Across Europe, cities are taking bold action to combat poverty, tackle inequality, invest in affordable housing, and build inclusive, resilient communities. As the level of government closest to their residents, they are committed to ensuring no one is left behind.
In just six years, European cities have invested more than €15 billion to strengthen social rights, improving access to childcare, housing, healthcare, education and employment. These efforts have directly improved the lives of over 100 million people.
However, with rising living costs, deepening housing and labour market challenges, and growing pressure on local budgets, city leaders are sounding the alarm. Without stronger, more direct EU support, their ability to deliver services for their residents, especially those who are vulnerable, is at risk.
That was the clear message delivered by Europe’s mayors at the third Eurocities Cities’ Social Summit, hosted by Italian MEP Benedetta Scuderi at the European Parliament in Brussels. At the summit, city leaders urged MEPs and European Commission officials to keep social priorities high on the EU agenda, and to give cities a greater role in shaping the next Action Plan of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR).
The summit also marked a significant milestone for Eurocities’ political campaign Inclusive Cities for All, as Sara Funaro, Mayor of Florence and Eurocities Shadow Commissioner for Social Inclusion, signed the 100th city pledge to implement the Pillar.
“Florence is committed to being an inclusive city that leaves no one behind,” said Mayor Funaro. “Investing in people is not just the right thing to do, it’s the smartest investment Europe can make. But we can’t do it alone, we need streamlined and direct access to EU funding.”
A new urban compass for the Social Pillar
At the heart of the summit was the launch of Eurocities’ new report – A new urban compass for the European Pillar of Social Rights. It sets out proposals for a renewed Action Plan that is ambitious, measurable and rooted in local realities. Key recommendations include a place-based social policy, using territorial impact assessments, introducing urban-level indicators, and giving cities a stronger role in shaping EU social policy.
“We see the Pillar as a global framework for all social policies,” said André Sobczak, Eurocities Secretary General. “We must be as ambitious in our social goals as in our climate goals. We can’t talk about climate neutrality in 2030 while ignoring our commitment to end homelessness in the same year.”
Cutting social investment or side-lining local authorities would be a strategic mistake
Victor Negrescu, Vice-President of the European Parliament, echoed this position. “Cities are not implementers, they are partners in Europe’s future,” he said. “Cutting social investment or side-lining local authorities would be a strategic mistake. We need a new contract between the EU and its cities, built on trust and shared responsibility.”
From pledges to impact
Braga was one of the first cities to pledge to act on the Pillar in 2019. Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga, outlined how the city has improved life for its residents, creating a free dental clinic and launching digital health monitoring for older residents. Braga has also invested in housing subsidies, supported neighbourhood associations, and engaged residents through participatory budgeting.
“We saw that people were falling through the cracks, so we stepped in,” said Mayor Rio. “But we need stronger EU mechanisms to scale this innovation. Cities like Braga are showing what’s possible, but we need partners.”
Katarina Ivanković-Knežević, Director for Social Rights and Inclusion at the European Commission, praised the pledges campaign as a model of local engagement. “These pledges aren’t just symbolic – they show real impact,” she said. “This is a mechanism we can build on to bring the Pillar closer to people.”
Towards the next Action Plan
Danijela Dolenec, Deputy Mayor of Zagreb, shared how the city has prioritised early education, mental health, disability services and housing reform. In just three years, Zagreb reallocated €70 million annually to expand public nurseries.
“We’ve made real progress,” she said, “but challenges remain. Housing must be treated as a social right. Living in cities shouldn’t be a luxury.”
Housing must be treated as a social right. Living in cities shouldn’t be a luxury
Spanish MEP Marcos Ros Sempere warned that shifting EU spending away from social priorities would be a serious mistake. “The European Pillar of Social Rights must be properly funded,” he said. “We need to defend cohesion policy not just as a budget line, but as a moral obligation – to reduce inequality, improve access to housing, and create inclusive labour markets across the EU.”
