Bridging UIA & Cohesion Policy: how to optimize UIA added value?

François Gallaga, from the European Commission, presented the results of the Assessment Study of UIA, framing the discussion on UIA results and ambitions for mainstreaming.

He first recalled the core objectives of UIA and the ultimate goal of mainstreaming: incentivizing cities to innovate and enabling the spread of proof-tested solutions across the EU through Cohesion policy funds invested in sustainable urban development (ERDF 5% urban earmarking and beyond). Strategies such as the UIA Knowledge Management but also funding support for UIA projects sustainability and transfer are key to replicate and transfer UIA solutions but also to scale up UIA projects. As stated in the assessment study, 75% of Managing Authorities consider solutions implemented by UIA as fully or fairly consistent with programmes’ priorities, hence demonstrating their relevance and potential for mainstreaming.

The pilot transfer mechanism implemented in synergy with URBACT also paves the way for new and improved mechanisms to be designed under the future EUI. These transfer, scale up and replication mechanisms will be key to help further mainstreaming urban innovation within Cohesion policy.

Shifting from the big picture on mainstreaming to a more concrete focus on UIA projects solutions, this panel looked at four UIA projects’ specific contribution to shape innovative and integrated approaches, a key principle under the 2021-2027 Cohesion Policy Objective “Europe closer to citizens”. Peter Ramsden, moderator of this panel, gave the floor to:

• Rebeka Szabó, E-co Housing, Budapest (HU)
• Anamaria Vrabie, Cluj Future of Work, Cluj-Napoca (RO)
• Rossana Tori, Open Agri, Milan (IT)
• Jean-Claude Dardelet, COMMUTE, Toulouse Métropole (FR)

While dealing with very different urban challenges (i.e urban mobility, jobs and skills, housing), UIA cities called for further reflection on horizontal integration, bringing different policy fields together to address problem more effectively than through sectoral approaches ; and also on vertical integration regarding EU funds. Such approaches hence imply a great level of collaboration between project’s partners and stakeholders (private, academic and ONG sectors) and also among city’s departments, coordinating city’s actions relevant to the UIA project success.

As underlined by the panel, monitoring and evaluation of tangible and intangible results is crucial to projects but also a challenging process. UIA projects tested and implemented innovative approaches towards this specific operational challenge that were studied through 2020. The study results were briefly presented during the session as a sneak preview to the launch of the platform 11 March 10.00-12.00 CET - Register here.

Moderated by Marek Teplansky, European Commission, this second panel brought together concrete stories from Managing Authorities on spreading knowledge and integrating UIA practices to the mainstream operational programming, and explore ways forward on how to improve the added value of UIA for programmes in 2021-2027.

Solutions and ways forward are being explored through the EUI design and have been presented to participants. Among them, 30% would like the access to scaling-up and replication fund facilitated, meeting the panelists’ call for a better integration across European Structural and Investment Funds. From panelists and participants’ perspective, the mainstreaming success also relies on promoting UIA projects at regional and national level.

Overall, all acknowledge the added value of UIA projects to the sustainable urban development policy framework.