Stepping into this role during a period of significant global instability, the Danish Presidency inherits a European landscape marked by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, climate urgency, and increasing social challenges.
Under the motto “A strong Europe in a changing world”, Denmark’s six-month mandate is guided by two core priorities: ensuring a secure Europe and enhancing competitiveness through a green and just transition. As climate change remains the defining challenge of our time, the Danish Presidency advocates maintaining ambitious targets to advance the green transition and reinforce European clean energy production.
The programme’s emphasis on long-term competitiveness, social cohesion, and climate resilience will require strong coordination between EU institutions, Member States, and local authorities. In this context, cities and municipalities emerge as essential partners in translating European ambitions into real impact for citizens across Europe.
Affordable housing on the EU radar
One of the key priorities highlighted in the Danish Presidency programme is affordable housing, a growing concern in many European cities of all sizes, such as Amsterdam (NL), Barcelona (ES), Brussels (BE), Majorca (ES), Bolzano (IT), Coimbra (PT), between others.
Across the EU, an increasing number of people are struggling to access affordable, adequate homes, with vulnerable groups particularly affected. Housing shortages and rising costs also pose barriers to labour mobility and social inclusion, while the urgent need to improve buildings in Europe to make them more environmentally friendly adds another layer of complexity to the challenge.
Cities across Europe are developing inclusive, community-based housing solutions to tackle issues like affordability, sustainability, and social cohesion. The URBACT Network Cities4Co-Housing has already showcased how municipal actors throughout Europe are testing innovative models that respond to these needs. We invite you to visit also the URBACT Knowledge Hub on affordable housing to learn more about this topic.
The Danish Presidency’s decision to elevate this matter sends a strong political signal on how housing is not just a local or national issue, but a strategic European concern that requires coordinated action across all levels of governance, including cities. It also aligns closely with calls from cities to be recognised as key partners in shaping housing policy, not just implementers of national strategies.
The Presidency will focus on delivering sustainable and affordable housing for citizens, considering the roles and tools available to the EU, Member States, and cities. In response to these housing challenges, the Presidency will propose Council conclusions addressing the Commission’s Affordable Housing Initiative, exploring how different levels of governance - including cities - can contribute to delivering decent housing for all. This opens up meaningful opportunities for EU-wide collaboration and policy innovation.
“We already have initiatives that work; Housing First is a great success in many countries, including Denmark. But we need to discuss how we ensure access and availability of the necessary housing options to make it a success.” The Danish Minister of Social Affairs and Housing, Sophie Hæstorp Andersen.
 | «We already have initiatives that work; Housing First is a great success in many countries, including Denmark. But we need to discuss how we ensure access and availability of the necessary housing options to make it a success.» The Danish Minister of Social Affairs and Housing, Sophie Hæstorp Andersen. |
Passing the baton: from Poland to Denmark
Denmark’s Presidency picks up where Poland’s left off. During the first half of 2025, the Polish Presidency brought increased attention to the urban dimension in discussions on the future of EU cohesion policy, particularly in the context of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which will take effect after 2027. Through dialogue with Member States and urban stakeholders, Poland promoted a territorial approach that considers the interconnected realities of urban, peri-urban, and rural areas.
As highlighted in URBACT’s article, “Polish EU Presidency: The Urban Dimension of European Cohesion”, these early reflections laid a foundation for keeping cities involved in shaping the next generation of cohesion policy.
At the URBACT City Festival 2025 in Wrocław, Konrad Płocharski, Undersecretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy, underlined the shared priorities between URBACT and the Polish Presidency, particularly around environmental protection and the role of both small and large cities in addressing key challenges such as competitiveness, resilience, climate, and defence.
Denmark is now tasked with sustaining the momentum, consolidating urban priorities, and steering key discussions on the shape of the next generation of EU cohesion policy. With cities playing a central role in delivering green, digital, and inclusive transitions, the Danish Presidency represents a timely opportunity to reinforce the place of urban realities within broader European policy frameworks.
What’s on Denmark’s Urban Agenda?
The Danish Presidency of the EU council places strong emphasis on addressing key urban challenges and promoting sustainable, inclusive development across Europe’s cities. Its agenda revolves around several interconnected priorities:
Cohesion and regional policy: Denmark is prepared to launch negotiations on the European Commission’s post-2027 cohesion policy proposal. The Presidency aims to ensure the policy remains an effective and results-oriented tool to support shared European priorities. It seeks stronger alignment with the European Semester and full respect for the rule of law. These activities could promote balanced territorial development and stronger cooperation between regions and urban areas.
Sustainable and affordable housing: Housing is high on the urban agenda, with a focus on providing sustainable and affordable solutions for citizens. The Presidency will explore how EU-level action, in cooperation with Member States and local authorities, can help address the growing housing crisis, especially in urban areas where demand and inequality are rising.
Social cohesion and inclusion: The Danish Presidency aims to ensure real inclusion for all citizens, regardless of background. This includes strengthening rights, equality, and opportunities, while encouraging knowledge-sharing among Member States to scale up successful social inclusion initiatives, many of which are rooted in urban communities.
Climate and green transition: With climate change as the defining challenge of our time, the Danish Presidency will continue to push for ambitious EU climate targets. It supports the development of a European strategy on water resilience and advocates for a cost-effective climate and energy framework. These efforts are directly relevant to cities, which must invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable water management, and clean energy systems to meet both environmental and social needs.
Sustainable urban mobility: The Presidency aims to finalise negotiations on EU regulations to reduce transport emissions and promote the shift toward greener modes of transport. These efforts will have a direct impact on urban mobility, encouraging low-emission transport systems, better public transport and cleaner infrastructure in cities — key topics also explored in the URBACT Mobility Knowledge Hub.
Innovation and digitalisation: Denmark will work to support green tech and biotech innovation while reducing regulatory burdens for European businesses. For cities, this translates into opportunities to develop smart solutions for sustainable growth—ranging from energy efficiency to digital public services and smarter urban planning.
Economic and public health resilience: Strengthening Europe's economic competitiveness and public health systems is another priority. For urban areas, this includes adapting local economies to ongoing transitions, fostering inclusive labour markets, and investing in public health infrastructure that can respond to new social and environmental challenges.
Events highlighting the urban agenda:
Throughout its mandate, Denmark will host several urban-related events, providing opportunities for cities and urban networks to engage with the Presidency’s priorities:
EU Conference: Men, Boys, and Gender Equality, 9 September 2025.
- High-level conference on affordable and sustainable housing, 29-30 September 2025.
- Thematic Seminar on Homelessness, 17-18 November 2025.
You can find all the events here.
Looking ahead: cities as pillars of a resilient Europe
As the EU moves toward its next long-term budget and policy cycle, cities are not just implementers, they are innovators, connectors, and engines of transformation. From climate action to housing affordability, urban areas are at the frontline of the most urgent challenges facing Europe today.
The Danish Presidency offers a timely political opportunity to anchor urban needs more firmly within EU policy debates, particularly as momentum grows around the future of cohesion policy. By working hand-in-hand with local actors, the Presidency can help ensure that European priorities translate into meaningful change on the ground.
The months ahead will be crucial in shaping how Europe delivers a just, green, and inclusive transition. Placing cities at the heart of this transition isn’t just smart policy, it’s essential to building a more resilient, democratic, and future-ready Europe.
Want to know more?
Visit the URBACT Knowledge Hub to discover thematic articles, city case studies, and event highlights that bring urban innovation and collaboration to life across Europe.
Discover 116 URBACT Good Practices tackling urban challenges, from climate to social inclusion, and how they could help implement the Danish Presidency's agenda.
