Polish Church Decides to Canonize Katyn Martyrs

At its meeting on March 18, the Holy Synod of the Polish Orthodox Church decided to canonize the Katyn Martyrs.

The decision states: “Today, when we celebrate the 100th anniversary of our church independence, recalling the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea in 325, the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II; on the basis of Holy Tradition, having studied the materials about the life and death of our brothers and sisters who died in Katyn and other places of death and displacement, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church, in the name of the Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – ranks the following as saints and includes them in the diptych of saints of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church: Father Archpriest Col. Symon Fedorenko, Father Arch. Lt. Col. Viktor Romanovsky, Father Arch. Major Vladimir Ohab, as well as clergy and laity whose names are known only to Almighty God.”

The official canonization will take place on September 17, 2025, which will also be designated as their memorial day. This is the day on which the Soviet army entered Poland in 1939. A troparion in their honor has also been approved, as well as an icon. The Polish Church will inform local Orthodox churches about the canonization of the Katyn martyrs.

The Katyn massacre was a mass murder of twenty-two thousand Poles in 1940, committed by Soviet Chekists during the occupation of Poland by the Soviet Army. The color of the Polish nation was killed – many Polish soldiers, officers, large landowners, representatives of the intelligentsia, twenty university professors, three hundred doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers and journalists. Among the murdered were seven military chaplains, the Orthodox of whom are mentioned by name in the decision on canonization of the Polish Orthodox Church.

It is noteworthy that the decision of the Polish Synod does not mention in any way the circumstances and cause of the death of these people, in order to avoid mentioning Russia as the culprit. With this decision, the Polish Orthodox Church is clearly responding to the expectations of Polish society through this canonization to declare its attitude towards communist repressions in the national history of Poland, and on the other hand, by not naming the cause and perpetrators of the mass murder, it shows loyalty to the Russian Orthodox Church.

During the same session of the Holy Synod of the Polish Orthodox Church, other issues were also considered. Among the first was mentioned “familiarization with the problems contained in the letters of the Bulgarian Patriarch, the Romanian Patriarch and the Synod of the Orthodox Church in Greece”. The reports of the Commission for theological dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church, the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches were adopted, and personnel changes were made. A letter was sent to the Polish Minister of Education expressing concern about the restriction of religious education in schools.

In Poland, Religion and Ethics Classes in Schools Are Being Reduced

By

Newsroom

-

1 April 2025

The Holy Synod of the Polish Orthodox Church has joined the Roman Catholic Church in Poland in expressing concern over the new regulation of the Ministry of Education on the reform of the teaching of Religion and Ethics in schools.

By order of the Ministry of Education, from the new 2025 school year, religious education or ethics will be only one hour a week, instead of two, as before. In addition, the classes will be held before or after regular classes. An exception will be made only for schools where all students have enrolled to study Religion or Ethics – these classes will be held within the regular program. Religious education can also be held outside of school – in a catechism center or in an inter-school group.

In schools, it is prohibited to unite groups of students from grades 1 to 3 to study Religion or Ethics, except in cases where seven or fewer children from a given class have enrolled. The maximum number of children in a united group is twenty-five. In Polish secondary schools, students can choose to attend Religion and/or Ethics, or neither of the two subjects. The subject Religion has different variants depending on the denomination, including Religion – Orthodoxy. According to the Polish Ministry of Education and Science, the aim of the changes is to bring the conditions and manner of conducting Religion and Ethics classes into line with the possibilities for organizing the work of schools and kindergartens in terms of rational management of pedagogical staff and the time for conducting these classes.

The urgency of Christian unity

By

Guest Author

-

1 April 2025

By Martin Hoegger*

At the opening of the Focolare Movement’s congress (Castel Gandolfo, Rome, 26 March 2025), a question was raised: why should we still be concerned about Christian unity today? Aren’t there other priorities? A range of answers was given: unity is more essential than ever![1]

“If we are here, it is because we want to bear witness to our unity and the certainty of our hope in Christ,” says Margaret Karram, the president of the Focolari. “Unity is rooted in the resurrection of Christ. May we be able to bear witness to this to all those we meet,” is the driving force of her life.

Sandra Ferreira, co-director of the Centre for unity, compares ecumenism to the ‘path of Abraham’. Like him, we have to leave our concerns behind in order to take another path and build unity among us.

