European Urban Initiative

💭𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? 𝗦𝗼𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼!

The 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗸 at is just around the corner – connecting cities with experienced advisers, turning questions into practical next steps.

Having a specific challenge in mind❓ Looking for a funding opportunity❓ Relevant examples, resources or the right people to learn from❓

Now's the time to start thinking about the questions your city would like to bring to the table. 🏙️

Come and discover the Helpdesk at the EUI stand during on 14 October!

🔗Subscribe to the EUI newsletter and stay in touch with the latest updates: https://urban-initiative.pulse.ly/2vftucvxg5

✨Curious to see who’s taking the stage at the cities at the core conference?

On 17–18 November, the conversation comes to Rotterdam and Amsterdam for two days of high-level reflections, engaging discussions and practical exchange on some of the most urgent challenges facing Europe’s cities.

🏙️💡From affordable housing and urban poverty to climate adaptation, innovation and competitiveness, the programme will bring together experts and urban practitioners to explore what it takes to build more resilient, inclusive and future-ready cities.

🎤Discover some of the speakers and voices contributing to the conversation and explore the full programme on the event page: https://urban-initiative.pulse.ly/yjsm1lifvl

Not registered yet? Join the discussion, exchange ideas and help shape the future of Europe’s cities.
⚠️ Demand is already high and places are limited.
🔗 Learn more and register: https://urban-initiative.pulse.ly/n0dp7le9bg

💧 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨𝗜 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝗯?

How can cities rethink their relationship with water? And what can we learn from places already finding new ways to live with it?

At the EUI Focused Policy Lab, cities, experts and practitioners will explore these questions through policy shaping, peer learning, exchange and inspiration – sharing experiences and discovering approaches that can help shape more water-resilient and liveable cities.

As 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗶𝗲𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗿, one of the Lab’s experts, puts it:
“𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝑼𝑰 𝑭𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑷𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒚 𝑳𝒂𝒃 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓’𝒔 𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒖𝒓𝒃𝒂𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆. 𝑱𝒐𝒊𝒏 𝒖𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝑩𝒓𝒖𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎.”

With water resilience now prioritised by the EU, this Lab offers a timely opportunity to explore city approaches.

📅 24–25 November 2026 | 📍 Bruges, Belgium

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆.

🔗 Register today:
https://urban-initiative.pulse.ly/bn59dx4s7s

𝗚𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮, 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲, 𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆?

Sometimes, just knowing where to begin is the hardest part. The 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗸 can help you find the right way forward with:

🔎 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 - find relevant resources, tools and examples from cities across Europe
💶 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 - explore funding opportunities that match your needs and priorities
🤝 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 - connect with peers, partners and expertise

The goal is clear: help cities find the right solutions to move forward.

👉Subscribe to the EUI newsletter for the latest Cities Helpdesk updates: https://urban-initiative.pulse.ly/2tc6zgbihp

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐔𝐈 𝐏𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫!

📅 𝟔 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟏𝟎 :𝟑𝟎 𝐀𝐌 -𝟏𝟐 :𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌 𝐂𝐄𝐓

Learn how a Peer Review supports cities with their strategies, from initial design stage to final evaluation. Get guidance on choosing the right role to apply for and discover how a Peer Review can help prepare your city for the future.
🔗https://urban-initiative.pulse.ly/fkchmw3of2

𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 ?

🤝 Are you working on 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗨𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗦𝗨𝗗) and looking to learn from other European cities - or ready to share your own experience ?
The 𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 creates a space for cities to collaborate, exchange, and improve together.

👥 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 :
🔹 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: Get tailored recommendations to address specific challenges and strengthen your SUD strategy.
🔹 𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀: Contribute your expertise, support fellow cities, and help shape practical solutions to common urban challenges.

💡 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁?
✔ Peer learning based on real challenges
✔ Concrete, actionable feedback
✔ A collaborative European network of cities

🚨 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨𝗜 𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻, and applications close on 𝟭𝟮 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿.
🔗https://urban-initiative.pulse.ly/ax3rcg0u84

We look forward to seeing you there!

Housing is a top priority for cities across the EU, and Italy is no exception.

EUI is organising our first Capacity Building event in Italy on “𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴.”

If you are an Italian urban authority looking to strengthen your skills and knowledge on the topic, join us to:
🏘️ explore local housing policies and market regulation
🏠 discuss housing as a public good
🌱 discover approaches to greener, more sustainable housing

Through practical examples and peer exchange, we’ll explore solutions to current housing challenges.

🇮🇹 The event will be held in Italian and will target Italian urban authorities and local stakeholders working on the topic

📅 10-11 November
📍 Bari, Italy
👉 Register now: https://urban-initiative.pulse.ly/69aguic0kv

🚨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 - 𝐄𝐔𝐈’𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐔𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬.

