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EUROCITIES annual report 2017

1 4 6 8 8 9 10 11 13 13 14 15 FOREWORDS CITIES4EUROPE - GREEN, FREE-FLOWING Circular Plugged Untapped Keep AS DRIVERS Working Investing Building a stronger, EUROPE FOR CITIZENS AND HEALTHY CITIES cities into the future potential moving OF QUALITY JOBS AND together, creating in our future more inclusive Europe SUSTAINABLE GROWTH employment

16 16 17 18 20 20 21 23 24 24 25 26 27 INCLUSIVE, Investing Cities welcome Social rights SMARTER Making cities Smart citizens Smarter byte URBAN INNOVATION A seat at Transforming FAST FINANCIAL FACTS EUROCITIES DIVERSE in culture refugees for all CITIES smarter = smart cities by byte AND GOVERNANCE the table cities 2015-2017 MEMBERS AND CREATIVE IN CITIES AND PARTNERS CITIES FOREWORDS

We as leaders are committed to Europe’s core values of respect, We are living in an urban century, and it is the time of cities. One year freedom, democracy and equality. That’s why in March 2017 we organised on from its creation, the Urban Agenda for the EU is bringing city driven a mayors summit on the future of Europe, to directly address how cities policy more into focus than ever before. The power of cities increasingly can help stem the tide of populism and Euroscepticism. The message from lies in the reality that the key transitions of the 21st century are cities was loud and clear: a renewed Europe needs genuine partnership concentrated in urban areas. Cities are showing the way forward by between the cities and their citizens, EU institutions and member states. adapting to this fast changing environment, demonstrating innovation and gaining in political influence. We need to rethink the way things are done in Europe, and directly engage citizens in an open dialogue about what kind of Europe they want. This 2018 will mark my fourth year as secretary general, and I continue to is the basis of our campaign, ‘Cities4Europe - Europe for citizens’ that be immensely proud of the work of our cities and the strength of our gathered strong engagement from mayors at the EUROCITIES conference network. We have built bridges across Europe for more than 30 years in . and today we are a real community of purpose, people, and places. A successful organisation. Yet we do not intend to rest on our laurels. To The challenges of urbanisation mean that cities increasingly perform make us future fit, we are developing EUROCITIES future strategy and new roles as connectors, facilitators of change and in governance. The vision. This will include working with our members and partners through role of cities has been recognised in the Sustainable Development Goals a series of activities on the challenges of future cities and of our network. and the New Urban Agenda of the UN. In 2017 we launched two new Together we will make EUROCITIES even stronger, and that will make all projects working with cities in China, looking at strategic approaches our members stronger. in sustainable urbanisation both in Europe and China, and our role in Daniël the Covenant of Mayors on climate and energy puts us at the forefront of Among the many highlights from 2017, our policy and project work on Termont one of the most important global challenges that will have far reaching transversal issues such as food, circular economy, creative citizenship Anna Lisa MAYOR OF consequences for citizens. and local public investment position us as a key voice on urban issues. Boni AND EUROCITIES Engagements by our mayors on cleaner air, and through initiatives like EUROCITIES PRESIDENT 2017-2018 I am honoured to represent EUROCITIES and the work we do, both around Solidarity Cities, demonstrate that holistic, integrated, citizen-focused and SECRETARY GENERAL Europe and internationally, that makes us the ‘go-to’ network on urban issues. citizen-led approaches in city policy and politics are the future.

5 CITIES4EUROPE - EUROPE FOR CITIZENS

At a time when Europe is striving to retain its We are now taking the next step and will actively legitimacy and relevance in the face of growing demonstrate what citizens and cities are doing disillusionment and Euroscepticism, cities can at local level to co-create our future. Throughout provide a critical link with citizens. Cities are May 2018, our campaign ‘Cities4Europe - Europe for crucial to shaping the future of Europe, and citizens’ will showcase successful local initiatives we demonstrated city leaders’ engagement in that engage citizens, present ideas for new forms our successful ‘Mayors summit on the future of of democracy and map out a positive, common Europe’ in March. future. We will debate recommendations for citizens’ engagement across different levels of government, “Citizens are asking politicians: in particular at European level. What does the EU really do for us? Why does it matter? As city leaders, At our political session during the EUROCITIES my colleagues and I are in a unique 2017 Ljubljana conference, mayors and city leaders position to bridge this gap.” across the network confirmed their engagement in the campaign and exchanged on the role city Daniël Termont, politicians can play in re-energising politics. president of EUROCITIES and mayor of Ghent

