The European Urban Initiative (EUI) is launching today a €50 million call to support urban innovation and cities’ capabilities to build a sustainable urban development. This call is a perfect translation into practise of the core values of the New European Bauhaus (NEB): aesthetics, sustainability, and inclusion. It will allow the second generation of NEB demonstrators to be implemented after the first six projects that were financed under Horizon Europe. The EUI is part of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Commissioner for Cohesion Policy and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, said: “Innovative projects on the ground translating the New European Bauhaus values into reality is crucial for an inclusive green transition that provides high-quality living solutions to all. I call on EU cities’ vision and creativity to make the most from the funding opportunity that Cohesion Policy’s European Urban Initiative offers today to improve the life of citizens and set an example for addressing complex urban challenges the NEB way.”
Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, said: “Cities play a major role in sustainable transformation. They are uniquely placed not only to engage citizens, but also to build upon cultural diversity and cultural heritage to transform our living spaces and mind-sets. With this new call, we anchor the values of the NEB in the building and functioning of cities, at the closest to citizens. I am looking forward to seeing the projects come to life and spread across Europe.”
The call looks for projects that trigger transformation in the cities and have the potential to generate investments and inspire other Cohesion Policy projects, in line with the principles of NEB. The projects have to be related to these four themes:
- constructing and renovating in a spirit of circularity and carbon neutrality
- preserving and transforming cultural heritage
- adapting and transforming buildings for affordable housing solutions
- regenerating urban spaces.
New European Bauhaus: five lighthouse projects to be financed across Europe
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The ERDF will finance 80% of the cost of selected projects. Each project can receive up to €5 million. Part of this funding will support the transfer of innovative solutions to other cities in Europe to have an even bigger impact, especially in cities and regions most in need of transformation support towards the green future. In the longer term, supported urban authorities will set up transfer partnerships with three other cities interested to replicate parts or the full projects. The call is open until mid-January 2023.
Background
The New European Bauhaus was launched by President von der Leyen in September 2021. It adds a cultural dimension to the Green Deal and accelerates the green transition with change on the ground that combines the values of aesthetics, sustainability, and inclusion.
With a dedicated ERDF budget of €450 million, the European Urban Initiative (EUI) is a new instrument supporting the urban dimension of Cohesion Policy in 2021-2027. A minimum of 8% of the ERDF resources in each Member State must be invested in priorities and projects selected by cities themselves and based on their own sustainable urban development strategies.
Beyond supporting innovation, the EUI supports the capacities of all urban areas across Europe. It provides evidence for policymaking and sharing knowledge on sustainable urban development, including via the Urban Agenda for the EU.
The EUI is managed by the Commission and the French Region Hauts-de-France. It builds on the Urban Innovative Actions of the 2014-2020 programming period, but has an even stronger focus on urban innovation, sustainability, and replicability in other cities.
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