In March of 2019 the partnership had arrived at its final stage and was looking for ways to carry on its legacy. The partnership had studied numerous examples and good practices of urban resource centers across Europe, identifying barriers and the potential for replication and transfer to other cities in Europe. An URBACT action planning network seemed to be a logical next step to promote urban resource centers as connection points for citizens, new businesses, researchers, and the public sector to co-create new ways to close local resource loops, while promoting waste prevention, re-use, repair, and recycling.
Long story short: what followed were almost 2.5 years of action planning in times of pandemic. A very intense period during which our personal and professional lives were turned upside down and online working became the new normal. But it was also a very rewarding period. Despite all the hiccups and barriers, our nine partners cities proved worthy of their self-acclaimed status of Resourceful Cities. They have all been able to deliver a high-quality Integrated Action Plan together with their local stakeholders. Every one of those action plans is not only an expression of their resilience in times of crisis. It is also a manifestation of their individual response to their local context and needs.
One of the criteria for an URBACT network is a balance between partners form so-called less advanced and more advanced parts of Europe. If there is one lesson I have learned from our journey together, it is that these differences disappear in the process of exchange and learning. There is no good, better or best. There is diversity, creativity, there are open minds. These are the drivers for cooperation and success.
This publication not only summarises our collective journey as a network, it also tells the story of each of the nine partner cities from their own perspective. Our journey shows that cities are big enough to make a difference and small enough to make it happen. I’m proud and grateful to have been a part of that.