6 7 GREEN, FREE-FLOWING AND HEALTHY CITIES Plugged into the future We made the most of the EU Sustainable Energy Week in in June to highlight our position on the Commission’s ‘Clean energy for all Europeans’ package. We believe that better governance mechanisms need to be put in place to allow cities to have a real influence in driving the energy transition. We presented our policy priorities to Circular cities MEPs who were keen to continue the debate with cities in an ongoing strategic dialogue. Our current levels of consumption exceed what our natural resource systems can produce, and we dispose of a lot more than we reuse or recycle, with consequences Creating cleaner and more sustainable transport for our environment and climate. Cities are responsible for implementing national and has obvious benefits for people, such as cleaner EU recycling targets and can play a crucial role in stimulating behavioural change air. We kickstarted the year with a political event relating to consumption patterns. in the European Parliament, calling for adequate measures at EU level to limit car emissions. with the support of Our circular economy task force shared examples of how cities contribute in areas such as waste management and sustainable procurement. They have engaged in a As a partner in the CIVITAS SATELLITE project we FULL CIRCLE dialogue with EU policy makers and other partners, learning together and providing cities and the circular economy help build cities’ capacity through peer-to-peer a city perspective on EU rules and financing to accelerate the transition towards a activities. While our role in PROSPECT similarly circular economy. The role of cities in delivering the EU’s Circular Economy Package involves exchange of best practice, it also focuses was the focus of our EUROCITIES 2017 conference in Ljubljana. on cities’ needs regarding investment and brings together examples of innovative financing by cities Our ‘Food in cities’ project demonstrated cities’ contribution to creating a sustainable in implementing their sustainable energy and and fair food system. Over six months, we gathered evidence of how local governments - Brussels by www.heartsnminds.eu Designed climate action plans. These projects help bring

1, Square de Meeûs B-1000 Brussels intervene at different stages of the food chain, and are developingtel +32-2-552.0888 more holistic a reality check to the EU level on how European [email protected] www.eurocities.eu thinking connecting with other areas, such as health. @EUROCITIEStweet October 2017 policies on energy transition are impacting cities.

8 9 Keep moving

Encouraging citizens to choose alternative modes Untapped potential of transport to the private car is an important part of making our cities more sustainable. Our CREATE The Commission selected EUROCITIES, together with other partners, to develop project networks cities across Europe to help a strategic plan for the Urban Water Agenda 2030 by providing technical reduce road congestion and promote sustainable expertise and strategic advice. This is a unique opportunity for cities to look modes of transport. In March 2017, our statement at long term water challenges affecting them, exchange good practices, towards an EU strategy on cycling promoted the and showcase successful examples to the European Commission for future positive impact that alternative modes of transport policy development. can have on public health, the environment, social cohesion and local economies. We identified cities’ long term challenges in water resource management. They include More efficient transport and reduced congestion are essential for creating sustainable cities. ageing infrastructure, sometimes resulting in water leakages or energy Through our SUMPS-UP and Go SUMP projects we intensive water systems are working to improve sustainable urban mobility increasing impacts of climate change, such as water scarcity or flooding planning and measures in cities throughout Europe. river basin management: how to collaborate with stakeholders up- and downstream to ensure that water is managed by taking the entire water cycle The European Mobility Week 2017, that we into account. coordinate, attracted the participation of over 2,400 towns and cities. The campaign culminated We presented preliminary proposals to the high level ‘Mayors and water’ in the now well established ‘car-free day’ that conference in in September, which was also used to gather political encourages walking, cycling and public transport. support from cities for the Urban Water Agenda 2030 process. The resulting Commission strategy, which will focus on actions for integrated and sustainable water management in urban areas, should be rolled out in 2018.

