An EU policy agenda for European cities

CALL FOR EVIDENCE Ref. Ares(2025)3030877 - 14/04/2025 FOR AN INITIATIVE (without an impact assessment) This document aims to inform the public and stakeholders about the Commission’s work, so they can provide feedback and participate effectively in consultation activities. We ask these groups to provide views on the Commission’s understanding of the problem and possible solutions, and to give us any relevant information they may have. TITLE OF THE INITIATIVE EU agenda for cities LEAD DG – RESPONSIBLE UNIT DG Regional and Urban Policy – Unit 03 (Cities, communities, people) LIKELY TYPE OF INITIATIVE Communication INDICATIVE TIMING Q4-2025 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -This document is for information purposes only. It does not prejudge the final decision of the Commission on whether this initiative will be pursued or on its final content. All elements of the initiative described by this document, including its timing, are subject to change. A. Political context, problem definition and subsidiarity check Political context 75% of people in the European Union live in cities and other urban areas1. This is expected to grow to 84% by 20502. The EU is characterised by a diversity of small and medium-sized towns and cities, and large cities. It has nearly 700 cities3 of more than 50 000 inhabitants and nearly 8 000 towns4. Cities are the economic motors of the EU, and they offer people opportunities – in their core and often in their surrounding areas – for...