Following a competitive application process, five major cities in the United States have been selected by the IUC programme to pair with European Union cities. The paired cities will work together for at least 14 months to tackle mutual sustainable urban development challenges.
The following partnerships were established, based on shared characteristics, challenges and interests:
The cities join an existing pairing between Austin, Texas and Bologna, Italy which launched in December 2017.
"Cities today are the laboratories where many innovative solutions are emerging to address the biggest economic, social, and environmental challenges facing our societies today," said David O'Sullivan, the European Union's Ambassador to the United States. "The European Union is proud to support the IUC programme so that cities from the EU and U.S. can work together on sustainable urban development initiatives that will benefit citizens on both sides of the Atlantic."
As cities across the globe face rising challenges of migration, social inclusion, quality of life, climate change, and globalisation, the programme supports the pairings to build cooperation, share experiences, and exchange knowledge. At the same time, they are also part of a larger international community of peers and stakeholders engaging on sustainable urban development. The IUC contributes to the objectives of the UN 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals, the New Urban Agenda, the Sendai framework, and the Paris Agreement, enhancing quality of life in urban areas.
For more information, visit iuc.eu/na/home