10 11 CITIES AS DRIVERS OF QUALITY JOBS AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

Working together, creating employment

EUROCITIES politicians met with EU representatives in Ghent in June to discuss work and social inclusion in our cities in the context of the European Pillar of Social Rights. Ahead of the next EU budget we are advocating for cities to have a greater say in how the European Social Fund is invested. It is crucial “We need to strengthen the urban to strengthen the partnership between cities, member states, voice and partnership aspect of the ESF managing authorities and the European Commission so that European Social Fund if we want to we can deliver on employment and social inclusion in Europe. deliver on employment and social inclusion The EUROCITIES Declaration on Work sets out the crucial role that in Europe. Channelling funding to where it is cities play in driving economic development that improves the lives most needed, in our cities, will help citizens of citizens. By brokering effective partnerships between the public and Europe.” and private sectors and civil society, and integrating different Daniël Termont, services, cities fight poverty, social exclusion and unemployment. president of EUROCITIES and mayor of Ghent

We continue to engage in the urban agenda partnership on jobs and skills in the local economy, as an additional means to achieve the objectives set out in our work declaration, to have a real partnership between cities and the EU institutions.

12 13 Investing in our future Building a stronger, more inclusive Europe

Cities’ long term investment brings added value in terms of creating Cohesion policy has always been one of the strongest expressions opportunities for businesses, jobs and improving citizens’ quality of solidarity between member states and regions in the EU. It is of life. We have actively pushed the issue of long term investments one of the most important investment policies of the EU, vital up the political agenda at EU level and have contributed to a better to ensuring the competitiveness of the EU globally, through its understanding of the barriers to long term investment that urgently cities and regions. need to be tackled at EU level. We argued that fast growing cities need for long term public investment, and that a good mix of We published a comprehensive policy paper on the future of instruments is vital. cohesion policy for the Cohesion Forum in June. We called for a reinforced and simplified policy, built on a real partnership with In April, along with other networks, we sent an open letter to EU cities, stronger tools for integrated approaches and a clearer decision makers calling for more flexible budget and financial urban dimension. accounting rules to enable cities to boost local investment. We asked for a further evaluation on how public investment under Through our participation in the high level group on the the Stability and Growth Pact can be adapted better to cities’ simplification of structural funds, we are working to ensure a needs. We have strengthened our collaboration with the long more effective role for cities as both beneficiaries and managers term investment intergroup in the European Parliament throughout of structural funds. the year. We are a partner in the Cohesion Alliance, launched in October, aiming to secure a continuation of cohesion policy in the post- 2020 financial framework. A strong cohesion policy will be an essential tool to deliver the cohesive future the EU badly needs, and to safeguard what already works well.

14 15 INCLUSIVE, DIVERSE AND Cities welcome refugees CREATIVE CITIES In recent years, city leaders and citizens across Europe have rallied to provide welcome, shelter and comfort to tens of thousands of refugees. Our Solidarity Cities Investing in culture initiative focuses on city-to-city support to develop capacities to meet these challenges. Fourteen cities Cultural and creative industries are increasingly central to officially endorsed the initiative within its first year, and cities’ strategic agendas. They positively impact local economic the number continues to grow. development and can help generate greater social cohesion. Our culture forum has identified five key challenges for these Our new Cities Grow project works with 16 of our industries in the coming years, ranging from demographic to digital member cities on the integration of migrants and challenges, which now inform our activities and project work. refugees into the job market, from entrepreneurship to anti-discrimination strategies. Our Culture for Cities and Regions project, which ended in autumn 2017, collected 70 case studies and carried out 10 We have used the urban agenda partnership on inclusion successful coaching visits to transfer knowledge and develop of migrants and refugees to strengthen the outreach of cities’ capacity to face cultural challenges with confidence. Over our messages on reception and direct access to funding 150 cities and regions have been involved at European level. for cities. As coordinator of the action on better funding we have called for cities to have better access to EU We are now preparing the EUROCITIES 2018 conference in emergency assistance and to the Asylum Migration and on culture as a smart investment for the future, and are Integration Fund (AMIF). We will feed into the reflections working with partners on the European Year of cultural heritage. on the next multi-annual financial framework of the EU, Our newest project, ROCK, which kicked off in June 2017, promotes by offering recommendations on how to guarantee better new ways to access and experience cultural heritage in cities. access to funding for cities across Europe.

