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Empowering cities to build a more democratic Europe

3 February 2025

Across Europe and the world, democracy and democratic values are under threat. The rise of populism, political fragmentation and extremism is testing the foundations of our societies.

In Europe, this challenge is reflected in EU institutions and several national governments that are increasingly less aligned with the vision of inclusive and sustainable cities.

In this pivotal moment, city leaders are stepping forward as the level of government closest to citizens, to state their shared commitment to European democracy, equality and freedom.

As the European Commission marks its first 100 days, mayors are calling for a strategic partnership with the EU to deliver European policies that uphold Europe’s democratic values and make a lasting difference to people’s lives.

As one of their 10 priorities for a better Europe, mayors state that to ensure effective and inclusive policies, the EU must deepen its collaboration with cities, building a long-term urban policy and empowering cities to work alongside the EU institutions in shaping a just, thriving future. Read more on this via Eurocities #100DaysEU campaign.

“I am deeply concerned by the rise of extremism and populism across Europe,” said Burkhard Jung, President of Eurocities and Mayor of Leipzig. “These forces sow division, foster hostility, undermine women’s and minorities’ rights, and threaten to unravel the social fabric of our communities. In these turbulent times, we must stand firm in our shared values, as cities and as Europeans.”

Cities: The engines of democracy and innovation

City leaders are uniquely placed to respond to Europe’s most pressing challenges. They see first-hand the effects of political fragmentation and rising populism in their communities, underscoring the need to prioritise Europe’s democratic values at all levels of governance.

In these turbulent times, we must stand firm in our shared values, as cities and as Europeans.
— Burkhard Jung, President of Eurocities and Mayor of Leipzig

Democracy and resident-focused services are key priorities for local governments, as highlighted in the Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey 2024.

Mayors are leading by example, championing citizen participation through innovative approaches like citizen panels, youth councils and participatory budgeting.

For instance, Rotterdam’s Wijk aan Zet (Neighbourhood in action) initiative seeks to enhance democratic participation in one of the world’s most ethnically diverse cities, while Barcelona’s Decidim platform utilises digital technology to support the democratic governance of institutions and organisations.

By signing the declaration ‘The Values that Unite Us, city leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to an open, pluralistic, inclusive and solidarity-based society, inspiring the EU institutions to follow their lead.

“At the start of the EU’s mandate, it is essential that European and local leaders share their visions and exchange ideas on all the issues that make Europe a daily reality for the inhabitants of our cities,” states Jeanne Barseghian, Mayor of Strasbourg.

Yet, nearly 50% of city leaders report that EU policies often fail to address their specific needs.

This disconnect highlights the urgent need to strengthen the partnership between cities and EU institutions to ensure policies are more aligned with local realities and better serve citizens.

At the start of the EU’s mandate, it is essential that European and local leaders share their visions
— Jeanne Barseghian, Mayor of Strasbourg.

Strengthening EU – city partnerships

Cities are calling for the EU to recognise their unique role by establishing a long-term urban vision that positions them as key partners in shaping Europe’s future.

The European Commission’s decision to task Raffaele Fitto, the European Commission’s new Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, with developing a comprehensive urban policy agenda is a welcome step forward.

This agenda, cities say, must build on frameworks such as the New Leipzig Charter and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 11 on Sustainable Cities.

The policy should clearly define Europe’s ambitions for urban development, focusing on cities’ roles in achieving climate neutrality, fostering social equity, and driving the digital transition. It must also address the diverse needs of urban areas, fostering partnerships between the EU, national governments and rural regions.

In parallel, cities are urging the European Parliament to renew and strengthen its coordination with city leaders in relation to urban matters. With 30% of new MEPs coming from city government backgrounds, there is significant opportunity for urban priorities to be better recognised at the EU level.

Closer collaboration between cities and parliamentary committees, such as the Regional Development Committee, will also be essential to shaping policies that are important for citizens.

Reflecting this importance, Sharon Dijksma, Eurocities Shadow Commissioner on Cohesion Policy and Mayor of Utrecht, last week attended the Regional Development Committee’s latest meeting, where she stated that the next EU budget and Cohesion Policy must meet cities’ needs, to ensure they can provide a better quality of life for their residents and “defend European democracy.”

“We look forward to working closely with the REGI Committee to implement the new EU agenda for cities and build a stronger urban dimension in Cohesion Policy, ensuring cities have the resources, recognition and frameworks they need to lead Europe’s urban transformation,” said Mayor Dijksma.

Recognising cities as key partners

While cities are responsible for implementing a wide range of EU policies, their potential as strategic partners in policymaking often goes unrecognised. As outlined in the Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey 2024, a key priority for mayors is greater acknowledgment of cities’ expertise and their role as essential collaborators in EU decision-making processes.

This means establishing regular dialogues between city leaders and EU institutions to ensure urban realities inform the development, implementation, and review of policies.

Structured collaboration, such as an annual summit of European mayors with the EU College of Commissioners and national ministers, would help institutionalise this partnership.

By recognising cities as indispensable partners, the EU can create policies that are more responsive to local needs and deliver meaningful solutions to citizens.

Cities are not just implementers of EU policies; they are co-creators of Europe’s future
— André Sobczak, Eurocities Secretary General

Participatory democracy: Bringing Europe closer to its people

Strengthening participatory democracy is central to building a more inclusive and transparent EU. Cities have already demonstrated how citizen engagement can enrich policymaking and foster trust between governments and their citizens.

New EU initiatives are helping cities explore innovative approaches to participatory governance.

The CitiObs project, for example, connects and supports Citizen Observatories that enable citizens to share data on issues like air quality, noise levels and biodiversity. This crowd-sourced information empowers communities and provides policymakers with valuable insights to inform decision-making.

Similarly, the Nets4Dem project is fostering networks of academics, practitioners and civil society to advance democratic innovation. Through its innovative Democracy Labs, led by Eurocities, city officials are equipped with tools to enhance participatory governance and mainstream democratic practices across urban policymaking.

A shared vision for Europe’s future

“Cities are not just implementers of EU policies; they are co-creators of Europe’s future,” says André Sobczak, Eurocities Secretary General, “To address the continent’s most pressing challenges, the EU must build a long-term vision that empowers cities to lead on climate action, digital transformation and social equity.”

This vision must prioritise collaboration, recognising that a more democratic EU starts with stronger partnerships between cities, EU institutions and Europe’s people.

By acknowledging cities as key partners in shaping EU policies and strengthening participatory democracy, the EU can create a union that is more inclusive, transparent and responsive to the needs of its people.

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This article is part of Eurocities #100daysEU campaign, which seeks to highlight 10 actions for cities that the new European Commission should be focussed on. 

 Previous articles in this series include:  

100 days EU: New European Commissioners take their seats  

Ensuring EU investments meet cities’ needs  

A digital future that is human-centred  

Why cities matter in the EU enlargement process  

A sustainable and inclusive culture: European cities take the lead 

Building welcoming and inclusive cities 

Towards zero-emission mobility in Europe

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