Community of Practice on Cities

LAUNCH EVENT
COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE ON CITIES
Friday 5th October 2018 09:30 - 12:30

Cities are the places where many challenges faced by the EU, such as unemployment, migration, air quality,
are experienced first-hand by its citizens. Cities are also places where opportunities can be seized, such as
innovation, clean mobility, reduction of inequalities, social inclusion, etc.
The European Commission and the EU Member States clearly recognise that the local dimension is crucial to
the formulation and implementation of numerous EU policies and where they can impact effectively on
citizens' life.
The Urban Agenda for the EU, launched in May 2016 with the Pact of Amsterdam, gives a framework to
stimulate growth, liveability and innovation in the cities of Europe and to tackle successfully social
challenges. Globally we have the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda
which the EU and its Member States have been instrumental in the development thereof. The European
Council recognises that the Urban Agenda for the EU is a key delivery mechanism of the global goals within
the European Union.
In view of this centrality of the urban dimension, the Knowledge Centre for Territorial Policies (KC-TP) –
jointly set up by JRC and REGIO - is now fostering the creation of a Community of Practice on Cities (CoPCITIES).
It will allow addressing specific challenges and features of cities and urban systems (including for
instance social polarisation and spatial segregation, housing unaffordability, and demographic trends)
promoting the adoption of a 'territorial' point of view, i.e. placing the 'territory' and not the 'theme' at the
centre of the analysis. Read more...