Living in EU feed

Explore the Living-in.EU Knowledge Base – Your Resource Hub for the Digital Transition of Cities

Mrs Danae Pantelide — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 14:38:28 +0000

Explore the Living-in.EU Knowledge Base – Your Resource Hub for the Digital Transition of Cities Mrs Danae Pantelide 17 December 2024

The Living-in.EU Knowledge Base is your go-to platform for publicly available and open-access resources designed to empower cities and other stakeholders involved in urban digital transition, in their digital transformation journey. Whether you're a policymaker, city official, researcher, or citizen interested in urban innovation, this repository offers valuable tools to support your efforts.

What You'll Find:

Courses for Capacity Building: Enhance your skills with training material tailored to the challenges of the digital age.
Handbooks and Guides: Practical resources on topics such as achieving interoperability, implementing Living Lab methodologies, and more.
Case Studies and Best Practices: Learn from the experiences and successes of others to inspire your city's journey.
And more material...

The Knowledge Base is continually updated as we receive new materials and solutions relevant to the digital transition of cities. We also encourage contributions from our community—submit your resources, case studies, or solutions to share your expertise and help others.

Join us in building smarter, more inclusive cities. Visit the Knowledge Base today and take part in shaping the future of urban digitalisation!

Explore the Knowledge Base

First Pilots Set Off to Transform European Smart Communities through Data Spaces

Genoveva Gil — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:51:32 +0000

First Pilots Set Off to Transform European Smart Communities through Data Spaces

Final Call for Pilots Now Open

Genoveva Gil 16 December 2024

Brussels, December 16th, 2024 – The European data space for smart communities initiative (DS4SSCC-DEP) continues to lead the way in advancing smart, sustainable cities and communities across Europe. This EU-wide initiative is creating a federated, cross-sectorial data space that empowers local and regional governments and their partners to deliver enhanced services, foster sustainability and achieve critical goals such as the European Green Deal.The initiative entered a transformative phase with the kick-off of two cutting-edge pilots on November 1st, 2024. The two pilots, “UrbanMind” and “Traffic Flow Data Space” were selected among the applications received from the first round and are set to redefine data sharing and application across diverse sectors to advance sustainability, mobility, and citizens' well-being in Europe. More pilots will be awarded, as the applications from the second round are currently being evaluated. With the third and final round of the Call for Pilots also now open, this is an opportunity for European cities and communities to contribute to the future of smart, connected, and sustainable urban living.

Read the full press release here

Main highlights of the Smart Communities Network Meeting on 6 November 2024

Lucia Garrido — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 09:38:36 +0000

Main highlights of the Smart Communities Network Meeting on 6 November 2024 Lucia Garrido 13 December 2024

The recent Smart Communities Network (SCN) meeting on November 6, 2024, hosted both online and in Barcelona during the Smart City Expo World Congress, brought together stakeholders from across Europe. The gathering focused on advancing the digital transformation of cities and communities, with a particular emphasis on supporting those with lower levels of digital maturity.

Key outcomes:

Strengthening collaboration: The SCN fosters a "network of networks," enabling cities to share best practices, tools and resources. This collaborative approach aims to enhance operational efficiency and community engagement.
Digital transformation support: The European Commission (EC) referred to various tools, such as Lordimas (a digital maturity assessment tool) and the Local Digital Twin (LDT) Toolbox, to aid cities in their digital journeys. This toolbox aims to assist local authorities to improve public service delivery in various fields such as sustainability, mobility and energy with step-by-step guidance and practical instruments to use in the digital transformation journey.
Tailored training and resources: dissemination sessions and training sessions for the European cities and communities focus on empowering local stakeholders with actionable insights and fostering hands-on learning about the different steps to take to advance in digital transformation. Seven SCN members shared their valuable insights about their dissemination sessions in their countries with their network peers.

