EU Urban Agenda

The Urban Agenda for the EU is a policy manifesto to promote better laws, easier access to finance and greater knowledge sharing on issues relevant to cities. It offers a new form of multi-level and multi-stakeholder cooperation with the aim of strengthening the urban dimension in EU policy, whereby it brings together the Commission, national ministries, city authorities and other stakeholders.

Several EU policies, proposals and initiatives promoting more attractive and competitive urban areas, healthier and more sustainable place to live in, while also tackling climate challenges, are in place:

the energy union strategy sets out the targets and actions to transform the European energy system into the most sustainable in the world
the Urban Agenda for the EU promotes better laws, easier access to funding and more knowledge sharing on issues relevant for cities, bringing together the Commission, national ministries, city governments and other stakeholders
the energy performance of buildings directive (EPBD) promotes smart technologies in buildings to increase their energy efficiency
the EU Covenant of mayors for climate & energy brings together thousands of local governments, voluntarily committed to implementing EU climate and energy objectives in cities
the strategic energy technology plane (SET Plan) promotes research and innovation efforts across Europe by supporting the most impactful technologies in the EU's transformation to a low-carbon energy system
the Smart cities information system (SCIS), which provides a lasting repository of information on smart city projects and serves as a knowledge platform to exchange data, experience and know-how

Smart Cities Marketplace

The major market-changing undertaking that aims to bring cities, industries, SMEs, investors, banks, researchers and many other smart city actors together. For the future of cities.

The Smart Cities Marketplace aims at delivering practical knowledge, capacity-building opportunities, access to finance, finding partners and more, to establish a European smart city market, as well as making European cities the most liveable places in the world. Thus, directly and very practically supporting the aims of the energy union and the Urban Agenda for the EU.

The Smart Cities Marketplace has many followers from all over Europe and beyond, many of which have signed up as a member.
Their common aims are to improve citizens’ quality of life, increase the competitiveness of European cities and industry as well as to reach European energy and climate targets.

The Marketplace's main areas of cross-cutting operation include:

sustainable urban mobility
sustainable districts and built environment
integrated infrastructures and processes in energy, information and communication technologies and transport
citizen focus
policy and regulation
integrated planning and management
knowledge sharing
baselines, performance indicators and metrics
open data governance
standards
business models, procurement and funding

The Smart Cities Marketplace’s operations are structured in three steps: Explore-Shape-Deal:

Explore – See and learn what’s next:
This phase enables access to the collected Smart Cities knowledge, including that of linked projects and initiatives. It is a continuous process that helps keeping the overview of which solutions and best practices have already been successfully implemented and creating ideas for own projects.
Shape – Shape project and action plans:
Once a vision for a project has been developed this phase helps to shape that idea into a solid bankable project, which is fit to attract public and private investors. This phase will also enable a structured dialogue between all key stakeholders involved.
Deal – Create relations and opportunities:
The third and last phase enables a one-to-one exchange between project promoters and members of the financing community to ultimately close deals and finance projects.

The Digital Platform

Join Smart Cities Marketplace Platform. In case you do not have an EU account, yet, you will need to create one. It is free of charge and gives access to many more EU websites and services.

Feel free to join any of the Action Clusters or Initiatives covering the areas above (and more) should you want to become involved in concrete actions. On the Smart Cities Marketplace website you can find a wealth of news, projects, insights, stories, guidance and more.

New EU call to become a Smart City model

The EU has launched a new call for tenders, open until 31 January 2022.
Cities that wish can apply to become "smart cities", that is, cities that aim to be climate neutral and intelligent.

Then the EU will choose the best 100 from among these that will be helped, supported and funded. Any city can join and be selected, to qualify as centers of experimentation and innovation to then allow all European cities to follow suit by 2050.