🚀 Looking to boost your city’s SUD strategy through evidence-based recommendations from peers?

💡 The Peer Review is a unique opportunity for European cities to refine their current SUD strategies and improve their long-term planning skillset to prepare for the future.

📢 Want to take part? It’s easy!
📄 Apply directly via our website. There is no complicated paperwork. We’ll guide you through the process.

🎤 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬' 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝟔 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟏𝟎:𝟑𝟎 𝐀𝐌- 𝟏𝟐:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌 𝐂𝐄𝐓 to learn more, help you choose the right role, and get answers to your questions.
🔗https://urban-initiative.pulse.ly/sdsnih2uue

🤝 How does it work?
🔹Cities under review: Receive tailored recommendations from up to six peer cities to strengthen the design, implementation, or monitoring of your strategy.
🔹Peer reviewers: Support other cities by sharing practical insights, expertise, and solutions.

💡 Not sure which role suits your city best?
Comment below or email [email protected] for a bilateral call and we’ll be happy to help.

📅 Apply now and be part of the Peer Review experience!
🔗 https://urban-initiative.pulse.ly/ul6i52iuvb
⏳ 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟮 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿.

🌍 Discover Rotterdam through five inspiring site visits!

As part of the “Cities at the core: 10 years of the Urban Agenda for the EU and the way ahead” conference, participants will have the opportunity to explore how Rotterdam is putting sustainable and inclusive urban development into practice.

The City of Rotterdam will organise five site visits, each showcasing a different dimension of urban transformation:

🔹 RDM Innovation Dock – discover how businesses, start-ups, researchers, students and public authorities are working together on innovation, the energy transition and the circular economy.
🔹 BlueCity – explore a leading urban living lab for the circular economy, where entrepreneurs turn innovative ideas into sustainable business solutions.
🔹 Current Start – see how social inclusion and the circular economy can go hand in hand, supporting sustainable employment while creating opportunities for people facing barriers to the labour market.
🔹 Bospolder-Tussendijken \(BoTu\) – discover a community-led approach to neighbourhood development, putting residents at the centre of decisions shaping a resilient future.
🔹 Splashtours: M4H & climate adaptation – experience Rotterdam from both land and water while exploring innovative approaches to climate adaptation, circularity, and sustainable construction.

📍 Rotterdam
📅 17 November 2026 \| 13:45–15:45 CET

👉 Already registered and approved? Don’t forget to select your preferred site visit through the registration process.
👉 Not registered yet? There is still time to join us in Rotterdam and take part in the conference and site visits

🔗 More infos: https://urban-initiative.pulse.ly/mh1lyyrx2t

Photographer: Robin Utrecht

🌿 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

Join us in Vienna for a two-day Capacity-Building event bringing together cities, experts and European stakeholders to explore what the 𝗘𝗨 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗡𝗥𝗥) means for urban areas - and, most importantly, what cities can do next.
🔗https://urban-initiative.pulse.ly/0mct5cx8dt

What to expect:

🏙️ 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 - with practical implementation stories and lessons learned.

🔎 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 through hands-on workshops covering:
• Data, indicators and monitoring
• Planning and development decisions
• Financing and stewardship of urban nature
• Governance, partnerships and coordination

🌳 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 through site visits showcasing local initiatives in Vienna and discuss how approaches could be transferred to other cities.

🤝 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 through dedicated City-to-City Exchange and networking opportunities, including with representatives of several Urban Agenda for the EU partnerships (Greening Cities, Food, Water Sensitive City - sharing what your city needs to learn and what it can offer others.

🗺️ 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 by developing a Nature Restoration Readiness Canvas, identifying priority areas, next steps, partners and support needs for your city.

The aim is simple: 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹, 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

🌊 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗲𝘀?

The 𝗘𝗨𝗜 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝗯 𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 is coming to Bruges – a city where water is not just part of the landscape, but a key part of its urban identity. Home to the EUI 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲4𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁, Bruges is exploring how climate adaptation, biodiversity and water management can work together to create a more resilient urban environment.

🎉 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲4𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿, bringing its project partners together to mark the milestone and look ahead to the work still to come.

💬 “Bruges is ready to share how we are building a climate-resilient water city through a systemic approach that puts nature and natural resources at the heart of our solutions. We look forward to exchanging knowledge and learning from others, while sharing our experience in digitalisation, infrastructure and water management. Together, let’s shape the water cities of tomorrow!”
–Astrid Stroobandt , Blue4Green project lead

During the Lab, participants will have the opportunity to discover these approaches on the ground, exchange with local practitioners and explore how similar ideas could work in their own cities.

📅 24–25 November 2026 | 📍 Bruges, Belgium

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲, 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗲𝘀!

Register here: https://urban-initiative.pulse.ly/agyffkwewh