Added value of the SCN: The network offers an inclusive platform for urban and rural communities, irrespective of their digital maturity, to engage in digitalisation efforts. By integrating diverse European municipalities, the SCN amplifies the reach of best practices, resources and innovative strategies. Additionally, the forthcoming establishment of the Local Digital Twin CitiVERSE European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC) will provide cities with scalable digital tools and infrastructure. Participants voiced the need for clear narratives to communicate the EDIC’s goals to local stakeholders effectively, emphasising the importance of real-world examples and tailored approaches to inspire engagement.

What tools are there for you?

An online procurement helpdesk. Cities and communities can express their interest in participating here.
A free online tool, Lordimas, to assess your city’s or municipality’s digital maturity. Go to the platform, click on participate and download the offline form. Complete it with your stakeholders and put it in the online platform for a nice overview of your city’s or community’s digital maturity.
Interoperability instructions. Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms will help accelerate the adoption of interoperability practices among smart city stakeholders including cities and solution providers. Check this MIMs Plus documentation of the Technical Working group on the Living-in.EU platform.
Procurement templates and guidelines will be released and will be accessible via the online procurement helpdesk. If you are interested in providing feedback on the LDT procurement materials, please subscribe via survey .
The Living-in.EU community to share experiences and learn more about digital transformation. Register now and gain early access to digital tools, funding opportunities, and valuable insights into EU digital policies.

Open Call to Chair the Digital Assembly of the Living-in.EU Movement!

Michelle Gonzalez Torres — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 10:37:26 +0000

Open Call to Chair the Digital Assembly of the Living-in.EU Movement! Michelle Gonza… 10 December 2024

As the current mandate of the Living-in.EU Digital Assembly leadership is coming to an end, the movement is launching a call for applications for its renewal.

The Digital Assembly is the political body of Living-in.EU, acting as an advisory board. It meets once a year to collect and discuss the political priorities of the local and regional authorities (LRAs) that are signatories to the community. The meeting usually takes place in connection with another high-level event such as the European Week of Cities and Regions (learn more about the 2023 and 2024 editions).

Call for Applications

The Living-in.EU Steering Board is inviting applications for the position of Chair of the Digital Assembly. The Chair is appointed for a two-year mandate, renewable.

The Chair’s main tasks are:

Helping to identify and collect signatories’ political priorities on digital transformation, and to define the strategic orientation of the movement;

With logistical support from the Living-in.EU secretariat, officially inviting all other signatories to the annual Digital Assembly, and chairing the meeting;

At the invitation of the Living-in.EU Steering Board, participating in Board meetings (the Steering Board meets remotely approximately four times/year. The Digital Assembly Chair can appoint a representative to attend Board meetings where necessary)

Eligibility Criteria

The Chair position is open to all elected politicians of LRAs that have signed the Living-in.EU Declaration and have a successful track record of digital transformation initiatives. The Chair is expected to remain in their elected position for the whole duration of their mandate.

How to apply

Interested candidates should send the following by midnight CET, Friday 24 January 2025:

A current CV
A recent photograph
A short (max. two pages) motivation letter highlighting their LRA’s digital transformation achievements and outlining their vision for the Assembly.

Applications should be sent to Living-in.EU Coordinator Gabriela Ruseva at gabriela.ruseva@eurocities.eu

The Living-in.EU Steering Board and European Commission will assess applications and make a final decision by Friday 7 February.

To learn more: information on the Living-in.EU movement is available at this link. For any questions about the role and/or the process, you can contact Gabriela Ruseva at the e-mail address indicated above

Digital solutions for migration management

Gabriela Ruseva — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 08:23:15 +0000

Digital solutions for migration management

How cities can protect migrants’ rights in the era of digitalisation of migration management

Gabriela Ruseva 4 December 2024

On 10 April 2024 the European Parliament approved the new Pact on Migration and Asylum. This latest reform represents a significant shift in how the EU approaches asylum, migration, and border management.

But what does digital technology have to do with the New Pact on Migration and Asylum?

