Fostering Integrated and Sustainable Urban Development in the Future EU Cohesion Policy
The Permanent Representation of the Federal Republic of Germany to the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB), in cooperation with the German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development (DV) and the European Urban Knowledge Network (EUKN), is organising an event on fostering integrated urban development in the future EU Cohesion Policy.
The conference will provide an opportunity to reflect on lessons learned in EU Member States and discuss the future direction of EU Cohesion Policy. Ultimately, the meeting aims to enhance collaboration and exchange among key stakeholders, including local authorities, governments, academia, Members of the European Parliament, the European Committee of the Regions, and the European Commission.
The event, taking place on 19 February 2025 in Brussels, aims to assess the experiences of EU Cohesion Policy in promoting sustainable urban development throughout the European Union.
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The event is organised on the occasion of publishing the report on “The Urban Dimension in EU Cohesion Policy in Germany” by one of the co-organisers, DV. It provides an overview of the EU funding programmes implemented during the current funding period in Germany to support integrated urban development. It brings forward seven recommendations for the EU funding period 2028-2034, which can serve as a fruitful discussion base for the event.
Recommendations for the future Cohesion Policy:
1. Strengthen the Role of Cities:
Increase support for cities as key transformation hubs via an effective Cohesion Policy.
2. Focus Funding:
Maintain concentration of EU funds on core Policy Objectives.
3. Maintain Partnership Principle:
Ensure Cohesion Policy remains decentralised with shared fund management.
4. Retain Territorial Instruments:
Keep ITI, CLLD, and other tools for integrated territorial development.
5. Flexible Area Selection:
Allow flexible identification of eligible areas, from neighbourhood to city-wide and inter-municipal levels.
6. Simplify Rules:
Simplify rules and extend the settlement period to at least N+3 for smoother implementation.
7. Ensure Sustainable Urban Development:
Support long-term, adequately funded urban development across all EU regions.