16 17 Social rights for All EUROCITIES is committed to working with the EU institutions and national governments to address With one in four people in the EU living at risk of poverty or social the challenges of urban poverty and rising exclusion, the success of policies such as the European Pillar of inequalities through the Social Pillar. We support Social Rights will depend on cities, where around 75% of the EU’s the principles and rights of active inclusion of the population lives. Cities are key stakeholders in reducing poverty, Social Pillar, in particular the emphasis on access through delivering social services, promoting social investment to quality services such as childcare, housing and and ensuring the active inclusion of the most vulnerable groups healthcare. We used our statement ‘Social rights in our society. for all,’ adopted in October, to communicate cities’ messages ahead of the EU social summit in November. We published several opinion pieces in European news outlets highlighting our key messages on how to address poverty and inequality in our cities, timed to coincide with the “More European are living in social summit. “Cities are key stakeholders poverty now than before the in reducing poverty, delivering Including the local, urban perspective in the Social crisis. Austerity policies have social services and including Pillar, and combining it with the urban agenda will seriously affected social rights. vulnerable groups in society. It is only help raise standards across Europe, improving Institutions must improve social through the meaningful engagement of the lives of all. Reinforcing the right to affordable budgets and integrated approaches city authorities that the goals of the European housing for everyone, rather than a few who are to deal with inequality, to avoid child deemed vulnerable, would also greatly help to poverty and to protect the working poor.” Pillar of Social Rights can become a reality.” reduce social exclusion and poverty in our cities. Daniël Termont, Laia Ortiz, president of EUROCITIES and mayor of Ghent chair of the EUROCITIES Social Affairs Forum and deputy mayor of

18 19 SMARTER CITIES

Making cities smarter Smart citizens = smart cities

The uptake of digital technologies will affect many areas of There can be no smart city without smart citizens. people’s daily lives. In our statement on building a European Throughout the year, we have used opportunities such data economy in April, we outlined the pioneering role that city as the Barcelona Smart Cities Expo, and a partnership authorities play in using data to find innovative solutions to with a Times newspaper special supplement, to urban challenges, working with citizens, and driving economic showcase our work to different audiences. and social growth. We are leading the action cluster on business models, The free flow of non-personal data is vital to the EU’s economic financing and procurement in the European Innovation growth. Creating common and open standards for data Partnership, where we are helping to turn smart city management and interoperability between different systems concepts into real solutions. is the basis for an efficient smart cities market. Our CITYkeys project created indicators for smart city performance based on At European level, EUROCITIES politicians contributed open standards and interfaces, which are already being used to the European Commission’s inter-cabinet group on and tested by cities across Europe. urban issues, meeting on smart and future cities in January, by sharing examples of work done by cities, As part of our work in the digital transition partnership of the and demonstrating the need for greater emphasis on Urban Agenda for the EU, we are monitoring progress for cities integrated policies at EU level. The group comprises in the digitalisation of services such as health and social care, representatives from different Commission cabinets eGovernment, and urban planning. and DGs and helps to coordinate policies with an urban dimension across the Commission. We will continue to push for cities and citizens’ involvement in these different areas.

20 21 Smarter byte by byte

Urban performance is no longer just dependent Our ICT Carbon Footprint project works with on a city’s hard infrastructure but increasingly SMEs and local authorities to measure the energy on the availability and quality of communication and environmental efficiency of the ICT they use, and social resources. to boost their competitiveness while improving their sustainability. We provide cities with the Through our Sharing Cities project, we are tools and standard methodologies necessary to supporting smart city solutions in cities. We meet this aim. Our Green Digital Charter project have organised peer learning visits and want to now counts more than 50 European cities that are ensure the results can be scaled up and shared. committed to working together to deliver on the Two years into the project, about 100 cities EU climate objectives through the smart use of have benefitted from our exchanges, through information and communication technologies. webinars and capacity building events, in areas “Technology for us is a means such as retrofitting buildings, e-mobility and data not an end and becoming smarter management. Our cooperation with other projects is about a whole lot more.” and initiatives has helped advance smarter practices in cities’ use of procurement and in Daniël Termont, developing smarter business models. president of EUROCITIES and mayor of Ghent