One of the most transformative aspects of the New Pact is that technology plays a central role in implementing migration policies. Technological solutions aim to enhance control and reduce irregular immigration. However, this digital shift also raises concerns about the potential infringement on migrants’ rights, particularly concerning surveillance discrimination and data protection. For instance, the agreement introduces a pre-entry screening procedure for collecting biometric data from third-country nationals. It also reforms the Eurodac database, which expand the types of data stored and data collection objectives.

As cities are often the first to experience the impacts of migration and are responsible for implementing integration policies, the digitalisation of migration management has profound implications for local governance.

Eurocities and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung have recently published a joint paper that explores the impact of the New Pact’s digital regulations on migrants’ rights and the crucial role cities play in ensuring these rights are protected.

Digital solutions for migration management

The shift towards digital migration management is particularly impactful at the local level, where cities are tasked with the integration of migrants and refugees. Cities are deploying digital solutions such as data-sharing systems, applications, and artificial intelligence to support the implementation of integration policies.

For instance, the municipality of Espoo is currently piloting the “Trust-M” project, which uses an AI-driven chatbot to help refugees and migrants navigate public services.

The city of Amsterdam is using a database to share information between partner organisations to implement its shelter and legal counselling project supporting people whose asylum applications have been rejected.

In Berlin, to ease the interactions between refugees and administrative officers, the city is using digitalised video and audio translation. The municipality is also currently developing an app that will provide relevant and user-friendly information for third-country nationals and facilitate their access to other digital services of the city.

Vilnius City also provides many digital services. Following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine due to Russian aggression and the influx of refugees into Vilnius, the need for financial assistance became increasingly important. This need was met by enhancing digital services with advanced technologies. “Services were modified to cater to the needs of those fleeing war, allowing information to be provided and accessed in Ukrainian, Russian, and English, and focusing on specific methods of information flow,” says Simona Bieliūnė, Deputy Mayor of Vilnius and Eurocities Shadow Commissioner for Welcoming Cities.

How can cities ensure that digital human rights of migrants and refugees are respected?

Digital tools must be carefully managed to ensure they do not inadvertently contribute to the marginalization of the very populations they are intended to assist. The paper proposes policy recommendations to ensure respect for the fundamental rights of migrants in the digital context.

Involve cities in the digitalisation of migration policy processes. This includes participating in the design and implementation of digital systems such as AI, algorithmic decision-making tools, and interoperability frameworks that support integration and migration management.
Support cities to put in place appropriate measures to ensure the digital human rights of migrants and refugees. National and European authorities must invest in the infrastructure, human resources, and financial support needed by local administrations to adapt to the new legislative framework and ensure that the fundamental rights of migrants are respected.
Ensure a data-sharing firewall between key public services and immigration enforcement to maintain trust between city administrations and migrant communities. Safeguards must be put in place to prevent the misuse of data and protect migrants from potential abuses, such as their personal information being cross-checked against watchlists.
Develop a coherent and transparent interoperability framework across European, national, and local levels. This framework should establish clear guidelines on the transparency and accessibility of shared data, define the roles and responsibilities of different governance levels, and ensure that civil servants working in migration and social affairs are equipped with the necessary skills to navigate these complex systems.

In conclusion, by involving cities in the digitalisation process and building their capacities to protect digital rights, the EU can better safeguard the rights of migrants. But also, ensuring clear boundaries between data-sharing for public services and immigration enforcement, and developing a transparent interoperability framework, would leverage the benefits of digital innovation.

These steps are essential to ensure that the digitalisation of migration policy does not exacerbate existing inequalities or create new forms of exclusion and poverty in urban areas.

You can access the full paper here.