Supporting this position, László Andor, Secretary General of FEPS, explained: “When the EU invests in its people, it works, Romania and Poland are proof. But this momentum must not be lost. We now need to embed social resilience into the EU’s core budget planning, just as we have with defence and green transitions.”
Social issues must not be side-lined
Opening the summit’s third session, Hélène Duvivier, Vice-President of Lyon Metropole, warned that social issues must not be pushed aside in favour of more headline-grabbing EU priorities.
“We are still living with the scars of multiple crises,” she said. “Poverty, exclusion and lack of access to services are not temporary, they are structural. The European Pillar of Social Rights must remain our compass and be fully reflected in future EU priorities.”
Duvivier detailed Lyon’s strategy for responding to these challenges: a 2025 social budget of over €760 million covering housing, youth, food aid, and childcare. Lyon is also leading EU advocacy for affordable housing, having launched the ‘Housing for All’ declaration and nominated Vice-President, Renaud Payre, as Eurocities’ Shadow Commissioner for Housing.
“But political declarations alone are not enough,” she stated. “We need structural support. Cities must have direct access to EU funds, and a real say in designing the instruments that affect our communities.”
Florence: delivering essential services locally
Sara Funaro, Mayor of Florence, outlined how the city is improving essential services for its residents. The city has invested €36 million in green spaces and climate adaptation, €20 million in public housing, and €4 million annually in rent subsidies.
We need better tools to deliver on the expectations of our citizens
“We’re building a city where every resident sees green outside their window and can walk to a park,” she said. “But resilience also means supporting access to housing, digital tools, nursery schools and elderly care.”
She called for a simpler, more responsive EU funding model. “We’re on the front line. We know what’s needed. But we need better tools to deliver on the expectations of our citizens.”
Putting housing and people at the heart of EU policy
Italian MEP Benedetta Scuderi called for a stronger alignment between EU priorities and the everyday realities faced by local communities. Praising cities for their leadership in delivering social rights, she stressed that the EU must now step up to match that ambition with support and resources.
“Cities are where Europe happens – where people live, work and rely on public services,” she said. “But too often, EU funding and policies are disconnected from these realities. That must change.”
Housing was central to her message. Scuderi called for a “doubling” of EU cohesion funds for affordable housing and urged the EU to treat housing as a basic social right. She also warned against poor spending choices, criticising projects that replace green space with concrete while ignoring community needs. “We need to reorient EU funding towards what truly matters: housing, education, public services and people’s wellbeing,” added Scuderi.
We need to reorient EU funding towards what truly matters: housing, education, public services and people’s wellbeing
Tackling child poverty through local action
The final session focused on implementing the European Child Guarantee. With nearly 20 million children at risk of poverty across the EU, cities are key to turning commitments into action. Mathias De Clercq, Mayor of Ghent, shared how his city is addressing child poverty through school meals, leisure activities, and housing support.
“We’re doing everything we can to ensure every child has a fair chance,” he said. “But the fight against child poverty must be collaborative. Cities need recognition, funding, and a seat at the table when national policies are shaped.”
Stefan Iszkowski, Team Leader for the Child Guarantee at the European Commission, agreed: “All implementation is local,” he stated. “Cities like Ghent and Vienna are leading examples. But they need to be involved directly in national strategies, and we must address structural issues like staffing shortages in early childhood care.”
Time for a new partnership
Closing the summit, André Sobczak summed up the message of the day: cities are not just implementers, they are drivers of Europe’s social future.
“We’ve seen the ambition, the innovation and the results,” he said. “Now cities need the tools, the responsibility, the resources and the role to go further.”
He called for a new partnership between the EU, member states and cities, built on trust and shared priorities. “Let’s carry this message back to our national capitals,” he urged. “A stronger, fairer Europe starts in cities, and now is the time to act together.”
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Read Eurocities report ‘A new Urban Compass for the European Pillar of Social Rights.’
