Spain
EUKN member from 2004-2014, and since 2019
Three levels of government are involved in the design and implementation of urban policies in Spain: the central government, the Autonomous Regions (Comunidades Autónomas), and local administrations. In February 2019, a new National Urban Policy was approved: the Spanish Urban Agenda. A strategic roadmap rather than a regulatory document, the Agenda provides a working method for all urban development actors. It focuses on integrated sustainability to achieve a more resilient, inclusive and safe urban model by 2030.
Key documents
Spanish Urban Agenda
The integrated, non-binding framework of the Spanish Urban Agenda offers a true à la carte menu for interested urban actors to draw up Local Action Plans. Based on 10 strategic objectives that unfold into 30 specific objectives and multiples lines of action, the Agenda champions a new vision of urbanism aligned with national and international sustainability frameworks. It also includes a specific action plan for the Central State Administration, emphasising regulations and planning, funding, governance, citizen participation and exchange, and dissemination of urban issues. The current implementation process includes the Autonomous Regions, over a hundred local authorities and several Universities.
Land and Urban Regeneration Act
Within the Constitutional distribution of competences between the State and Autonomous Regions, the Land and Urban Regeneration Act (Consolidated Text Royal Decree 7/2015) provides the national framework that guarantees the same rights and duties for all citizens and landowners in urban development and urban regeneration. This general framework is complemented and further developed by the Autonomous Regions’ own legislation on urban and regional planning, urban management, standards, etc.
Energy Renovation in the Building Sector
In 2020, the Ministry updated the 2017 “Long-Term Strategy for Energy Renovation in the Building Sector in Spain” as part of Spain’s National Energy Efficiency Action Plan. The updated strategy supports the cost-effective transformation of the national stock of residential and non-residential buildings, both public and private, into decarbonised and nearly zero-energy buildings by 2050. This effort is linked to achieving the EU’s energy and climate goals, in line with the Paris Agreement, the European Green Deal, the Renovation Wave and the EPBD 2010/31/EU Directive.
Testimonial
“Our experience of working with the EUKN has been extremely successful and interesting. Joining the network is a good way to achieve useful knowledge exchange. The EUKN provides high-level expertise in all matters related to urban policy.”
Eduardo de Santiago, Technical Advisor on Urban Policies, Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, EUKN Assembly Member