Beyond Basics: How Cities Can Leverage Advanced Data Analytics for Innovative Urban Policy Solutions

Viviana Demonte — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 10:38:58 +0000

Beyond Basics: How Cities Can Leverage Advanced Data Analytics for Innovative Urban Policy Solutions Viviana Demonte 28 November 2024

In the last few years, the role of municipalities and sub-national authorities has received increasing interest and recognition, especially at the European level. Events such as the EU Week of Regions and Cities, and the rise of networks like Eurocities, showcase that politics and governance are complex practices and are not limited to national governments. Moreover, given their direct contact with citizens, their key role in translating European frameworks into concrete solutions, and their wider flexibility in signing bilateral agreements with foreign partners (the so-called “sub-national” or “paradiplomacy”), local authorities are destined to strengthen their relevance in the European political landscape.

While more and more Member States claim for increased national sovereignty, municipalities have the potential to enhance (instead of hindering) the process of European integration. If this is the case for climate – as Eurocities advocates –, it is even more so for the disruptive digital transformation that the European Union is pushing for through the EU Digital Decade, open data initiatives, data standards, and interoperability measures.

Indeed, it is time to translate high-level legal frameworks into concrete actions to face concrete challenges. Efficiency, cost-savings, health-services customisation, urban planning, transparency of governance, pollution and sustainability issues: all these policy areas can be remarkably improved by a data-driven approach. And the more granular and localised these actions are, the more impactful they will be.

The Big Data Test Infrastructure (BDTI) project was launched by the European Commission precisely with this scope in mind. It offers public administration teams a comprehensive environment for modelling, testing, and deriving insights from open data. On the one hand, by leveraging BDTI’s ready-to-use analytics tools and data environments, public sector bodies can conduct analysis and testing without requiring extensive technical resources or significant infrastructure investments. Moreover, BDTI’s infrastructure for flexible data processing analytics enables public administrations to handle large or small datasets, facilitating real-time policy simulations and impact assessments.

Specific implementations are discussed in BDTI Skills Studio, a series of workshops designed for public sector actors who want to learn how to use data to improve public services. In each workshop, data experts build unique fictional use cases from scratch and provide attendees with slides and code so that they can replicate the steps in their own time. For instance, the latest workshops took place on 6th and 20th November.

In the first case, attendees learnt how to use historical climate data to classify and predict future outcomes through the example of the Tourism Climate Index (TCI). Whereas, the second saw participants getting hands-on experience on the best strategies to forecast bicycle traffic in Paris, following the whole process from analysing historical data to visualising forecasted and real-time data. Moreover, the final workshop – dedicated to Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques - will be held online on 11th December, 2024, and will focus on extracting insights from large-scale surveys that use free-form answers in part of their questions.

Meanwhile, BDTI supported various local authorities in their journey towards data-driven decision making, as witnessed by BDTI pilots and success stories. The city of Turku (Finland) is processing traffic data and data about bus routes and stops to determine the most suitable places for dedicated bus lanes and assess their impact on the traffic flow and the bus connection speed.

Naples (Italy) is redesigning its public spaces through citizen participation and sustainable mobility planning to pursue social inclusion and equity. The pilot leverages urban data and citizen opinions to identify hubs where people can rest and seek protection during extreme climate events.

Speaking of public health, the city of Valencia (Spain) tackled the COVID-19 pandemics by performing a systematic review of scientific clinical articles to provide clinicians and managers with advanced data visualisation tools. Meanwhile, Bochum (Germany) developed an open-source machine learning model for predicting tree health from resistivity readings. The objective is to improve sustainability indicators through informed decision-making and the deployment of customised public interventions.

These goals were achieved because BDTI tools consist of scalable environments for data processing, machine learning, and advanced analytics that enable public administrations to handle datasets without major IT investments. These solutions also foster collaboration between public actors, as witnessed by the pilot on Digitalising EU Public Procurement, that was realised thanks to a joint venture between Italy, Portugal, and Norway.

If your municipality is struggling to translate open data into concrete implementation, BDTI resources and workshops will help you overcome the technical barriers that stand in the way of effective policy-making. Discover our BDTI Skills Studio past sessions and register to the upcoming ones to get some hands-on experience with the analytics tools and data environments, receive expert guidance in data modelling and testing, and harness opportunities for networking and collaboration with peers.

