EU Urban Policy
Urban policy does not fall within the direct competence of the European Union. Rather, the authority for this lies entirely with the Member States and regions. This however does not mean that urban policy is not (co)shaped by European policy. It is imperative that EU Member States engage in discussions regarding developments and priority areas. The principal framework guiding European urban policy is the New Leipzig Charter of 2020, an update of the original Leipzig Charter from 2007. This charter emphasizes the concepts of a just, green, and productive city as foundational pillars for sustainable urban policy.
European urban policy is concretely manifested in the follow-up to the EU Urban Agenda. Initiated by the Pact of Amsterdam in 2016, this agenda aims to enhance the urban dimension within European policy, focusing on “better regulation,” “better funding,” and “better knowledge.
The primary consultation platforms for following up on this EU Urban Agenda are:
- The Urban Development Group (UDG): Comprising the heads of urban policy departments from the 27 Member States, as well as representatives from various European institutions and organizations. Under the Belgian EU presidency, the UDG convened on April 25 in Namur.
- The Directors-General Meeting for Urban Matters (DGUM): This meeting includes the Directors-General responsible for urban policies in the Member States and was held on June 26 in Brussels.