Networks and cities' news

2nd Core Network Meeting, Mancomunidad de l’Horta Nord, 14-15 May 2025

The Partnership had its 2nd Core Network Meeting in Mancomunidad de l’Horta Nord. Read about their activities and experiences during the 2-day meeting! 

Organising a TNM? Here are the basics (by Jana Svobodová)

Organising a transnational meeting within the URBACT network is always a big challenge for a city. Usually the city wants to showcase local achievements to show off, but at the same time it wants to give the partners an idea of the challenges being addressed. Hradec Králové is always happy to accept such a challenge with openness, careful planning and the desire to share both our experience and our learning process.

A well-rounded approach: highlights from the Fourth Quarterly Network Report

After more than one year of network activity, through meetings and dedicated workshops, the Network has explored all topics included in the Cities@Heart methodology. This quarter, we have developed topics 6 and 7, focusing on Public Space and Managing Mixed Uses. Governance, integration, decision-making tools, sustainability, and inclusion have been transversal drivers of our learning pathway.

BiodiverCity Steps Forward: local action and peer learning take centre stage

Between January and March 2025, the BiodiverCity network may have appeared quiet on the transnational front, but beneath the surface, partner cities were buzzing with activity. Following the inspiring Mid Term Review in Guimarães (later crowned European Green Capital 2026) the network shifted its focus to local implementation and refinement of strategies for biodiversity-friendly urban development.

Walking a fine line: how civil servants can work with sustainable development amidst political polarisation

What’s the issue? 

When asked what sustainable development means to them, the participants of the Agents of Co-existence fifth online academy had lots of ideas: from “working together” and “co-creating a better world” to focusing on “balance between social, economic environmental dimensions” and “ensuring that there is enough for everyone, everywhere and always”, as well as “finishing projects” and “ensuring long-term funding”.

Five Reasons Why Cities Should Consider the Night When Planning Urban Mobility

Waiting for hours at a bus stop after a night out with friends is one of the most vivid memories of my youth. Night buses aren’t just for those who don’t have a car, but they are vital for a wide range of people who rely on public transport to get to or from the work, or who simply feel safer than walking alone at night. 

Urban mobility systems are typically designed for being fully operational at daytime, but once night falls, cities of all sizes face a series of challenges. Cities and metropolitan areas are perfect testing grounds for testing innovative solutions that can enhance the quality of the mobility during night-time hours. 

The URBACT Action Planning Networks Cities After Dark and PUMA sparked the conversation among partners cities on the importance of 24-hour mobility systems, drawing on some of the most interesting models carried out by cities across Europe and globally. Here are five key reasons why cities should integrate night-time dimension into their urban mobility plans, to become more vibrant, inclusive and attractive for all.