One week left to apply for the 2025 Covenant of Mayors’ Award!

Gabriela Ruseva — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 14:51:21 +0000

One week left to apply for the 2025 Covenant of Mayors’ Award! Gabriela Ruseva 25 November 2024

This year’s Covenant Award rewards cities' excellence in projects decarbonising heating and cooling, promoting cleaner air, a stronger economy, and more resilient communities.

The EU Covenant of Mayors shares very similar objectives with Living-in.EU - to implement the EU climate and energy objective in cities and secure a better future for citizens.

Do you want to bring the spotlight to your endeavours decarbonising heating and cooling in your city?

The EU Covenant of Mayors' Award is back, offering a great opportunity for cities to shine the light on their projects aimed at decarbonising the heating and cooling sector. This year’s award is closely tied to the Cities Heat Detox campaign, focusing on cleaner, more sustainable heating and cooling solutions.

The Award recognises innovative projects that contribute to local decarbonisation strategies, making an impact on air quality, economic strength, and the resilience of their communities.

Not only does the Award provide recognition for your efforts, but it also offers a platform to inspire other cities across Europe and beyond. This is your chance to highlight the progress your city has made in the fight against climate change and promote your innovative approach to creating greener, healthier and more sustainable cities and towns.

Achievements for cities of all sizes

You can apply regardless of your city's size or resources. The Award is open to all Covenant signatories. Award criteria include:

1) contributions to your municipality’s decarbonisation goals

2) stakeholder engagement

3) the broader benefits of your project to energy sovereignty, economic efficiency, and job creation.

Winning projects will demonstrate not only technological advancements but also strong community involvement, including how they address the needs of vulnerable populations.

Three winners will be chosen for the 2025 Award. Each will have the opportunity to present their projects at a prestigious high-level event in 2025, giving them important visibility and recognition at the EU level. Winners will also be featured through various EU Covenant of Mayors' communication channels, reaching audiences across Europe and the globe, including through social media, case studies, blogs, and events. Additionally, a short promotional video will be created for each winner, showcasing their project and achievements.

Whether or not you win, applying for the 2025 Covenant Award provides excellent exposure for your city’s efforts. In your application, you can also opt to have your project turned into a case study, for it to be featured on the campaign’s Detox Map.

How to apply

Complete your application by Monday, December 2, 2024, at 11:59 PM EST. Winners will be announced in March 2025.

Apply here.

Feel free to reach out to award@eumayors.eu for questions or additional information.

Online Event Recap: How EDICs and Multi-Country Projects Benefit Cities and Regions

Viviana Demonte — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 08:44:46 +0000

Online Event Recap: How EDICs and Multi-Country Projects Benefit Cities and Regions Viviana Demonte 25 November 2024

On November 19, 2024, Living-in.EU signatories gathered online to explore the topic “The European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDICs) and Multi-Country Projects: What’s New and What’s in It for Cities and Regions?”. Organized by Living-in.EU in the context of the Legal & Financial Working Group, this engaging session shed light on recent developments, opportunities, and challenges surrounding EDICs and their implications for cities and regions.

What are EDICs?

Beata Bartosova, Programme Manager at DG CNECT, began by outlining the role of EDICs in driving large-scale digital transformation across the EU. EDICs, part of the Digital Decade Policy Programme, enable member states to pool resources to achieve collective digital goals that would be unattainable by individual countries.

Key features of EDICs include:

Rapid setup and flexible implementation.

A legal structure allowing cities, regions, and other entities to participate alongside member states.

Financial backing from member states, supplemented by EU funds and external contributions.

Recent updates highlighted the growing portfolio of EDICs, including the LDT CitiVerse and EUROPEUM Blockchain EDICs, and plans to establish new projects focusing on mobility, cybersecurity, and healthcare.

