Networks and cities' news

A Summer On The Go: S.M.ALL and its Third Quarterly Report

The third Quarterly Report of the APN S.M.ALL journey, by its Lead Expert Pietro Elisei, showcases significant strides in fostering sustainable mobility and inclusivity across Europe.

Protecting Human Rights in a difficult political climate … 18 Months into the WELDI Network

The URBACT network, WELDI, brings together ten cities committed to using human rights as a benchmark for their migrant reception policies. At the core of our approach is the  idea that human rights are not only legally binding but also crucial for improving cities and their quality of life for everyone.

Regrettably the current political climate presents challenges to these ambitions. The EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum prioritizes migration management over human rights, lowering procedural standards and shifting refugee protection to countries with well-documented human rights abuses. Meanwhile, national governments in the Netherlands, Sweden, and France have curtailed migrant rights, and across the EU, political forces actively spread anti-migrant prejudice, undermining social cohesion.

In this hostile environment, WELDI cities offer a beacon of hope. Leveraging their local autonomy and harnessing the power of local networks, they foster inclusive communities, where migrants and long-term residents thrive together. This article outlines the progress of our work so far.

Ana and her way to school

This is a story about Ana. I met her, when I was paying a visit to one of the SCHOOLHOODs cities. Ana told me what she likes about school and what she does not like. To my surprise, she likes her way to school the least about going to school. Talking with her I found that on her way to school she lacks fun, other children and doing the trip at her pace, ‘her way’, as she names it. Ana told me as well that she can’t wait to get to school after the summer break though. She said “I DID not like how I go to school. In the past.” Since now, Ana and her parents joined a work group that is making the well-being of children their top priority. Starting with how children go to school. Ana was enthusiastic to tell me about how they will change the way pupils come to school. “No more car trips”, she smiled, “Okay, maybe some,” she admitted, “But we will walk, scoot, cycle to school. And meet in front of the entrance to play before the school bell calls us in.”

But let’s start this story at its beginning. When Ana told me that it is her way to school that she likes least of all about school…

Recap of the 8th Transnational Meeting in Bijelo Polje: One Step Further in the Fight Against Social Isolation 

From March 3 to 5, 2025, the city of Bijelo Polje, Montenegro, hosted the 8th Transnational Meeting (TNM) of the Breaking Isolation network. This key event of the URBACT IV program brought together 8 partner cities in person and 2 more online, reaffirming the collective commitment of European actors in the fight against social isolation. 

DARING CITIES NETWORK MET IN KRAGUJEVAC

The 18th and the 19th of February 2025 our teams gathered in one of the DARING cities of this ITN network: Kragujevac!

Sant Boi de Llobregat (ES), 13 february 2025 - 2nite Bilateral Visit

2Nite project serves as a learning opportunity to incorporate European practices into the policies of Sant Boi.