22 23 URBAN INNOVATION AND GOVERNANCE Transforming cities

Inclusion of Air quality Housing IN CITIES Working with citizens is the way forward: cities are already migrants and demonstrating that co-creation and participative democracy refugees A seat at the table are powerful tools for building more sustainable and inclusive neighbourhoods. Our creative citizenship working group is The Urban Agenda for the EU has recognised the added value looking at how cities are working with civil society to co- of bringing cities and other levels of government together, on create solutions to local challenges and is supporting the matters that concern us and our citizens. Its success depends on ‘Cities4Europe - Europe for citizens’ campaign. the full commitment of all governance levels. Urban Climate Energy Metropolitan area governance is another increasingly relevant poverty adaptation transition We have fully integrated the urban agenda themes and issue across Europe. Given that most of the challenges we face processes into our work, and we are continuing our strong are spread across administrative borders, the metropolitan area involvement in each of the 12 partnerships. Our urban agenda is the right level to develop innovative solutions that benefit working group has been identifying some of the most persistent the wider region. We advocate for the widespread recognition challenges for cities across the partnerships. We have been of metropolitan governance as vital to sustainable and inclusive using various opportunities to address these challenges with urban transformation. Digital Urban Circular the EU institutions, member states and other partners, including transition mobility economy the EU Capitals Mayors meeting in in September, the Cities Over two years, we worked on edge-of-centre transformation Forum in in November and at the meetings of the with our members. Their research contrasted urban development Urban Development Group. models across different cities looking at how to transform 20th century industrial belts, which in many cases have become The Urban Agenda for the EU reflects a broader recognition derelict or underused areas. Our work demonstrates that ten of the growing importance of cities. We are working to ensure years after the Charter, integrated urban development is outcomes from this new way of working, with a multilevel still vital for cities. Jobs and skills in Public Sustainable use governance approach to addressing better regulation, better local economy procurement of land and nature-based funding and knowledge sharing. solutions 24 25 FAST FINANCIAL FACTS 2015-2017 EUROCITIES MEMBERS AND PARTNERS 30 SEPTEMBER 2017

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE INCOME EXPENDITURE In 2017, EUROCITIES welcomed five new members:Aix-Marseille-Provence, Cluj-Napoca, Constanta, and ; one new partner: as well as a new associated business partner: dotBerlin MEMBERS GE ASSOCIATED PARTNERS AL GR , Thessloniki , BE AM HR BG Kardzhali HU AT CH IE BA , CY Turkish Cypriot Community of IS Reykjavik BE , Brussels Capital Region, DE , Brussels City, Ghent IT , , , , , ES , San Sebastian BG , , Varna , , FI CH Geneva, Zurich LT FR Metropole, Brest Metropole Oceane, CY Nicosia LU Grand Reims, St. Nazaire, Tours LV Riga CZ , Pilsen, GR Acharnes, Amaroussion, DE , , , , , NL , BrabantStad Metropolitan Area, , Rotterdam, , HR , Dusseldorf, , am Main, , , , Leipzig, , NO , IT Cesena, Pesaro, Pisa , Munster, , PL Bialystok, , Gdansk, , Lodz, LT Klaipeda DK , , Poznan, Rzeszow, , Wroclaw NL , , Netwerkstad Twente EE PT , , Porto NO tot ioe eers operti epeses ES Barcelona, , Gijon, , Malaga, RO Cluj-Napoca, Constanta, Timisoara PT Guimaraes , , Metropolitan Area, tot epeiture ssoitesprters stff osts RS , RU Barrier free city foundation Valladolid, SE , Malmo, , SE , Kungsbacka, Linkoping, Nacka, resut e of perio proets rts proets rts FI , , , , , SK Solna, Umea SI Ljubljana TR Besiktas, Beylikduzu, Beyoglu, Mezitli, other FR Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropole, Angers Loire Nilufer, Osmangazi, , Serdivan Metropole, , Grand Nancy, Grenoble TR , , Izmir, Alpes Metropole, Metropole Europeenne UA , , , UK & Strabane, Lisburn & Castlereagh, Preston, de Lille, , Metropole, Côte UK , , Brighton & Hove, d’Azur, , Rennes Metropole, St. Etienne , , Edinburgh, , , Metropole, , , , , Newcastle/ ASSOCIATED BUSINESS PARTNERS FYROM , , * projected results dotBerlin, ENEDIS, ENGIE, IBM, Kapsch, VEOLIA 26 27 - Brussels www.heartsnminds.eu Designed by Designed

1, Square de Meeûs B-1000 Brussels tel +32-2-552.0888 [email protected] www.eurocities.eu @EUROCITIEStweet