Networks and cities' news

RE:START partners strengthen cooperation and shared learning at URBACT University 2026

Partners from the RE Transfer Network took part in URBACT University 2026, held from 25 to 27 August in Cork, Ireland. The event brought together 292 participants from 156 cities across 28 countries, representing the 25 URBACT Transfer Networks.

2nd Transnational Meeting held in Nyborg, Denmark, dedicated to Place Branding

On 17 and 18 June 2026, partners from the URBACT RE:START Transfer Network gathered in Nyborg, Denmark, for the network’s second Transnational Meeting, dedicated to Place Branding and territorial attractiveness.

When experts work together, can cities achieve more?

Beyond the Urban reunites in Nicosia at the URBACT City Festival

Representatives from partner cities and fuctional areas of the European network attended the festival to share experiences, discover initiatives from other cities and further strengthen the collaborative ties established during the project.

From planning to action: Beyond the Urban partners publish their Integrated Action Plans for sustainable urban–rural mobility

Beyond the Urban is an URBACT network of ten territories across Europe. Cities, regions and rural areas work together to rethink how people move —between villages and cities, to work, to school, to services— with sustainability, inclusion and digital tools at the core. Led by Osona, Beyond the Urban has been a shared journey of learning, testing and planning a new kind of urban–rural mobility.

Planting a network: PARKS takes root across Europe

Take a look outside your window. What do you see – the urban landscape, a green space with people chatting on a bench? How about the street – a dull asphalt desert or one shaded by lush plane trees? What’s your favourite park nearby – the green square around the corner or the park down by the river?

A model for the quality of urban green is the 3+30+300 principle. It is used to measure visual access to greenery (3 mature trees from every home, school or workplace), the availability of urban trees (30 % tree cover in the neighbourhood) and physical access to green space (within 300 m). Are you lucky to live in such an environment? 

Cities around Europe struggle to come close to these numbers and to counter the adverse effects of a heating climate and extreme weather events. Urban trees, parks and other green infrastructure can help to mitigate the heat waves like the ones under which Europe ached in summer 2026, and they also bring ecological, social and aesthetic value to cities.