URBAN ECHO

Start of the network journey- November 2025

After we (city of Ghent as lead together with the other partners) made the application in June 2025 - we received the message that our Transfer network 'Urban Echo' was approved bij URBACT. An URBACT network brings together EU cities willing to exchange ideas and produce integrated local policies with the help of their peers, local stakeholders and URBACT experts. 
Together with Las Gabias, Cluj-Napoca, Perugia, Düsseldorf and Pezinok we start a journey of 2,5 years of sharing knowledge about "the Ghent way of city renewal." 

Kick-off in Ghent

All the partners meet for the first time in Ghent for a real deep dive into the city of Ghent and the good practice on Urban Renewal.

Transnational meeting in Pezinok

What happens when cities across Europe come together to rethink urban renewal — each from a completely different reality?
From 10–12 June, URBAN ECHO partners met in Pezinok (SK) to exchange, reflect, and explore how one good practice can take shape in many local contexts.

One idea really stuck: “an echo is not a copy.” There is no one-size-fits-all. Each city brings its own challenges — from participation and climate ambitions to collaboration and neighbourhood action — but also its own strengths.

✨ Urban renewal starts with people

 ✨ Collaboration is key, even if not always easy

 ✨ Learning, monitoring and communicating matter just as much as doing

A big thank you to the Pezinok team for the warm welcome and showing us the Cajla-Pezinok Sever neighbourhood. 

Now, we move forward: testing ideas locally and preparing for the next stop in Cluj-Napoca in October 2026.
 

Group photo at Central Pezinok.

URBACT University 25-27 August 2026 in Cork, Ireland

From neighbourhood presence to meaningful participation: Ghent shares its approach at URBACT University
 

Group of URBAN ECHO @Cork

URBAN ECHO in Cluj-Napoca: European cooperation for the future of Iris 

On 13–14 October 2026, Cluj-Napoca hosted the third URBAN ECHO transnational meeting, bringing together six European cities: Cluj-Napoca, Ghent, Düsseldorf, Las Gabias, Perugia and Pezinok.

A European model adapted to Iris
Our starting point is the good practice of the City of Ghent, which has spent over 20 years delivering neighbourhood regeneration based on cooperation between authorities and communities, long-term planning and solutions tailored to each neighbourhood.

Through URBAN ECHO, Cluj-Napoca is adapting this approach to Iris, bringing existing initiatives and future interventions together in a shared vision for the neighbourhood’s development.

What are our goals for Iris?
We will strengthen cooperation between City Hall departments, experts and residents to identify and test solutions that address the neighbourhood’s real challenges. Key priorities include improving the accessibility and connectivity of public spaces, and strengthening social cohesion.

The URBACT Local Group (ULG) will play an essential role, enabling the local community to actively shape and develop these initiatives.

Our objective: to move from individual interventions towards an integrated approach to neighbourhood development, built together with the community and designed for the long term.

Group photo at Youth Pavillion, neighbourhood of Iris in Cluj-Napoca