André Sobczak 🇪🇺

The meeting was a good opportunity to discuss the achievements and the future of the Urban Agenda for the European Union that celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2026, as well as its coordination with the upcoming EU Agenda for Cities that the European Commission will launch on 3 December.

On Wednesday, I was happy to attend the Meeting of the Directors General Urban Matters in Copenhagen, organised by the Danish Presidency of the European Union.

We will continue to analyse the results with researchers in the coming months that we will share in a future publication.

Cities need more support to:
🔵 access funding for climate adaptation
🟢 coordinate adaptation planning across departments
🟡 access tools to quantify co-benefits of mitigation and adaptation policies
🟣 development across departments climate hazard models and access vulnerable sectors

Among the first results, here are the top three climate-related threats identified by cities:

🔵 heat waves and high temperatures
🟢 flooding due to heavy rains
🟡 draughty and related lack of availability of fresh water

The results of this Eurocities Pulse are based on the answers from 54 cities in 17 countries.

In a context of backlash against ambitious climate and environmental policies, it is more than ever crucial to base political decision-making on science and data.
This is why Eurocities has partnered with CIDOB to investigate how cities adapt to climate change and what are their key challenges.

This week, we launched the new Eurocities Pulse on Climate Resilience in Cities at the Eurocities Environment Forum hosted by the City of Malmö

eurocities.eu/latest/europ...

During the meeting, we agreed to establish a regular exchange between Eurocities and the European Commission to collect best practices of cooperation between cities and national governments, promoting the integration of newcomers.

Additionally, cities must be better integrated into the EU’s policymaking processes, such as those related to the upcoming EU Migration Strategy and through genuine multi-level governance mechanisms, ensuring that local realities shape European strategies effectively.

As we approach the next Multiannual Financial Framework, it is vital that social inclusion and migrant integration funding is safeguarded and increased to meet escalating needs.

Eurocities calls on the European Commission to recognise the critical role of cities in supporting vulnerable populations, particularly migrants and EU mobile citizens experiencing homelessness or social exclusion.

Cities across Europe are on the frontline of addressing growing social challenges exacerbated by migration, rising homelessness, and economic pressures.

This Monday, @magnusbrunner.bsky.social, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, met with the Eurocities Shadow Commissioners for Migration Simona Bieliune, Deputy Mayor of Vilnius, and Rutger Groot Wassink, Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam, as well as with Yves Pascouau, Deputy Mayor of Nantes.

Mayors voice support for Ekrem İmamoğlu - Eurocities The following statement in support of Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul, translated into English, was originally prepared by the city of Paris on the initiative of Mayor Anne Hidalgo: We, European may...

The mission is another milestone in our longstanding support to Mayor Imamoglu:

eurocities.eu/latest/mayor...

The mission was initiated by the Eurocities President, the Mayor of Ghent, who could unfortunately not join us because of his sick leave, but who has made democracy one of his key priorities for his presidency, fully aligned with our Vice-President, the Mayor of Barcelona.

Beyond supporting a member of our network and a good friend, this delegation is showing our commitment to defend democracy and the rule of law.

The first Eurocities mission after the summer break brings a delegation of Mayors from Athens, Barcelona, Budapest, Sofia, Timisoara, Utrecht and Zagreb to Istanbul to support the illegally arrested Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

The Rise of European City-Science Ben Rogers and Aiysha Qureshi describe a growing trend across Europe for closer research-policy collaboration

Together with the new CSI Chair Maria J Arche, our ambition is to encourage and support more European cities to develop these collaborations that enable evidence-based policy-making.

www.london.ac.uk/london-resea...

At Eurocities, we believe in the potential of these collaborations. That’s why we have decided to “adopt” the City Science Initiative launched a decade ago by the City of Amsterdam under the leadership of Caroline Nevejan.

Very interesting paper by Ben Rogers and Aiysha Qureshi analysing how city leaders and academics develop strategic collaborations that go beyond conventional models of “knowledge exchange” to the co-production of knowledge and policy innovation.

Les villes, nouvelles fabriques démocratiques ? À la suite d’un mandat qui voit un nombre record de démission chez les conseillers municipaux, les élections municipales de mars 2026 s’annoncent tendues. Comment retourner la situation et redonner en...

A small book (in French) that gives hope in times where democracy is heavily under threat and where we need to find new ways of involving citizens into policy making at the local, national and European level.

editionsdelaube.fr/catalogue_de...

Les villes, nouvelles fabriques démocratiques ? À la suite d’un mandat qui voit un nombre record de démission chez les conseillers municipaux, les élections municipales de mars 2026 s’annoncent tendues. Comment retourner la situation et redonner en...

The inspiring examples are clustered around three different chapters concerning elections, participation and deliberation.

As we say at Eurocities, a better Europe starts in cities. A more democratic Europe starts in cities.
In their recent publication, Dorian Dreuil and Marinette Valiergue, associate researchers at Fondation Jean-Jaurès, provide many examples of democratic innovations spread in cities.

You will join a dynamic and international team where we trust in people, value constructive exchanges and collaborative work. We help people thrive in a friendly, open and healthy environment while promoting a work/life balance.

Managed by our Policy Director Louise Coffineau, you will co-lead our amazing Climate and Environment Team in a tandem with our second co-Head Eugenia Mansutti and with the support of senior managers. As member of our Extended Strategy Team, you will contribute to the leadership of our organisation.

Then, you should consider applying to become Eurocities’ co-Head of Climate and Environment.

Do you want to work with local actors and experts from all over Europe and beyond to favour knowledge exchange, design innovative and participatory solutions and influence European policies that empower cities and improve quality of life?

Do you want to to contribute to healthy environment in European cities that are homes for the vast majority of European citizens?

Do you want to build on your experience, expertise and skills to support these mayors and their team in developing and implementing ambitious strategies to reach climate neutrality and adapt to climate change?