European Commission presents new EU Agenda for Cities to strengthen urban development
development
The European Commission has presented a series of measures aimed at helping cities improve quality of life, public services and environmental conditions. The new Agenda responds to the growing pressures faced by urban areas, including climate change, pollution, housing shortages and social inequalities.
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The new EU Agenda for Cities – presented on 3 December 2025 – intends to reinforce urban development and the role of cities in Europe's future growth and development. It offers a strategic vision to empower cities in tackling local challenges contributing to meeting broader EU goals, and emphasises the need for fostering complementary interactions between cities and urban areas in the EU with their nearby rural areas, creating a balanced relationship between urban and rural spaces.
The Agenda provides a unified framework to strengthen the territorial and urban dimensions of EU policies and streamline existing support for urban areas. It outlines actions to support cities in areas such as sustainable mobility, energy efficiency of buildings, circular economy solutions, nature-based approaches, food security and food supply, and climate resilience. It further highlights the need to strengthen social inclusion, affordable housing, access to essential services and opportunities for young people.
The initiative builds on existing EU programmes and funding tools, such as cohesion policy, the New European Bauhaus, and the EU Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities . It also encourages better coordination between local, regional, national and EU levels to ensure that cities can effectively use available support.
The Commission states that the proposed actions will help cities address long-term challenges while improving everyday living conditions. Member States and the European Parliament are invited to discuss the Communication as part of ongoing work to refine EU support for urban development.