City2City
European Handbook for SDG Voluntary Local Reviews
The Handbook provides key examples of official and experimental indicators useful to set up an effective SDG local monitoring system specifically targeted for European cities. 
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European Handbook for SDG Voluntary Local Reviews

by European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) | Published in June 2022

Abstract:

  • The European Handbook for SDG Voluntary Local Reviews offers to policy makers, researchers and practitioners an inspirational framework to set up Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs). VLRs are a fundamental instrument to monitor progresses and sustain the transformative and inclusive action of local actors towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in general, and competitive sustainability in particular.The Handbook provides key examples of official and experimental indicators useful to set up an effective SDG local monitoring system specifically targeted for European cities. Per each Goal, the Handbook highlights examples of harmonised and locally collected indicators so that local actors can both benchmark themselves with other cities and monitor their own specific needs and challenges.

Authors:

  • SIRAGUSA Alice; VIZCAINO Maria Pilar; PROIETTI Paola; LAVALLE Carlo

Citation:

  • Siragusa, A., Vizcaino, M.P., Proietti, P. and Lavalle, C., European Handbook for SDG Voluntary Local Reviews, EUR 30067 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2024, ISBN 978-92-76-15402-0, doi:10.2760/257092, JRC118682.

Publisher:

  • Publications Office of the European Union

URI:

DOI:

  • 10.2760/670387 , 10.2760/257092 , 10.2760/94264

Access the full report here or download the attached PDF of the report.

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SDG Localisation and Multi-Level Governance: Lessons from the Basque Country
This report describes the various actions and initiatives developed in the Basque Region for the local implementation of the 2030 Agenda, which constitutes a pioneering exercise on the establishment of what this report defines as an ‘SDG ecosystem’. From this experience, the report draws recommendations useful for other regional authorities.
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SDG localisation and multi-level governance: lessons from the Basque Country

ABSTRACT

  • Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) have been blossoming in the last years as a useful tool for sub-national entities (mainly cities, but not only) for implementing the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These actions are the manifestation of the very dynamic global movement promoting SDG localisation, departing from the acknowledgment that local administrations play a vital role in the implementation of the Global Agenda. Despite the fact that the 2030 Agenda has been designed by the United Nations and managed principally at the country level, it will only deploy fully its potential if implemented also bottom-up, involving a wide range of stakeholders and levels of administration, and engaging with grassroots actions.VLRs are not only a tool for better policymaking, but also a great opportunity to foster city-regional diplomacy and cooperation. The enthusiasm with which VLRs have been embraced by several platforms involving sub-national entities reflects the fact that SDG localisation and VLRs are seen as a way to fulfill the traditional aspiration for sub-national entities to have a seat at the global table. The case of the Basque Region, which was among the first sub-national organisations in the world to adopt a consistent SDG localisation strategy, reflects well this dual use of VLR (tool for better policymaking and instrument for external action). It is a very clear example of multi-level, multi-stakeholder effort to use SDGs and their architecture to enhance cross-sector alliances within the administration and among multiple stakeholders in the quadruple helix and use the Global Agenda to re-position the Region in the international sphere.

AUTHORS

  • HIDALGO SIMÓN Andoni

EDITORS

  • SIRAGUSA Alice; PROIETTI Paola

CITATION

  • Hidalgo Simón, A., SDG localisation and multi-level governance: lessons from the Basque Country, Siragusa, A. and Proietti, P. editor(s), Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2021, ISBN 978-92-76-37769-6, doi:10.2760/20519, JRC124586.

PUBLISHER

  • Publications Office of the European Union

JRC NUMBER

  • JRC124586

ISBN

  • 978-92-76-37769-6

OTHER IDENTIFIERS

  • OP KJ-03-21-214-EN-N

DOI

  • 10.2760/20519

Access the full report here

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European SDG Voluntary Local Reviews: A comparative analysis of local indicators and data
This report explores the use of local indicators by European Voluntary Local Reviews on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals between 2016 and early 2021.
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European SDG Voluntary Local Reviews: A comparative analysis of local indicators and data

Abstract:

  • This report has been prepared by a European Commission external expert in the framework of the URBAN 2030 project developed by the Joint Research Centre to support local governments in monitoring the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs at local level — in particular by promoting transformative and inclusive action for their localisation.

Authors: CIAMBRA Andrea

Editors: SIRAGUSA Alice; PROIETTI Paola

Citation: Ciambra, A., European SDG Voluntary Local Reviews: A comparative analysis of local indicators and data, Siragusa, A. and Proietti, P. editor(s), Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2021, ISBN 978-92-76-32321-1, doi:10.2760/9692, JRC124580.

Publisher: Publications Office of the European Union

JRC Number: JRC124580

ISBN: 978-92-76-32321-1

Other Identifiers: OP KJ-05-21-093-EN-N

DOI: 10.2760/9692

Access the full report here: https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC124580

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The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan
The 20 principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights are the beacon guiding us towards a strong Social Europe and set the vision for our new ‘social rulebook’. They express principles and rights essential for fair and well-functioning labour markets and welfare systems in 21st century Europe. Some principles reaffirm rights already present in the Union acquis; others set clear objectives for the path ahead as we address the challenges arising from societal, technological and economic developments.
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The European Pillar of Social Right Action Plan

by European Commission

The 20 principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights are the beacon guiding us towards a strong Social Europe and set the vision for our new ‘social rulebook’. They express principles and rights essential for fair and well-functioning labour markets and welfare systems in 21st century Europe. Some principles reaffirm rights already present in the Union acquis; others set clear objectives for the path ahead as we address the challenges arising from societal, technological and economic developments.

