The first URBACT IV call for Action Planning networks will be launched in January 2023.
If you represent a local or regional authority join this infosession to:
-Learn about the novelties of URBACT IV and upcoming activities
-Understand what it means to be part of an Action Planning network
-Understand what the results and benefits can be at local level, drawing on the experience of other cities involved in similar networks in the past
-Ask questions to members of the URBACT Secretariat
- When
- Tue 11, October 2022
16:00 - 17:00 CET - Moderator
- Sally Kneeshaw, URBACT Expert, URBACT.
- Speaker
- Adele Bucella, Head of Unit Projects and Programming, URBACT Secretariat.
- Code
- 11INFO22216
- Format
- Information session (followed by Q&A)
- Theme
- Territorial Cohesion
- Partner
- URBACT
- Language
- English (EN)
- Replay – Original Language
- https://vimeo.com/759519401
Session summary
Adele Bucella from the URBACT secretariat briefly presented the URBACT IV programme before focusing on the next call for action planning networks.
She mentioned that URBACT IV builds on the legacy of the URBACT III programme with transfer and action planning networks of cities, capacity-building for local authorities and communication-knowledge activities. New items for the new programme include the participation of five pre-accession countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) and enhanced cooperation with the European Urban Initiative.
She continued by saying that the first URBACT IV call will be for action planning networks. These fund and facilitate the exchanges amongst EU cities that have a common challenge on which they will produce Integrated Action Plans in a participatory way. Each city involved in these networks will be able to implement some small-scale actions with a budget available.
Two city representatives from Munich (DE) and Koszalin (PL) then shared their experience of being involved in URBACT action planning networks and the benefits at local level. Munich was involved in the URGE network, which worked on creating a circular economy in the construction sector.
Barbara Buhler-Karpati presented Munich's vision to become climate neutral by 2035. In this framework, the objective has been to reduce and reuse construction and demolition waste. Munich set up an URBACT local group which co-produced an Integrated Action Plan. The Plan was then voted on by the City Council in May 2022. As part of the EUCities Mission on climate neutrality Munich plans to apply forthe next call for action planning networks.
Adam Sawicki from Koszalin (PL) mentioned that the city was part of the Procure Network from 2015 to 2018 with ten other cities across the EU. They worked together on maximising the potential of procurement to bring economic, environmental and social benefits to the city. Along their journey they received training from the URBACT secretariat on how co-produce their Integrated Action Plans with local stakeholders and they benefitted from the support of a dedicated expert.
At the end, members of the URBACT secretariat invited cities to apply for the first URBACT IV call for action planning networks, which will open on 9 January 2023. The URBACT secretariat and national URBACT points will largely communicate on the call with EU webinars and national infodays to present the Terms of Reference, newsletters, social media and many other activities.
Take away message
The next URBACT call for action planning networks will open on 9 January 2023.
In the meantime, interested cities can express their ideas for networks and seek partners with the URBACT partner search tool: https://urbact.eu/partnersearchtool
Quotes
"URBACT is worth every minute of your time!", Adam Sawicki, City of Koszalin (PL)
