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Compact Cities

Sustainable Urban Planning and Sprawl Mitigation
Ex-Ante Assessment of the Thematic Area "Compact Cities" (2025)
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Compact Cities Partnership endorsed: highlights from the EU Directors-General on Urban Matters meeting

The EU Directors-General Responsible for Urban Matters (DGUM) met on 5 December 2025, to discuss strengthening the strategic vision for urban development, regulatory frameworks, and improving investment conditions to better support cities across Europe. The meeting also provided an opportunity to review progress on ongoing initiatives under the Urban Agenda for the EU (UAEU). Following this meeting, the Compact Cities Partnership was formally endorsed via a written procedure and is expected to begin its activities in January 2026.
compact cities

High participation marks the Call for the new Thematic Partnership on Compact Cities

The Urban Agenda for the EU continues to foster collaboration and innovation in sustainable urban development. The latest call for a new Thematic Partnership on Compact Cities, which closed on 1 October 2025, attracted significant interest from cities and stakeholders across Europe. The high number of applications demonstrates the growing relevance of compact, efficient, and liveable urban models for cities of all sizes.

Thematic Focus

The thematic area of "Compact Cities – Sustainable Urban Planning and Sprawl Mitigation" focuses on promoting dense, efficient, and sustainable urban development as a response to the widespread challenge of urban sprawl across Europe. 

Sprawl, characterised by low-density, car-dependent, and fragmented land use, imposes significant environmental, economic, and social costs—ranging from biodiversity loss and increased greenhouse gas emissions to higher infrastructure costs and transport poverty. The compact city model offers an alternative by emphasising spatial planning strategies that limit greenfield development (containment), make better use of existing urban areas (densification), and regenerate under-used spaces (regeneration)

Budapest - Compact Cities

 

This thematic area recognises that urban form is shaped by complex interactions between demand and supply drivers, including demographic trends, economic incentives, governance structures, and planning instruments. A key focus is on multi-level governance and the coordination of policies—particularly in transport, housing, and environment—that influence urban expansion. Special attention is given to the unique challenges faced by small and medium-sized cities, the role of public space design in liveability, and the integration of socio-economic and environmental goals. Ultimately, the Compact Cities theme seeks to equip local, regional, and national authorities with the tools and collaborative frameworks needed to implement sustainable and inclusive urban planning.

If you want to explore the topic further, read the interview with the Ex-Ante Assessment expert.

Read the interview

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Members

By clicking on the symbol , in the top left corner, you will be able to see the different layers of this map.

 

National authorities

  • Authority for Spatial Planning and Construction of Slovakia (SK)
  • Cyprus Ministry of Interior – Department of Town Planning and Housing (CY)
  • Estonian Land and Spatial Development Board (EE)
  • Europe des projets architecturaux et urbains (FR)

Regions

  • West Regional Development Agency Romania (RO)
  • Perspective.brussels - Brussels Planning Agency (BE)
  • Verband Region Stuttgart (DE)

Cities (Urban Authorities)

  • Municipality of Leiden (NL)
  • ASDA West Athens (EL)
  • Bucharest Metropolitan Area (RO)
  • Bydgoszcz Metropolis (PL)
  • City of Celje (SI)
  • Granada City Council (ES)
  • Paris Metropolitan Area (FR)
  • Hamburg Authority for Urban Development and Housing (DE)
  • Kalmar Municipality (SE)
  • Madrid City Council (ES)
  • Municipality of Castellammare di Stabia (IT)
  • Municipality of Pescara (IT)
  • Municipality of Ponte de Sôr (PT)
  • Saint-Brieuc Armor Agglomeration (FR)
  • Sliema Local Council (MT)
  • Upper Silesian–Zagłębie Metropolis (PL)

European/ national city umbrella organisation

  • URBACT Joint Secretariat (FR)
  • Eurocities (BE)
  • ICLEI (DE)

Other stakeholders

  • USE Efficiency Association – UniverCities (IT)

European institutions

  • DG REGIO
  • DG ENVIRONMENT
  • DG MOVE

  • DG GROW