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The EUKN-OECD Week of National Urban Policies

The EUKN-OECD Week of National Urban Policies

All members (virtual) - 28-30 June, 2021

Joint organisers: OECD, all EUKN members

This online event brought together international experts and policymakers to discuss how the New Leipzig Charter (NLC) can support more just, green and productive National Urban Policies (NUPs).

The NLC is a unique EU-level policy document that supports developing NUPs as key instruments to advance sustainable, resilient cities. As a roadmap for integrated urban development, it promotes urban policy for the common good, participation and co-creation, multi-level governance and a place-based approach.

Featuring four tailored sessions that were open to the public worldwide, this Policy Lab explored the role of NUPs in implementing the NLC, and how NUPs can support social cohesion, environmental sustainability and economic development across Europe.

Programme Background paper Brochure follow-up Video recordings

Sessions take-aways

Green dimension

Co-creation, capacity-building and response to local stakeholder needs is key to activating communities through collective actions
Platforms for data visualisation and interpretation are vital for municipalities to be able to use the data collected
(Inter)national cooperation between cities for knowledge exchange can be extremely helpful and should be facilitated by national governments
Outdated regulatory barriers need to be removed when they are blocking change
Raise awareness of the climate crisis among the public and policymakers, and highlight the intersection between urban and climate policy

Open the presentations

Productive dimension

COVID-19 presented opportunities for national authorities to diversify local urban economies, and increase their resilience
Regulation can stifle innovation: maintaining the urban experimentation and creativity seen during COVID-19 is key for thriving urban centres
Creative and cultural industries are key urban economy drivers, so recognising their value should be central
Digitalisation can improve opportunities in smaller (peri-urban and rural) towns via reliable IT infrastructure and public transport to larger cities

Open the presentations

Just dimension

Increasing access to public services, providing jobs and equal opportunities for all social groups and minimising territorial segregation fosters the common good
Focus on subjective elements is key, e.g. citizens’ sense of belonging and personal and sensorial experience of city life
A place-based, holistic and integrated approach should be taken
Tailor-made solutions are needed, considering links and differences between urban, peri-urban and rural settings
Affordable housing policies are key to mitigate urban socio-economic injustices across the EU
NUPs should (in)directly address various policy areas, to support their development

Open the presentations

Opening

To make the NLC as influential as the SDGs, commitment, communication and active ownership are needed from national urban policy-makers
Urban policy-making should include all government levels and be co-created with public and private stakeholders
NUPs should be driven by local authorities, be applicable to cities of all sizes, break silos and connect cross-sectoral policies
COVID-19 has stimulated shared responsibility by creating space for tactical urbanism, bottom-up approaches and low-cost sustainable solutions

Related EUKN activities

Policy Lab

EUKN Policy Lab for Czechia: Updating the Czech Principles of Urban Policy

Enabling Member States to exchange knowledge on National Urban Policies, paving the way for Czech urban policy to reflect the latest urban development trends and align with European urban agendas.

EUKN Policy Lab for Czechia: Updating the Czech Principles of Urban Policy

Enabling Member States to exchange knowledge on National Urban Policies, paving the way for Czech urban policy to reflect the latest urban development trends and align with European urban agendas.

News

EUKN-OECD Session at the EURegionsWeek: National Urban Policies: drivers for the implementation of the New Leipzig Charter

Exploring the role of National Urban Policies (NUP) in the implementation of the New Leipzig Charter, examining how it plays out in practice, centred around the green transition.

EUKN-OECD Session at the EURegionsWeek: National Urban Policies: drivers for the implementation of the New Leipzig Charter

Exploring the role of National Urban Policies (NUP) in the implementation of the New Leipzig Charter, examining how it plays out in practice, centred around the green transition.

EU urban policy, the German EU Presidency and the New Leipzig Charter

Urban Voices

Tilman Buchholz on... the German EU Presidency and the New Leipzig Charter

Tilman Buchholz, from the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, shares with us the German EU Presidency's biggest achievement and adoption of the New Leipzig Charter.

Tilman Buchholz on... the German EU Presidency and the New Leipzig Charter

Tilman Buchholz, from the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, shares with us the German EU Presidency's biggest achievement and adoption of the New Leipzig Charter.