordability for all.

This inspiring session highlighted key exhibitors who are supporting EU cities! Watch these live interviews with representatives from exciting initiatives/organisations, including NetZeroCities and Interreg Europe. Discover what these programs can offer your city, from funding opportunities to tailored support.

Explore how cities across Europe are taking bold action to reduce emissions and build climate-resilient communities. This session, in collaboration with the Covenant of Mayors and the city of Ghent, showcased inspiring local initiatives and offered practical insights on how urban areas can lead the way in climate change mitigation.

This session emphasized how participants can play an active role in shaping the EU Urban Agenda through the expression wall. Sofia from the European Urban Initiative explained how the wall functions to gather and report feedback from cities, which will help inform the development of EU policies.

The national Urban Contact Points --“ambassadors”-- connect cities with EU programmes by sharing information, gathering local needs, and facilitating cross-border exchanges. Two experts, Jonas Scholze (coordinator of the Unit for Intergovernmental support and contact points) and Michael Roth (Austria), explained the role, tasks, and national variations of these contact points.

This session brings together Cities Forum speakers to discuss current challenges and opportunities in urban transformation. Through their experiences and insights, they inspire new approaches to creating more sustainable, inclusive, and innovative cities.

This session introduced Portico, the European Urban Initiative's new one-stop platform for sustainable urban development. Amélie Cousin, Head of Knowledge and Communications at the European Urban Initiative (EUI), reflected on the key highlights of the event and presented Portico's core features: a searchable knowledge hub, a guide to EU initiatives, and a space for peer exchange across Europe.

How does the European Commission support affordable housing? This session outlined the financial instruments used by the European Commission and explained how the EU is facilitating access to affordable and social housing, despite financing challenges, through innovative solutions.