Urban Agenda and Urban Sustainability Strategies. Taking Stock of Policy Implementation and Policy Discussion. WWWforEurope Working Paper No. 103
The European Union is anxious to coordinate and facilitate the process of a consolidated socio-ecological transition. The European Urban Agenda operates on all governmental levels to allow cities more capability in realising socio-ecological transition according to their own structural, spatial, social, economic, and environmental predispositions. In a broad study of 40 cities in Europe, we gathered a vast amount of empirical data that describe the individual approaches towards a transition as well as their relations to European and national policies. This paper presents an extension of these research results. We depart from the results of the ROCSET study on self-organisation and ask about local sustainability strategies with concrete aims and goals. Further, the results of a consultation process on the European Urban Agenda are interpreted as an indicator on how the general perception of EU urban policies differs from actor to actor. Such an Agenda can contribute to unify individual approaches towards sustainability and consolidate strategies while maintaining the individuality of the local approaches.