The effective implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights is now more important than ever and greatly depends on the resolve and action of Member States, who primarily hold responsibility for employment, skills and social policies.

EU-level actions can complement national actions and this Action Plan is the Commission’s contribution to the implementation of the Social Pillar principles, in line with the calls from European Leaders5 and the European Parliament.

The Action Plan draws on a large-scale consultation launched about a year ago where more than 1000 contributions were received from citizens, EU institutions and bodies, Member States, regional and local authorities, social partners, and civil society organisations7. The Action Plan sets out a number of EU actions that the Commission is committed to take during the current mandate, building on the many actions taken since the proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights in Gothenburg8. It also puts forward three EU-level targets to be achieved by 2030 and that will help to steer national policies and reforms.

The Porto Social Summit in May 2021 will be an occasion to rally forces to renew, at the highest political level, the commitment to implement the Social Pillar. This Action Plan constitutes the Commission’s contribution to the Porto Social Summit. The Commission calls on Member States, social partners and other relevant actors, such as regional and local authorities as well as civil society, to join in a collective endeavour to accelerate the implementation of the Pillar within their respective spheres of competence, and swiftly make its principles a reality. So that a strong Social Europe continues to be a model for the world.

Access the full report here

Read more about the European Pillar of Social Rights and its 20 key principles and rights

Download the European Pillar of Social Rights Booklet here

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Handbook of Sustainable Urban Development Strategies - European Commission
The Handbook of Sustainable Urban Development Strategies is aimed at developing a methodological support to augment the knowledge on how to best implement integrated and place-based urban strategies under the Cohesion Policy.
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Handbook of Sustainable Urban Development Strategies

by the European Commission | 2024

Abstract: 

The EU has developed a thorough discourse on cities and their development in the past decades. Since the end of the '90s, periodical meetings of ministers responsible for urban development (e.g. Lille, 2000; Bristol 2005; Leipzig 2007; Toledo, 2010; Amsterdam, 2016) led to the consolidation of an 'EU perspective' on the urban question (‘urban acquis’) that can be translated in an EU approach to urban development. This approach has been refined over the years through its implementation on the ground, thanks to the urban initiatives promoted by the EU through its Cohesion Policy and other specifically urban-oriented initiatives.

The European Parliament resolution of 9 September 2015 on the urban dimension of EU policies (2014/2213(INI)) underlines the need of systematizing and analyzing 'all available data and shared conceptual frameworks (‘urban acquis’) in order to prevent duplication and inconsistencies and provide a clear definition of integrated Sustainable Urban Development and thus identify the common coherent and transparent EU objectives in this area'. In fact, still, the EU approach to urban development when implemented on the ground, leads to different interpretations, depending on local planning cultures, as well as on the wide typology of actors involved in its implementation.

Moreover, there are some methodological aspects that need clarification and strengthening, with the aim to provide better and clearer guidance for post-2024. In line with that, the Handbook of Sustainable Urban Development Strategies is aimed at developing methodological support to augment the knowledge on how to best implement integrated and place-based urban strategies under the Cohesion Policy. In particular, it refers to Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) as supported by the European Regional Development Fund during the current programming period (2014-2024) and the upcoming one (2021-2027).

In this context, the Handbook is conceived as soft guidelines which complement official regulations, without being prescriptive. In fact, it is conceived as a policy learning tool, flexible and adaptable to the needs which result from the different territorial and administrative contexts. The Handbook does not provide a quick fix approach but suggestions, through concrete examples and reference to existing tools and guides, on how to tackle key challenges during the process of strategy-making.

The Handbook targets Local Authorities, Managing Authorities, and all the other relevant stakeholders involved in the design and implementation of strategies. The Handbook is structured in six chapters, each one addressing one of the building blocks of the EU approach to Sustainable Urban Development as follows:

  1. Strategic dimension;
  2. Territorial focus;
  3. Governance;
  4. Cross-sectoral integration;
  5. Funding and finance;
  6. Monitoring.

Access the full Handbook here

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18th European Week of Regions and Cities: Launching Event of the Green City Accord
The Green City Accord (currently in preparation) will mobilise cities to engage in more ambitious action towards fulfilling the requirements of the EU's environment acquis and will also support the delivery of the European Green Deal's environment ambition.
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Event Name: 18th European Week of Regions and Cities: Launching Event of the Green City Accord

Date and Time: Thursday, 22 October 2024 | 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Central European Time (CET)

 https://euregionsweek2024-video.eu/video/launching-event-of-the-green-city-accord

The Accord will, in its first phase, engage a community of cities willing to undertake further commitments to improving air and water quality, waste management, noise pollution and to enhance the protection of their green areas.

The Green City Accord will set ambitious goals in each of these areas which the cities will take ownership of. The main hope is that green cities will become a reality and that as a result, the health of Europe's citizens will improve.

  • Anna Lisa Boni, Secretary General, EUROCITIES, Belgium.
  • Desislava Bileva, Deputy Mayor for Ecology, Municipality of Sofia, Bulgaria.
  • Joanna Drake, Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, Belgium.
  • Juan Espadas Cejas, Alcalde, Ayuntamiento de Sevilla, Spain.
  • Claudia Fusco, Head of Environmental Knowledge, Eco-Innovation and SMEs Unit, Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, Belgium.
  • Dario Nardella, Mayor of Florence, City of Florence, Italy.

Other Details: 

  •  22WS1035V
  •  Workshop
  •  Green Europe
  •  Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), Eurocities, European Commission, European Committee of the Regions - ENVE Commission, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
  •  English (EN), Español (ES), Français (FR)

Register here (open until 14 October 2024)

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