This is welcome given that the recently published 9th Cohesion report shows that in recent years there are positive trends in social inclusion and poverty reduction. However, it also points to the need to pay close attention to regional disparities, and social and economic impacts of transitions in all territories.

Cohesion Policy supports cities in their green, digital and just transitions, and cities are key allies to ensure these are successfully delivered. Many cities are engaging in ambitious actions to become climate neutral, to accelerate sustainable mobility, to support biodiversity in urban spaces, digitalisation and technology deployment, and more. Cohesion Policy has played a key role over the years in supporting public investment, contributing to strengthening the European growth model, spurring economic growth in line with key policy priorities from the twin transition, to innovation, business and skills, from childcare, education and health to protection from natural disasters. The support is available to cities of all sizes, territories and local communities, with investments targeted to the specific needs of urban and peri-urban areas, without forgetting crucial linkages with surrounding territories.

For these transitions to be successful, it remains important to involve the economic and social partners, civil society and citizens in the planning processes and implementation. Responses at local level, with a strong involvement of local actors, contribute to territorial and social cohesion and helps exploit wider regions’ untapped potential and increase the coherence and effectiveness of policies. Through our action and support, the Commission has put the emphasis on two factors that are essential for the sustainable and resilient development of cities in Europe. Firstly, it is important to follow the principle of multi-level governance and participation, working together with cities, the metropolitan areas, regions, member states and all stakeholders. Secondly, it is key to empower cities by investing in integrated sustainable urban development strategies.

The 9th Cohesion report also highlights the significance of skills, capacities and administrative resources to plan and implement these developments and ensure good governance. The European Urban Initiative invests in capacity building and is dedicated to urban stakeholders and policymakers. A mix of activities and tools, easy to apply for and fast to implement, are available for any interested EU city willing to develop its skills in the area of sustainable urban development, strategic planning, urban connectivity, urban-rural linkages and associated themes.

Calls are also made for more effective multi-level governance both at EU and national level, for the early involvement of local authorities in discussions on new legislation. Working together across different levels of governance is of key importance for bringing in positive change to the lives of people in European cities. To this end, the Urban Agenda for the EU, through which the European Commission collaborates with member states, cities, regions and other stakeholders, brings opportunities to support the mainstreaming of the urban dimension in various policy areas and processes. The Urban Agenda for the EU represents a common frame of action and instrument for this purpose, stimulating co-creation, and triggering consultation processes. It also seeks to activate multi-level governance cooperation on a number of issues such as greening cities, equality in cities, and urban food systems.

The continued support to the multi-level governance approach is critical to implement collectively the principles agreed in the New Leipzig Charter, which continue to echo current challenges and priorities for European cities, such as affordable and sustainable housing, ensuring the provision of local services and connectivity.

Finally, I would like to highlight the importance of cities in building a greener, just and more competitive Europe, and congratulate cities for their active engagement in this process. There are still challenges ahead and we should continue working together for a better European future.

The appointment of the new EU institutions, mainly the new European Commission, will be crucial to understand the way Europe will address key files in the years to come. Negotiations to define the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the future of the European Green Deal and the EU Cohesion Policy, or the way the EU will tackle migration, the digital transition, and the Russian war in Ukraine will shape without any reasonable doubt urban realities.

Climate action is by far the top priority for European Mayors. In recent years, European cities have shown a clear commitment to achieve climate neutrality. Mayors have led their communities, including citizens and businesses, to implement ambitious initiatives to reduce emissions, decarbonise buildings, improve the environment and promote the circular economy. They have combined efforts in key areas under municipal competences such as mobility, public space, and economic development to deliver tangible results aligning with European and global commitments. However, a hypothetical step back in the European Green Deal and EU climate regulations, as is proposed by several political forces across the continent, could undermine the efforts made so far.

The future of the Cohesion Policy and the reconfiguration of the recovery strategies will be central to the negotiations of the new MFF and another major concern for cities. As stated in the Urban Recovery Watch, a joint piece of research by CIDOB (Barcelona Centre for International Affairs) and Eurocities, the recovery process has led to a certain recentralisation of investments and reforms. As some experts are already arguing, this could consolidate a concerning trend that could undermine the capacity of local governments to take an active role in the definition of the investments behind the EU’s Structural Funds. Aligning EU financial instruments with the effective needs and interests of communities is key for mayors to address the challenges that cities are currently facing.

Indeed, the new budget, as well as the EU’s regulatory capacity, will be decisive for cities to address some of the main challenges and priorities highlighted by mayors in the Eurocities Pulse. Providing local responses to tackle housing, the digital transition, migration, or the urban-rural divide, to put some critical examples, requires an enabling regulatory framework that depends heavily on Brussels. Yet, if the recentralisation trends observed in the recovery years are confirmed, mainstreaming urban interests within the EU policy-making process will prove to be even more challenging than is the case today.

All this plays out against a background profoundly shaped by the Russian aggression in Ukraine and the growing commitment among EU members to reinforce their defence capacities through a joint EU action. This will certainly condition future policy and budgetary developments after the EU Parliament election and could undermine the partnership that the EU has been forging with cities over successive years to address common interests and priorities. Moreover, the current geopolitical tensions have gained centrality in urban concerns ¬– issues from inflation, to the energy crisis or the reception of refugees all have a relevant urban dimension. And the growing centrality of defence in the European mindset will contribute to the above-mentioned recentralisation patterns.

Setbacks in policy areas such as climate change, the temptation to recentralise powers and budgets, together with the new centrality that defence and security are gaining in the European context could put urban priorities at stake. The urban and cohesion agendas are losing weight in the European political debate and risk to be sent to the outskirts of the European project if certain political configurations are endorsed by European voters this June. The current scenario should mobilise mayors and the municipal movement, with an otherwise complex scenario on the horizon for cities. New alliances should be formed to preserve the ambition, commitment, and resolution showed by mayors to address urban priorities and the European project. Lessons learnt by cities in Europe that have already suffered backlashes in the past years might provide inspiration and a path to follow. That’s why understanding the views of the more than 90 mayors who responded to this year’s Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey should be top of the agenda for researchers and urban practitioners as they anticipate what is at stake for cities this year.