New thematic focus on Compact Cities endorsed by DGUM
The thematic priority on Compact Cities was initially identified during the informal ministerial meeting held in Gijon in November 2023. Since then, substantial work has been carried out to examine the topic’s strategic relevance in the context of current urban development challenges and EU policy objectives. The Ex-Ante Assessment was prepared by Ivana Katurić, who explored how compact urban forms can contribute to more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive cities by reducing land take, improving accessibility, enhancing urban mobility, and encouraging mixed-use development.
With the endorsement now complete, preparations can move forward to establish the new Compact Cities Thematic Partnership, which is foreseen to launch in winter 2025.
About the topic
The topic “Compact Cities – Sustainable Urban Planning and Sprawl Mitigation” addresses the urgent need to counter urban sprawl by promoting denser, more efficient, and sustainable urban development across Europe. Urban sprawl—marked by low-density, car-dependent, and fragmented growth—poses significant environmental, social, and economic challenges, such as increased emissions, infrastructure costs, and social inequality. Recognising that urban form results from a complex interplay between demographic trends, market dynamics, planning systems, and governance structures, this theme highlights the crucial role of public policy in shaping more compact urban areas. To guide effective interventions, the report classifies strategies into three key approaches: containment, which limits greenfield development; densification, which promotes more efficient use of already built-up areas; and regeneration, which targets the revitalisation of underused or problematic urban spaces. Together, these approaches aim to foster more inclusive, connected, and sustainable cities in line with broader EU objectives.
What’s Next?
A Call for Partners to join the Compact Cities Thematic Partnership is expected to open in late summer 2025. Interested stakeholders are encouraged to consult the Ex-Ante Assessment to better understand the thematic scope and to begin considering how their work may contribute to the partnership’s goals.
An online applicant seminar will also be organised closer to the call launch to guide potential applicants through the process and provide insights into the functioning and impact of Thematic Partnerships under the Urban Agenda for the EU.
Consult last year’s applicant seminar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQW0ob0Pk44