“We want to learn from the spiritual riches of others. ‘Ephphatha’ – ‘be opened’, said Jesus to a deaf-mute! That is what he wants from us: that we open ourselves to him and to each other. How? By raising the thermometer of mutual love!”

Enno Dijkema points out that 2025 has three jubilees: the Catholic Jubilee of Hope and those of 1700 years since the Council of Nicaea and 60 years since the lifting of excommunications between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church.

The Nicene Creed is recognised by almost all the Churches and is the focus of an ecumenical prayer at the Basilica of St Paul-Outside-the-Walls. The theme of hope inspired this congress. Ecumenism is a pilgrimage of hope and Christ wants unity, because he prayed for it.

From a cellar to the whole world!

For the Focolari, ecumenical dialogue is a practice of all the people of God. Chiara Lubich, its founder, called it the ‘dialogue of life’. A dialogue involving the grassroots of the Church and that of a people already united (but not yet fully). A dialogue that does not exclude other dialogues (such as theological dialogue), but supports and energises them.

In the town of Trent, during the Second World War, in a cellar where she had taken refuge with her companions during the bombings, she read the ‘Testament of Jesus’ on unity in chapter 17 of the Gospel of John. She felt that this text would become the ‘charter’ of this movement. She and her first companions then responded to this call. From that moment on, a fire spread from that cellar to the whole world. All the Churches were touched by this new “charism of unity”.

“The Gospel is our only rule. We wanted to obey Christ first, without a pre-established programme”, she said in a video. “Every Church has something to give: it is a gift for others. And we want to love each other’s church as our own”.

The United Church: a rose window illuminated by the light of Christ

According to Callan Slipper, an Anglican theologian, for Jesus, relationships come before everything else: “It is mercy that I want, not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13; Hosea 6:6)”. Our worship is secondary to the way we behave towards one another. Above all, we must be reconciled, before all else, even before prayer (Matthew 5:23-24). This means that our relationships are the place where we meet God. This is the meaning of Jesus’ prayer in John 17.

His presence takes various forms, but the most important is his presence among us through our relationships. “Ecumenism, by repairing relationships, allows the Church to be itself. It is a great rose window, but our divisions have shattered it into a thousand pieces. Each piece is beautiful in itself, but together they lack the splendour of the whole. We need the beauty of this rose window, through which the light of Christ, the light of the world, radiates,” he says.

Moving from union to unity

For the theologian and philosopher Jesus Moran, we have to move from union to unity. Union is not enough, because the parts remain juxtaposed. They do not change and do not open up to the outside world. In unity, on the other hand, there is interconnection. The general interest comes first. The growth of the other coincides with our own growth. Unity is a Trinitarian relationship in which people interpenetrate. Unity is the grace that we must ask for.

For him, it is also important to understand Christianity as a way of being, not as a religion. It is a radical conformity with Christ who came to bring a new way of inhabiting the world, not primarily a doctrine: “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Like C. Slipper, he emphasises the importance of relationships: “Through Christ, access to God is both human and divine. Who am I? My identity is first and foremost that of a Christian, following Christ. His fundamental message is his new commandment to “love one another as he has loved us”. Relationships are therefore fundamental”.

*Martin Hoegger is a Swiss reformed theologian and writer

[1] This congress brought together 250 participants from 40 countries and 20 different churches. Among them were twelve bishops from various churches. In addition, the streaming is broadcast in 20 countries. https://www.focolare.org/en/called-to-hope-key-players-of-dialogue/

Gaza: UN relief chief demands ‘answers and justice’ following killings of first responders

By

United Nations News

-

1 April 2025

Gaza: UN relief chief demands ‘answers and justice’ following killings of first responders

The clearly identified humanitarian workers from the Palestine Red Crescent Society, Palestinian Civil Defence and the UN Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA, had been despatched to collect injured people on 23 March in the Rafah area of southern Gaza, when they came under fire from Israeli forces who were advancing in the area, said the UN aid coordination office’s (OCHA) top official in the Palestinian Occupied Territory in a detailed post on X.

Jonathan Whittall said that on the day of the attack, five ambulances, a fire truck – and a clearly marked UN vehicle which arrived following the initial assault – were all hit by Israeli fire, after which contact was lost with teams.

