Europe: who better to lead than our cities?

Anna Lisa Boni, Secretary General, EUROCITIES, writes in Cities Today about the network’s 30th anniversary in the lead up to its annual conference in Milan, 16-18 November

Celebrating a milestone birthday is always an exciting moment. It’s also a chance to take stock of what you’ve achieved, and consider what the future might bring. When I look back on the ‘birth’ of EUROCITIES in 1986, I wonder if the six founding members could have envisaged our network as it is today. With over 135 major European cities as our members now, our size and influence has grown considerably. But our vision remains the same: promoting a new urban model, and making the most of cities’ potential in Europe. Our members continue to see the value of being part of a political platform which gives them a strong voice in Europe, of sharing expertise as part of a wider community, and of learning from their peers.

But the last three decades haven’t been without their ups and downs, and cities have often found themselves on the front line. Political upheaval in Europe, financial and refugee crises, and most recently a Europe in turmoil in the wake of the Brexit vote. Despite this, EUROCITIES has continued to grow stronger, closer and more relevant. In challenging times more than ever, successful cities know that they need to look beyond their own horizons and continue to work together if they are to remain thriving urban hubs.

And Europe is realising that it must look to its cities for answers to many of its biggest problems. From unemployment and social exclusion to climate change and air pollution, these are issues city leaders must grapple with on a daily basis. Cities can offer valuable insight into which solutions work and which don’t, and can serve as testing grounds for innovative new approaches.

The new Urban Agenda for the EU, launched earlier this year, marks a new era for cities in EU policy making. It sets a framework for greater cooperation between the city, national and European levels, and enables cities to help shape the policies and programmes that impact on urban areas. While it is rewarding to see the urban agenda launched as we celebrate our 30^th anniversary, we know the work doesn’t end here. In fact it’s just beginning: now we need to deliver the urban agenda and build on this momentum, and our members are committed to driving it forward.

I said to Cities Today when I arrived here as Secretary General in June 2014 that I wanted to see EUROCITIES become the ‘go to’ urban network. With 30 years of experience behind us, and a strong and committed membership, I believe we are well on our way.

In difficult times, our cities can offer a ray of hope. The Brexit vote was a huge disappointment to those who are committed to the European project. But it was not without its warning signs. Europe has been fraying at the edges for years now, with the rise of far-right political parties, growing xenophobia and prevalent Euroscepticism. We need to rebuild faith in Europe and rethink its governance. Who better to lead this than our cities? A strong culture of citizen involvement already exists in many of our member cities, by engaging people in reimagining public space, delivering better public services, and resolving urban challenges. City governments have the ability to rebuild and reinforce the links between EU institutions and its citizens. With cities on board, we can ensure that what happens at a European level is delivering real benefits at ground level.

The way cities are perceived in Europe has changed drastically since 1986. No longer are they ‘part of the problem’, they are now seen as ‘part of the solution’. For Europe to deliver on its goals of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, it must recognise that its cities represent an extremely valuable asset. I said to Cities Today when I arrived here as Secretary General in June 2014 that I wanted to see EUROCITIES become the ‘go to’ urban network. With 30 years of experience behind us, and a strong and committed membership, I believe we are well on our way.

I want to thank Cities Today for giving us the opportunity to showcase what we’ve achieved over the last three decades, and I also want to extend my thanks to our members, without whom our network would not be what it is today.