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Wiktoria Saganowska on… Chairing the EUKN and the 2025 Polish EU Council Presidency

Urban Voices #40, December 2024

Wiktoria Saganowksa

Deputy Director of the Department of Strategy at the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy in Poland with extensive experience in regional and urban policy, and numerous strategic documents at the national and EU level. She oversees the national regional development strategy, national urban policy, and strategic projects like the Advisory Support Centre and Cities Partnership Initiative. She coordinates intergovernmental cooperation in regional and urban policy, including with the OECD, the Urban Agenda for the EU, URBACT and EUKN. She is a member of the Commission's Expert Group on Territorial Cohesion and Urban Matters (EGTCUM).

You are currently the EUKN chair. What does this mean in practice?

An EUKN Chairperson is elected every two years. My predecessor and current Vice-chair Karen van Dantzig, representing the Netherlands, is a steady factor and very good partner in guiding the EUKN [as the Chair or Vice-chair always comes from the NL]. It is an honour for me to lead network’s general proceedings and meetings. At the same time, chairing the EUKN is a manageable and balanced job since I receive a lot of support from my colleagues at the Polish Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, as well as from other EUKN Assembly members during the Assembly Meetings that take place twice a year.  

As a ministry team, we greatly benefit from our close collaboration with the EUKN Secretariat. Their professionalism and expertise in urban policy, along with their ability to facilitate meaningful dialogue and knowledge sharing, make chairing the network a rewarding experience.  

Our collaboration with the EUKN has been further reinforced in the context of the preparations for the forthcoming Polish Presidency of the EU Council. We are intensively working with the EUKN to prepare policy debates that address urban challenges within the EU during the Polish Presidency meetings. 

The Polish EU Council Presidency is set to begin in January 2025. What is on the urban agenda for the upcoming 6 months? 

Based on the strategic and political framework set by the previous Trio Presidency of Spain, Belgium and Hungary, the Polish Presidency will guarantee an efficient and practical program tailored to urban needs in the European context. 

A key priority for the Polish Presidency with regard to urban matters is sustainable urban development in functional urban areas (FUAs) post -2027. While discussions around FUAs have been ongoing for quite a long time, we believe that fostering dialogue among EU Member States is essential, especially in light of the new EU financial perspective and various social, economic and security challenges. This discussion will accompany the debate on the EU Cohesion Policy post -2027, emphasizing its critical role in ensuring balanced and coherent regional development across all EU Member States.  

To tackle these issues, we plan to analyse the functioning of FUAs in relation to environmental, climate, transport, and spatial planning tasks. Our aim is to demonstrate that a supra-local approach to urban issues enhances the capacity and effectiveness of  interventions. Furthermore, we will assess the systemic functioning of FUAs at the national level, focusing on the regulatory context, financial instruments, and highlighting both best and worst practices in urban development related to climate, transport, and spatial planning. 

Moreover, we will explore the role of FUAs within the EU framework, particularly in connection to Cohesion Policy and relevant instruments such as Integrated Territorial Investments (ITIs). Our evaluation will include assessing the effectiveness of these instruments and identifying potential support for cities under the new Cohesion Policy set to take effect after 2027.  

Building on the themes raised during the Hungarian Presidency, we will also focus on strengthening the role of Thematic Partnerships within the Urban Agenda for the EU (UAEU). The final action plans developed by the Sustainable Tourism and Greening Cities Partnerships received positive recognition, and we will oversee further developments of partnerships that address significant urban development issues in the EU. 

While discussions around FUAs have been ongoing for quite a long time, we believe that fostering dialogue among EU Member States is essential, especially in light of the new EU financial perspective and various social, economic and security challenges.

 

 

In light of the incoming European Commission and its statement on developing “an ambitious policy agenda for cities”, how does the Polish Presidency plan on contributing to this debate?

From a broader European perspective, the Polish Presidency aims to align closely with the new political priorities established by the incoming European Commission. The Mission Letters suggest that the Commission is poised to enhance the role of cities, acknowledging their significant potential to foster innovation and strengthen competitiveness. Notably, the Mission Letter addressed to R. Fitto, Executive Vice– President for Cohesion and Reforms, highlights the importance of developing “an ambitious policy agenda for cities” that presents a comprehensive vision for their future. This agenda is set to tackle vital issues, including housing, climate action, digitalization, mobility, social inclusion, and equality. Therefore, we – as the Polish Presidency – would like to lead the debate on this topic as to inspire the Commission to prepare effective solutions for our European cities in the next financial framework.