☀️ Summer School: Governance
As the days heat up and workloads cool down, make the most of the calmer months to dive into Eurocities organisation and project resources. All throughout July and August, we'll be sharing key tools, guides, and inspiring case studies across our nine thematic areas.
This week, we're sharing governance resources specifically tailored for cities.
#1 Report: How city administrations can boost their influence in EU affairs
This report, written by Eurocities and the Rise of the Sub research project of the Swiss National Science Foundation, explores how cities organise their engagement with the EU. The report provides city administrations with the insights and strategies you need to boost your influence in EU affairs.
It presents cities’ shared experiences of working on EU affairs, including their common challenges, governance structures and most effective methods of EU engagement.
Find it here → City administrations and EU affairs report
#2 EU Policy Agenda for Cities: What city leaders need from the EU
Written in response to the European Commission’s consultation on the first-ever EU Policy Agenda for Cities, this Eurocities policy statement outlines the shared position and recommendations of Eurocities and its network of over 200 member cities.
Published in May 2025, the policy statement calls for the new EU Policy Agenda to serve as a model for EU-local government partnerships, fostering long-term collaboration and providing cities with the resources and frameworks they need to effectively deliver on EU priorities.
Find the full policy statement here → Eurocities contribution to the call for evidence on a new policy agenda for cities
Or view a shorter summary → EU Policy agenda for cities: Enabling local action for European transformation
#3 How Europe's cities are driving democratic innovation
The Nets4Dem project is fostering networks of academics, practitioners and civil society to advance democratic innovation. Through its innovative Democracy Labs, led by Eurocities, the project gives city administrations the tools and ideas to tackle their democratic challenges, boost local participatory democracy and mainstream democratic practices across urban policymaking.
Two Democracy Labs have been held to date: on digital democracy in Barcelona, and on climate democracy in Grenoble.
Find out how your city can get involved → Learn more about the Nets4Dem Democracy Labs
#4 Report: Harnessing public innovation in cities
This report, written by LSE Cities in collaboration with Eurocities and Bloomberg Philanthropies, analyses the landscape of city government innovation across Europe, including what cities can learn from each other, and where they need more support.
The report reveals that city governments face barriers such as limited funding, rigid structures, and lack of political support. It calls for stronger leadership, better partnerships, and more EU investment to build lasting innovation capacity in city governments.
The report is based on a Eurocities Pulse Survey of 65 chief innovation officers in 27 European cities, providing unique insights into local government innovation across Europe.
Find it here → Public innovation: Building capacity in Europe’s city governments
#5 Toolkit: Sustainable rebuilding of Ukrainian cities
Eurocities’ two-year capacity-building programme for Ukrainian cities supported the creation of green and inclusive recovery strategies. Starting in 2023, 34 EU cities partnered with 10 Ukrainian cities to develop a reconstruction blueprint centred on climate neutrality and sustainable development.
In May 2024, the programme launched a bilingual toolkit (English and Ukrainian) showcasing practical examples from European cities. The toolkit is designed to help Ukrainian cities shape recovery strategies, access funding opportunities, and build stronger partnerships.
Read the toolkit in English → Sustainable rebuilding of Ukrainian cities: Good practices from cities across Europe (English)
Read the toolkit in Ukrainian → Sustainable rebuilding of Ukrainian cities: Good practices from cities across Europe (Ukrainian)
#6 Eurocities Monitor & Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey 2025
The third annual Eurocities Monitor aims to shape the debate on the situation and needs of European cities. It includes a collection of essays with insights into the challenges and solutions in European cities, showcasing the skills and diplomacy of their leaders.
A key element of the Eurocities Monitor 2025 is the Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey which is based on the answers of 86 mayors from 28 European countries. As the EU prepares it new policy agenda for cities, the Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey provides an analysis of the major trends, challenges and priorities that shape urban affairs in 2025.
Read the Eurocities Monitor 2025 and its collection of thematic essays.
View the Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey 2025 or download a PDF copy.
#7 Toolkits: Empowering citizen science for sustainable cities
The CitiObs project connects and supports Citizen Observatories that enable citizens to share data on issues like air quality, noise levels and biodiversity. This crowd-sourced information empowers communities and provides policymakers with valuable insights to inform decision-making.
This project, which includes Eurocities, has developed a series of toolkits for use by local governments, communities and residents including:
→ The Leave-No-One-Behind (LNOB) Toolkit
→ The Citizen Observatory Participation Dynamics Toolkit
→ The Citizen-Led Action Toolkit
→ The Environmental Monitoring Toolkit
Interested in what Eurocities can offer to your city? Learn more about membership here.