Networks and cities' news

Residents of the Future: Cities Enter the Final Stage of a Shared European Journey

Summary of the 7th Quarterly Report (July–September 2025)

By Tiago Ferreira

The seventh Quarterly Report of the Residents of the Future URBACT network marks a decisive turning point: after two years of experimentation, analysis and peer learning, all nine partner cities have now finalised their Integrated Action Plans (IAPs)—comprehensive roadmaps designed to help small and medium-sized European cities address population decline, strengthen local attractiveness, and build resilient futures.

When small cities shine: the attractive power of the night-time economy

By Simone d'Antonio
Ad-Hoc Expert Residents of the Future

Across Europe, the conversation around the night-time economy has traditionally focused on major cities and metropolitan areas, which have recognized the value of night-time activities for sustainable urban growth. Economic and cultural vibrancy, extended services (such as public transport, libraries and even nurseries), contrast to noise pollution, safety and use of public spaces in nocturnal hours are some of the main themes targeted by night policies designed to support urban life after dark. 

Residents of the Future PODCAST - Welcome to Saint-Quentin

In the latest episode of the Residence of the Future podcast, Saint-Quentin in northern France emerges as a clear example of how a medium-sized industrial city can respond to long-term depopulation while maintaining – and even improving – quality of life. Through the voices of Barbara Domont, member of the URBACT Local Group, and Nicolas Gibbe from the city administration, the episode traces a trajectory from industrial decline to cautious but concrete renewal.

Residents of the Future Podcast - Welcome to Mangualde

In this week’s episode of Residents of the Future, we’re heading to Mangualde — a vibrant small city in Portugal that’s proving how community strength and smart newcomer-integration policies can shape a sustainable future.

Are we ready to welcome the residents of the future?

By Tiago Ferreira

How can smaller cities compete in an era of global people’s mobility? What makes a place not only livable but appealing enough for someone to choose it again, or for the first time as home?

These are the kinds of questions that Residents of the Future set out to explore. Now, passing midway through our journey, we find ourselves surrounded not by answers, but by possibilities, each one shaped by the local character and aspirations of the nine cities that form this network.

From paper to people: How your IAP can inspire the citizens it’s made for

What Cities Can Learn from the URBACT IAP Review – Part Two

In Part One, we reflected on how URBACT Integrated Action Plans (IAPs) are not just a bureaucratic deliverable, but a reflection of each city's capacity to think, collaborate, and act strategically. In Part Two, we focus on a crucial question: Can these plans truly inspire people?
Can they move beyond PDF files and meeting rooms to become living visions that resonate with communities, guide decisions, and actually lead to change?

According to José Costero, the Ad Hoc Expert who reviewed all nine plans within the Residents of the Future network:

“The real challenge now is to ensure that each plan becomes more than a static product—it must be a shared narrative people recognise and believe in.”