European Commission & others
EU Joint Research Center
2021
🌍 Context and Publisher The "Handbook of Sustainable Urban Development Strategies" is published by the EU Joint Research Center (JRC), an institution that supports the European Commission with scientific evidence and technical support in the formulation and implementation of EU policies. This handbook was created in response to the pressing need for comprehensive strategies to address urban development challenges within the framework of the EU's cohesion policy. 📖 Purpose of the Handbook The Handbook aims to provide local authorities, managing authorities, and relevant stakeholders with valuable knowledge on implementing integrated and place-based urban strategies. It is designed as a policy learning tool that caters to the diverse needs of various territorial and administrative contexts across Europe. Importantly, it emphasizes that there are no quick fixes to urban challenges but offers practical suggestions for tackling key issues during strategy design and implementation. 🔑 Key Components The Handbook presents the EU’s integrated approach to urban development through six essential building blocks: strategic dimension, territorial focus, governance, cross-sectoral integration, funding and finance, and monitoring. These components are critical for developing effective urban strategies that are sustainable and adaptable to local contexts. 📊 Data and Methodology The Handbook also draws on data from STRAT-Board, a database and online tool that provides an overview of Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) strategies implemented between 2014 and 2020. This data-driven approach ensures that the handbook's recommendations are grounded in real-world examples and existing studies, enhancing its relevance and applicability. 🤝 Collaborative Effort This publication is a joint initiative involving the Commission’s Directorates-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) and the JRC. It benefits from the active participation of policymakers, practitioners, and scholars who contribute their expertise to ensure that the strategies presented are both practical and impactful for urban development across Europe. In summary, the Handbook of Sustainable Urban Development Strategies serves as a vital resource for stakeholders involved in urban planning and development, emphasizing the importance of a cohesive and integrated approach to creating sustainable and livable urban environments across Europe.
EU Joint Research Center
The Handbook of Sustainable Urban Development Strategies provides valuable knowledge on how to implement integrated and place-based urban strategies under cohesion policy. It aims to serve local authorities, managing authorities and all other relevant stakeholders.
The Handbook is conceived as a policy learning tool, responding to the needs of different territorial and administrative contexts. It does not provide a ‘quick fix’, but rather, it offers suggestions on how to tackle key challenges during the process of strategy design and implementation, by giving concrete examples, and referring to existing studies and guidelines.
The Handbook addresses the EU’s integrated approach to urban development by means of six building blocks: strategic dimension, territorial focus, governance, cross-sectoral integration, funding and finance, and monitoring.
The Handbook is a joint initiative by the Commission’s Directorates-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), and the Joint Research Centre (JRC), and which benefits from active involvement from policymakers, practitioners, and scholars. The Handbook relies on data available in STRAT-Board, a database and online tool which provides an overview of SUD strategies implemented in 2014-2020.