Networks and cities' news

The plans that speak: What cities can learn from the URBACT IAP review - PART ONE

At the last international Residents of the Future meeting in Iisalmi (Finland), project coordinator Nikolina Gracin shared many "green dots" and check marks, confirming the project is on track. As we enter the final phase, it’s time to present your IAPs.

So, you’ve spent last two years gathering voices, testing new ideas, revisiting old truths, and dreaming about what your city could become. You’ve sat in rooms, real and virtual, with neighbours, officials, partners, and skeptics. You’ve zoomed in on population loss, zoomed out on wider trends, and tried to hold it all in one coherent picture. Your Integrated Action Plan is more than a document — it’s the voice of your city’s future. It’s the result of months, even years, of listening, learning, testing, failing, and trying again. It carries the vision of your residents, the priorities you’ve fought to define, and the first real steps toward reversing decline and building belonging.

Quality of Life in shrinking cities, part two - Measuring and Monitoring

This article is based on the workshop “Quality of Life: what is it and how to promote and measure it” delivered by URBACT Expert José Costero for the URBACT network Residents of the Future in Alba Iulia (Romania) on 25 March 2025. The session gathered about 25 participants from the nine cities involved in the network, fostering discussions on how to integrate quality of life principles into urban planning and policymaking.

Quality of Life in Shrinking Cities. Part one - Challenges.

Quality of life is a broad concept that encompasses various dimensions influencing people's well-being in a given place. It goes beyond economic prosperity, including access to public services, environmental quality, cultural life, safety, and social cohesion. However, the meaning of quality of life varies depending on individual preferences, cultural background, and socio-economic context. What may be essential for one person, such as a vibrant nightlife, might not be as relevant to someone else, who might prioritise affordable housing and green spaces. 

Friends Reunited: Residents of the Future @ URBACT City Festival in Wrocław

With over 600 participants from all over Europe, including mayors, city officers, EU policymakers, urban planners, and changemakers, the festival was a three-day celebration of ideas, good practices, and the future of European cities. Organised under the high patronage of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, the festival offered talks, workshops, exhibitions, and the grand unveiling of the URBACT-labelled Good Practices 2024–2027.

Day Two of the URBACT Transnational Meeting in Alba Iulia: Showcasing Good City Practices

The second day of the URBACT Transnational Meeting in Alba Iulia was dedicated to exploring Good City Practices, with a strong focus on the Alba Iuila city's ongoing and innovative projects.

Alba Iulia welcomes Residents of the Future - 4th Transnational network meeting, day one.

March 24-26 2025, Alba Iulia is hosting the Residents of the Future APN transnational meeting. The project is in full swings and there are a lots of things we need to discuss, share and improve. So, let's get to work and make some real impact.