Table of Contents

No access for days

“One survivor said Israeli forces had killed both of the crew in his ambulance. For days, OCHA coordinated to reach the site but our access was only granted five days later,” Mr. Whittall said.

When UN staff then travelled to the area they encountered hundreds of civilians fleeing under Israeli fire.

“We witnessed a woman shot in the back of the head. When a young man tried to retrieve her, he too was shot. We were able to recover her body using our UN vehicle,” he added.

‘Devastating scene’

He said aid workers we were finally able to reach the site on Sunday, discovering “a devastating scene: ambulances, the UN vehicle, and fire truck had been crushed and partially buried. After hours of digging, we recovered one body – a civil defence worker beneath his fire truck.”

The Palestine Red Crescent Society – part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies – expressed outrage on Sunday over the deaths, adding that a ninth staff member is still missing.

“These dedicated ambulance workers were responding to wounded people…They wore emblems that should have protected them; their ambulances were clearly marked. They should have returned to their families: they did not,” said IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain.

Humanitarian law ‘could not be clearer’

“Even in the most complex conflict zones, there are rules,” he added. “These rules of International Humanitarian Law could not clearer – civilians must be protected; humanitarians must be protected. Health services must be protected.”

The incident represents the most deadly attack on Red Crescent Red Cross workers since 2017.

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said in a post on X Monday that another staffer from his agency had died in addition to the colleague’s body retrieved on Sunday, bringing the total killed to 280 killed since the violence erupted on 7 October 2023.

“Targeting or endangering emergency responders, journalists or humanitarian workers is a flagrant and severe disregard of international law,” he added, noting these killings had become “routine” in Gaza.

Israeli forces said the emergency responders had been fired on after their vehicles “advanced suspiciously”, according to news reports, adding that a Hamas operative had been killed along with “eight other terrorists”.

The attack occurred following the collapse of the fragile two-month ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas militants on 18 March. On Monday, Israel issued a new mass evacuation order for the whole of the Rafah region.

‘This should never have happened’

OCHA’s Jonathan Whittall reiterated on Sunday that first responders should never be a target.

“Today, on the first day of Eid, we returned and recovered the buried bodies…They were killed in their uniforms. Driving their clearly marked vehicles. Wearing their gloves. On their way to save lives. This should never have happened.”

The UN Humanitarian Affairs chief, Tom Fletcher, on Monday send condolences to the families of all who had been killed.

“They were killed by Israeli forces while trying to save lives. We demand answers and justice,” he said.

The tragedy of the earthquake of myanmar “compounds already disastrous”

By

NewsdeskTET

-

31 March 2025

The tragedy of the earthquake of myanmar “compounds already disastrous”

Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator Marcoluigi Corsi expressed the UN’s profound sorry at the immense loss of life stemming from Friday’s 7.7 and 6.4 magnitude quakes with the death toll rising to around 2,000, according to the country’s military junta.

“The latest reports indicate significant loss of life, widespread injuries, and many still unaccounted for as rescue operations continue,” Mr. Corsi said in a statement on behalf of the UN Country Team.

Table of Contents

Urgent support operation continues

He stressed that the UN and partners continue to urgently mobilise in support of the emergency response, standing ready to assist all communities “wherever they are”.

The earthquakes struck near Mandalay and Sagaing, with impacts felt across Bago, Magway, Nay Pyi Taw, and parts of Shan State. Hospitals are overwhelmed, while communication and transport routes have been severely disrupted.

Thousands are sleeping in the open, fearful of aftershocks and unable to return to damaged homes.

UN-facilitated rescue teams from around 20 countries, including sniffer dogs, paramedics and medical supplies, supported by millions of dollars in aid, continue to arrive in Myanmar – where millions were already displaced by civil war, arising from the military coup of February 2021.

Resilience further eroded

“Even before this earthquake, nearly 20 million people in Myanmar were in need of humanitarian assistance,” Mr. Corsi emphasized. “This latest tragedy compounds an already dire crisis and risks further eroding the resilience of communities already battered by conflict, displacement, and past disasters.”

