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Cities 4 Co-housing: Solutions for Affordable and Inclusive Urban Living

Access to decent, affordable housing is one of the most pressing challenges in Europe today. The URBACT Innovative Transfer Network Cities4Co-housing was launched in 2024—the year housing was, for the first time, placed firmly at the heart of the European political agenda.

Introduction of a new digital system (ASP) in Újbuda

The introduction of the ASP (Application Service Provider) system, which will bring significant changes to the way local administrations operate, aims to support the digital transformation of local authorities and strengthen central IT support. The development, previously part of an EU project, will focus on improving efficiency and transparency, while preserving fiscal stability. The system will be provided to local governments by the Hungarian State Treasury. The Municipality of Újbuda will implement the service from 1 January 2026. 

The ASP system provided to municipalities is a comprehensive IT service that provides a single platform for the most important municipal tasks. This includes integrated systems for taxation, management, document management, property registration, industrial and commercial administration, and electronic customer portals. 

One of the biggest benefits of the system is that it provides free access for local authorities, so they can switch to digital without major investment. Through central training programmes to support the roll-out, municipal staff receive detailed, professional support to ensure a smooth transition.

Neun inspirierende URBACT-Good-Practices zur Wiederbelebung von Städten

Entdecken Sie inspirierende Strategien zur Förderung von regenerativen Städten, aus neun mit dem URBACT-Good-Practice-Label ausgezeichneten Städten

Concurso para Redes de Transferência URBACT: saiba o que aconteceu na Sessão Informativa na AML

O Ponto URBACT Nacional apresentou o novo Concurso para Redes de Transferência do Programa URBACT IV no evento EUI & URBACT Infosessions, organizado pela Direção-Geral do Território (DGT) em colaboração com a Área Metropolitana de Lisboa, que decorreu em Lisboa no dia 6 de maio. O período de candidaturas ao concurso URBACT decorre até ao dia 30 de junho.

Feeling seen: gender-inclusive mobility solutions for cities

Have you ever taken the longer route home because the shortcut feels unsafe after dark? 

Beyond tree plantations: Celebrate mature trees that provide great benefits for cities and citizens!

Spring is here, and until June 2025, BiodiverCity partner cities are loud with BiodiverCity Festivals celebrating urban biodiversity. Our ad-hoc expert, Rita Szerencsés, facilitated partner cities in the last months to activate residents along those festivals and raise awareness towards the magnificent ecosystem services trees provide for us.

Tree plantations, guided tours, promotion of monumental trees, forest bathing, craft workshops, art exhibitions, cultural programmes and interactive activities promoting biodiversity are organised for all generations in these weeks in 10 corners of Europe. Urban green areas are indeed great assets to engage residents and explain the benefits of nature (the so-called ecosystem services). But while thousands of residents actively participate in tree plantations, which is great, of course, fewer people know that most of these ecosystem services are provided by mature trees. And in many parts of Europe, they face serious challenges: never seen drought, increased pollution (traffic, dogs, humans) and neglect by public utility companies when earthworks are needed.

So, how to raise awareness towards these essential issues? Our ad-hoc expert, Rita Szerencsés, summed up what is going on during the BiodiverCity Festivals and what challenges partner cities faced while organising the festivals.