Two-thirds of European inhabitants live in a city. Europe’s cities are the political, economic, and cultural core of European life and activity. As a result, urban public policies are shaped not only by local but also heavily by national and European decisions. As cities are not directly represented in Brussels in a dedicated assembly, they have been claiming to be recognized as major actors of the European decision-making process since the end of the 1980’s. This lecture will focus on the way local authorities, notably municipalities, have progressively accessed Brussels’ arena, and in return on the effects of community urban programs on local political agendas.

This presentation will be an opportunity to question how and to what extent European institutions have taken into account the will of most European cities to become admitted central actors not only regarding urban matters but also economic matters, sustainable development matters, if not immigration matters… Have the European institutions agreed on meeting with cities and their representatives? Has the lobbying of cities been successful in terms of them becoming major interlocutors of the European Union on any topic related to urban issues? Has a community policy dedicated to cities been launched and implemented? If yes, is it linked to regional policies or has it gained autonomy? Audience discussion will be encouraged.