The role and position of URBACT in EU urban policy Fiona Wieland European Commission DG REGIO Urban and Territorial Development Kick off meeting Action Networks URBACT Paris, 30 Sept, 2015

Elements of an EU Urban Policy Primarily intergovernmental framework Work on the EU Urban Agenda Urban dimension of Cohesion Policy  Article 7 ERDF on sustainable urban development Strategic orientation, earmarked funding, delegation of responsibilities  Article 8 ERDF Urban innovative actions promoting innovative solutions to urban challenges Urban Development Network share knowledge and experience to facilitate the implementation of Article 7 and 8 ERDF URBACT III programme capacity building and networking on specific themes connected to SUD

EU Urban Agenda and URBACT *Involve and Mobilise cities *Multi level governance *Better regulation *Urban Data & Knowledge *Priority themes URBACT Action networks *Partnerships on themes URBACT Action networks

Urban dimension of Cohesion Policy Sustainable urban development (Article 7 ERDF ) Earmarked funding (at least 5% of national ERDF envelope) Funding based on improve implementation of integrated plans for sustainable cities Empowered cities (delegated MA functions, at least project selection) 3 options in programming (specific OP, specific PA, ITI) URBACT: Implementation networks: improve implementation of integrated plans for sustainable cities

Share of ERDF allocated for Article 7

Urban Innovative Actions (Art. 8 ERDF) Objective: to identify and test innovative solutions to key urban challenges Calls for proposals planned end 2015 Budget: EUR 370 million ( ) Topics linked to Urban Agenda Projects max. 3 years Grants max. EUR 5 million Co-financing max 80% Proposals to be assessed based on: Innovative nature of idea, Scope of partnership, Measurability of results, Transferability of the solution, Quality of the proposal URBACT: Transfer networks

Objectives: Capacity-building, networking and Exchange of experience at EU level Support cities in the implementation of Article 7 and 8 Develop and promote an integrated approach to urban development Create a platform of two-way knowledge exchange between cities, MA-MS and Commission Use and share knowledge generated in URBACT networks (two ways) Tools: Workshops, Specific working groups, site visits, etc Upcoming events (in Brussels): Urban OPEN Day (14 Oct 2015), UDN Seminar (24 Nov 2015) Article 7 and 8

UDN and URBACT We work together to support cities implementing integrated approach to sustainable urban development. UDN complements the work undertaken by URBACT The experience and expertise gained through URBACT will be fed into UDN.

Thank you! ec.europa.eu/inforegio