The UN Humanitarian Country Team is actively conducting rapid needs assessment missions in coordination with UN agencies, humanitarian partners, local authorities and community-based organizations, paying particular attention to the needs of women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, who are disproportionately affected in such disasters.

“Beyond the immediate response, this crisis highlights the urgent need to strengthen efforts towards recovery and to invest in measures that help communities withstand future shocks,” Mr. Corsi said.

Significant UN presence

An initial $15 million in emergency funds has been allocated by the UN to support the lifesaving response. Medical teams, shelter materials, and critical water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) items are arriving – alongside prepositioned and supplementary food aid.

“We have a significant presence in Mandalay and surrounding areas, and we are doing everything we can to reach people in need despite serious logistical challenges,” Mr. Corsi said. “But much more will be required in the days and weeks ahead.”

More than ever, timely support is critical to prevent further deterioration of the crisis, he added.

The World Food Programme (WFP) reported that it aims to support 100,000 of the worst hit with ready-to-eat meals, following by food and cash-for-food assistance to around 800,000 for the next month.

Severe damage to Naypyidaw’s road infrastructure following the earthquake in Myanmar.

Ceasefire now: UN Special Envoy

The UN Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop issued a statement on Monday saying she stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar.

“The earthquake has laid bare the deeper vulnerabilities facing Myanmar’s people and underscored the need for sustained international attention to the broader crisis.”

Referencing the ongoing conflict which has seen military forces lose control of a majority of the country to opposition armed groups amid brutal fighting and airstrikes, she said that “all sides must urgently allow space for humanitarian relief and ensure that aid workers can operate in safety.”

Continuing military operations in quake-affected areas “risks further loss of life and undermines the shared imperative to respond,” she continued.

Ms. Bishop called for an immediate ceasefire by all parties, to prioritise the rescue, aid and recovery effort, including protection of civilians.

She said she was in close contact with Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher and the UN Country Team in Myanmar who are working in partnership with neighboring countries and others, supported by the UN’s regional and global network.

Myanmar earthquake tragedy ‘compounds already dire crisis’

By

United Nations News

-

31 March 2025

Myanmar earthquake tragedy ‘compounds already dire crisis’

Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator Marcoluigi Corsi expressed the UN’s profound sorry at the immense loss of life stemming from Friday’s 7.7 and 6.4 magnitude quakes with the death toll rising to around 2,000, according to the country’s military junta.

“The latest reports indicate significant loss of life, widespread injuries, and many still unaccounted for as rescue operations continue,” Mr. Corsi said in a statement on behalf of the UN Country Team.

Table of Contents

Urgent support operation continues

He stressed that the UN and partners continue to urgently mobilise in support of the emergency response, standing ready to assist all communities “wherever they are”.

The earthquakes struck near Mandalay and Sagaing, with impacts felt across Bago, Magway, Nay Pyi Taw, and parts of Shan State. Hospitals are overwhelmed, while communication and transport routes have been severely disrupted.

Thousands are sleeping in the open, fearful of aftershocks and unable to return to damaged homes.

UN-facilitated rescue teams from around 20 countries, including sniffer dogs, paramedics and medical supplies, supported by millions of dollars in aid, continue to arrive in Myanmar – where millions were already displaced by civil war, arising from the military coup of February 2021.

Resilience further eroded

“Even before this earthquake, nearly 20 million people in Myanmar were in need of humanitarian assistance,” Mr. Corsi emphasized. “This latest tragedy compounds an already dire crisis and risks further eroding the resilience of communities already battered by conflict, displacement, and past disasters.”

The UN Humanitarian Country Team is actively conducting rapid needs assessment missions in coordination with UN agencies, humanitarian partners, local authorities and community-based organizations, paying particular attention to the needs of women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, who are disproportionately affected in such disasters.

“Beyond the immediate response, this crisis highlights the urgent need to strengthen efforts towards recovery and to invest in measures that help communities withstand future shocks,” Mr. Corsi said.

Significant UN presence

An initial $15 million in emergency funds has been allocated by the UN to support the lifesaving response. Medical teams, shelter materials, and critical water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) items are arriving – alongside prepositioned and supplementary food aid.

“We have a significant presence in Mandalay and surrounding areas, and we are doing everything we can to reach people in need despite serious logistical challenges,” Mr. Corsi said. “But much more will be required in the days and weeks ahead.”