LDT CitiVerse: A Vision for Smart Cities

Ernesto Faubel and Jordi Ortuno Ribé presented the latest progress in the LDT CitiVerse EDIC, an initiative dedicated to fostering smart city ecosystems in Europe. With 13 member states already committed, the consortium emphasizes collaboration across sectors to advance urban innovation.

The LDT Toolbox, a key deliverable, offers practical tools for cities of all sizes to implement AI and data-driven projects. The first General Assembly is set for December 2024 in Valencia, marking a significant milestone for this EDIC.

EUCAIM: Transforming Medical Imaging

The session also featured a deep dive into the EUCAIM project, which seeks to revolutionize medical imaging by integrating data with genetics and AI. Coordinated by La Fe Health Research Institute, EUCAIM aims to enhance healthcare delivery and support innovation within the European Health Data Space.

Luís Martí Bonmatí presented some of the achievements so far, including centralizing access to medical data and tools, building capacity for data interoperability, and ensuring long-term sustainability. The project envisions evolving into a legal entity under an EDIC framework.

Engaging Cities and Regions

Throughout the session, speakers emphasized the potential for cities and regions to play an active role in EDICs. While participation requires compliance with specific conditions, opportunities abound for cities to influence the direction of multi-country projects, benefit from shared resources, and contribute to policy goals like the Digital Decade targets.

Looking Ahead

As EDICs continue to expand, initiatives like the LDT CitiVerse and EUCAIM exemplify how collaboration can drive meaningful progress. Living-in.EU will continue following developments of the EDICs and sharing relevant updates and information with Living-in.EU signatories.

To access the slides and recording from the session, sign in into the Finacial WG space!

Open call for Living-in.EU Working Group Chairs!

Viviana Demonte — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 18:58:42 +0000

Open call for Living-in.EU Working Group Chairs! Viviana Demonte 24 November 2024

Every two year, Living-in.EU disseminates an open call among Living-in.EU signatories to appoint a chair for each of the five Living-in.EU Working Groups: legal, financial, technical, capacity building, monitoring & measuring.

What are Living-in.EU Working Groups about?

Create the conditions to upscale digital solutions such as local digital twins and urban data platforms
Discuss the main challenges and needs in terms of digital transformation
Exchange experience and work together on solving common solutions

Why becoming a Living-in.EU Working Group Chair?

Define together the annual work plan and WG priorities;
Influence and provide insights into the Digital Europe Programme
Gain valuable insights into EU legislative developments;
Get visibility for your city or regional projects

How to apply?

Join one of the five Living-in.EU WGs: legal, financial, technical, monitoring & measuring, education & capacity building
The WG chair mandate will last from January 2025 until October 2026.
Fill in the online form: https://forms.office.com/e/QxfYSJSYcL
... And become the chair of one of Living-in.EU Working Groups!
For more information, contact gabriela.ruseva@eurocities.eu or viviana.demonte@eurocities.eu

Share Your Input on the EU’s Digital Rights and Principles Declaration Implementation!

Michelle Gonzalez Torres — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 13:07:19 +0000

Share Your Input on the EU’s Digital Rights and Principles Declaration Implementation! Michelle Gonza… 22 November 2024

The Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles is a cornerstone of the European Union's commitment to safeguarding fundamental rights and values in the digital age. Signed on 15 December 2022 by the Presidents of the European Commission, European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union, the Declaration outlines a shared vision for a digital transformation that respects EU values, empowers individuals, and ensures fairness and inclusivity.

To support this vision, the European Commission has launched a survey to monitor the implementation of the Declaration. Your feedback is essential in shaping the EU's digital policies and ensuring the Declaration’s principles are reflected in practical actions.

How does your organisation promote digital human rights?

The findings from this survey will contribute to the “State of the Digital Decade Report”, which tracks the EU’s progress in achieving its digital transformation goals, alongside other key initiatives.

This is your chance to voice your opinions and help guide the EU toward a more inclusive, secure, and rights-respecting digital future.

Share your feedback and make a difference in the digital decade!