Networks and cities' news

EcoCore: Nine Small Cities, One Shared Journey — How a Network Became a Community

When the EcoCore partners first gathered at the Malmö Arena in autumn 2023 for the URBACT University, they came as nine distinct cities, each facing its own challenges, hopes, and quiet uncertainties: 

Could a small city truly lead the green transition? 

The early conversations in the room were tentative but familiar. Issues included crowded roads, old industrial areas, limited space for growth, skill shortages, brownfields needing new purposes, and citizens unsure about change. Politics struggled between old habits and new ambitions. 

However, even on that first day, something subtle began to shift. People leaned in. Ideas circulated across tables. Smiles turned into laughter, and strangers formed teams. 

Weeks later, the cities met in Balbriggan, Ireland. They encountered sideways rain, Atlantic winds, and the first real challenge of starting their journey together. In a room filled with large maps, markers, sticky notes, and wet coats drying by radiators, each city created its first City Canvas - a rough sketch of what they aimed to achieve. 

Looking back now, those canvases feel like early drafts of stories yet to be written. What no one realized then was how deeply those stories would be shaped—not just by local plans but by what the partners would observe in each other’s cities. 

Over the next two and a half years, something remarkable unfolded. A network transformed into a partnership. That partnership evolved into a community. Nine small cities found that the green transition advances more swiftly when nurtured in shared soil. 

Bridging Past and Future: EcoCore’s Final Meeting in Dubrovnik

After a morning of heavy rain, the clouds lifted to reveal a spectacular rainbow arcing across the Adriatic, perfectly framing Dubrovnik’s rugged peninsula. It  was a breathtaking sight and a fitting metaphor for the EcoCore journey.

Over the past two and a half years, partners had weathered their own storms -  learning, co-creating, and challenging themselves and each other to think differently. Now, standing together beneath that rainbow, they could finally see the result: robust Integrated Action Plans, ready to launch across their cities.

Exploring Smart Futures in Alba Iulia: EcoCore Core Network Meeting Energises Green Transition Momentum

From May 19–22, the historic city of Alba Iulia, Romania, hosted the latest EcoCore Core Network Meeting, gathering municipal leaders, sustainability experts, and URBACT partners to exchange ideas and accelerate the green transition in small cities. From the moment partners arrived, Alba Iulia’s trademark warmth and hospitality wrapped everyone in a sense of belonging. 
 

The event spotlighted Alba Iulia’s impressive journey as one of Romania’s most ambitious urban innovators - a city that has reinvented itself through vision, EU funding, and smart partnerships.
 

Planning Industrial Corridors with a User-Centered Approach

When designing new developments, it’s essential to consider the diverse needs of different user groups. In the URBACT EcoCore Action Planning Network, this means creating green industrial corridors that are welcoming, safe, and sustainable—encouraging low-carbon transport options while ensuring accessibility for all.

A user-centered approach that prioritizes inclusion and diversity doesn’t just improve functionality—it drives innovation and sustainability. So, how can we design industrial spaces that close skills gaps, foster collaboration, and attract a diverse workforce?

Beyond car dependency & brain drain: How Ormož is striving for a more sustainable future

From February 3rd to 6th, 2025, urban practitioners and stakeholders from the URBACT EcoCore network gathered in Ormož, Slovenia for a transnational partner visit. The meeting provided an opportunity to explore innovative solutions in investment attraction, sustainable mobility, business zone development and industrial transformation. These topics resonate with cities across Europe facing economic transitions, talent retention challenges, and sustainability goals. In this article we share some of the key takeaways on these topics from our meeting in Ormoz. 

Midpoint Milestones for the URBACT EcoCore Network: A Review of Test Actions Across Partner Cities

As the EcoCore network reaches its halfway point, the nine partner cities across Europe have made significant strides in their shared mission to proactively work with stakeholders to put in place the conditions required to capitalise on the opportunities of the green transition.

To date, the network has travelled to six of the nine partner cities to participate in core network meetings, see good practices firsthand, and exchange on challenges and opportunities related to the green transition. Cities visited so far include Balbriggan, Santo Tirso, Parnu, Tuusula, Kekava, and Villena. In 2025, partners will visit Ormoz, Alba Iulia, and Dubrovnik.