More than ever, timely support is critical to prevent further deterioration of the crisis, he added.

The World Food Programme (WFP) reported that it aims to support 100,000 of the worst hit with ready-to-eat meals, following by food and cash-for-food assistance to around 800,000 for the next month.

WFP Myanmar/Chit Min Htet

Severe damage to Naypyidaw’s road infrastructure following the earthquake in Myanmar.

Ceasefire now: UN Special Envoy

The UN Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop issued a statement on Monday saying she stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar.

“The earthquake has laid bare the deeper vulnerabilities facing Myanmar’s people and underscored the need for sustained international attention to the broader crisis.”

Referencing the ongoing conflict which has seen military forces lose control of a majority of the country to opposition armed groups amid brutal fighting and airstrikes, she said that “all sides must urgently allow space for humanitarian relief and ensure that aid workers can operate in safety.”

Continuing military operations in quake-affected areas “risks further loss of life and undermines the shared imperative to respond,” she continued.

Ms. Bishop called for an immediate ceasefire by all parties, to prioritise the rescue, aid and recovery effort, including protection of civilians.

She said she was in close contact with Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher and the UN Country Team in Myanmar who are working in partnership with neighboring countries and others, supported by the UN’s regional and global network.

EU supports projects to carry out reforms and improve citizens’ lives

By

-

31 March 2025

Commission has approved a new round of 135 projects under the Technical Support Instrument (‘TSI’), to support Member States to prepare, design and implement a total of 390 reforms in 2025.

The selected projects will help the Member States address reforms in key priority areas to strengthen the Union’s resilience and competitiveness and to improve citizens’ lives across the EU. Two-third of the projects are linked 15 flagship projects aimed at addressing common reform needs in the EU, such as impoving the quality of public administration, provide a better business environment for SMEs, or to make energy systems fit for the green and digital transition.

TSI helps Member States to deliver on key political priorities

In line with the key priority to strengthen the Union’s competitiveness, the TSI will support 109 reforms to help Member States improve their business environment, close the innovation gap, build a net-zero economy, and promote the Union’s economic security. For example, the TSI will support 38 reforms in 22 Member States to reduce unnecessary administrative burden for SMEs, to promote start-ups and scale ups and to enable them to be more productive, competitive and resilient.

More than 130 reforms to support the digital transition have been selected in 2025, with a strong focus on Artificial Intelligence (‘AI’) and innovative technologies. These will support Member States to reap the productivity gains from technology towards tomorrow’s economy. For example, with the project “FutureProof Education”, the TSI will support schools in Germany, Sweden, and Ireland to develop guidance for the responsible and meaningful use of AI in schools, as well as to set up AI literacy programmes.

Supporting collaboration among Member States towards a modern and efficient public administration

In 2025, 40 multi-country projects will address common challenges of Member States through the TSI. Multi-country projects promote the development of common approaches and include peer learning and the exchange of best practices. For example, 14 Member States will work together to effectively implement EU tax legislation to modernise and simplify tax and customs procedures and reduce the administrative burden for SMEs.

Enhancing the capacity of Member States’ public administrations and their cross-country collaboration is vital for the modernisation of our Union. This year, 119 reforms supported by the TSI will assist Member States in strengthening their public administrations to effectively tackle current and future challenges. In line with the ComPAct communication adopted in October 2023, TSI will support efforts of the Member States to converge on closing skills gaps, enabling digital transformation, and preparing administrations to lead the green transition.

Background

The TSI helps Member States deliver on their reform agenda in a wide range of policy areas. It provides tailor-made expertise to Member States’ authorities who apply for support on an annual basis. It does not come in the form of financial support but consists of the provision of high-quality and tailored expertise and knowledge and can take the form of strategic or technical advice, studies assessing reform needs, training, or in-country missions by experts.

The TSI has been providing technical support to all 27 Member States to implement more than 2000 cutting-edge reforms in a wide range of areas such as revenue administration and public financial management, public administration and governance, growth and business environment, labour market, education and social services, migration, and financial market and access to finance. So far, the TSI has supported close to 500 reforms linked to the Recovery and Resilience Plans.

Commission pays an advance of €100 Million to Spain for post-DANA storm recovery

By

-

31 March 2025

Commission pays an advance of €100 Million to Spain for post-DANA storm recovery

The Commission has today paid an advance of €100 million from the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to Spain to help finance its recovery efforts following the October 2024 DANA storm in Valencia. This is the maximum amount allowed under the EUSF as advance payment.

Spain’s official EUSF application for DANA-related damages, submitted in January 2025, is currently being assessed by the Commission. Once this assessment is concluded, the Commission will make a proposal for the total amount to be granted from the EUSF to Spain.

Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto, stated: “The DANA storm has caused profound devastation in Valencia with hundreds of lives lost and many homes and infrastructure destroyed. Our commitment to supporting the people and the region through this challenging recovery remains unwavering.”

The EU Solidarity Fund is a post-disaster relief instrument providing financial support to EU Member States and candidate countries for their recovery efforts in the aftermath of severe natural disasters.

The funding can be used to restore essential infrastructure such as energy, water, health, education, or telecommunications systems, as well as for measures to protect cultural heritage or for clean-up operations. Granting an advance payment does not prejudge the final amount of the EUSF assistance to be granted, which will depend on the Commission’s assessment of Spain’s application and on budgetary availability.

European Urban Initiative: 20 innovative projects selected to transform cities across Europe

By

-

31 March 2025

European Urban Initiative

European Urban Initiative: 20 innovative projects selected to transform cities across Europe

The European Commission and the Hauts-de-France Region, as the Entrusted Entity for the European Urban Initiative (EUI), have announced the results of the third call for innovative actions. With €94 million in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), 20 selected projects from 13 EU Member States will test innovative solutions in real urban environments, supporting cities in their transition to a greener and more digital future. Projects include giving a second life to used EV batteries in Tilburg, the Netherlands, and repurposing vacant public buildings for the needs of the community in Košice, Slovakia. Each project will receive up to €5 million from ERDF, co-financing 80% of the eligible costs.

Beyond their implementation in selected cities, these projects will serve as blueprints for other urban areas across Europe. A part of this funding will also support knowledge transfer and the replication of successful solutions tested by these projects in other EU cities, further amplifying their societal and economic impact.

The full list of winners can be consulted on EUI website.

Background

In the 2021-2027 programming period, Cohesion policy has a strong urban dimension, and its support to sustainable urban development has been reinforced to help cities take active role in designing and implementing policy responses to their local challenges and needs.

As a result, cohesion funds will invest over €100 billion in cities, with more than €24 billion directly managed by cities for designing and implementing investments under Cohesion policy programmes.

The EUI is a key instrument of the European Union’s Cohesion policy, specifically targeting city authorities to strengthen urban innovation and capacity- and knowledge-building for sustainable urban development. The EUI allows cities to test innovative and creative solutions to address their specific urban challenges, ensuring that the solutions developed and tested are transferable and replicable across other EU cities.

The 20 projects selected today will join to the community of 36 ongoing projects selected within the previous two calls: the first call (in 2022), which focused on the New European Bauhaus, and the second call (in 2023), which was dedicated to themes on greening cities, sustainable tourism, and harnessing talent in shrinking cities.

With a budget of EUR 395 million, the EUI builds on the legacy of the Urban Innovative Actions, the Commission’s initiative implemented during the 2014-2020 programming period, but it has a stronger focus on innovation led by cities themselves and on sustainability of innovation as well as replicability in other cities.

Beyond innovation, the EUI supports the capacities of all urban areas across the EU. It provides evidence for policymaking and shares knowledge on sustainable urban development, including via the Urban Agenda for the EU and Portico, the European urban knowledge platform.

The experience of the EUI implementation will also contribute to the preparation of a comprehensive EU Agenda for Cities in the course of 2025 that is aimed at taking stock of EU initiatives and instruments the European Commission has put in place over the years with a view to streamlining and simplifying the current support and making it accessible to all potential city beneficiaries. The Agenda also aims to examine how to enhance processes through which the concerns of cities could be stronger reflected in future EU policy making. The call for evidence concerning the content of the Agenda targeted at the public at large will soon be opened at the Have your say portal of the European Commission.

More information

Selected projects

Cohesion Data Platform

Kohesio Projects Platform

Spice Up Your Life – The Health Benefits of Turmeric, Ginger, and More

By

-

31 March 2025