European city centres at the heart of urban transformation: the URBACT network Cities@Heart

Having a chat with your neighbourhood baker, running into an old friend, finding all you need in one place: these are just some of the reasons why we feel so attached to our city centres. However, today in the 21st century, city centres are facing more than just a little competition. From the rise of big-box stores and franchises to the omnipresence of online commerce, downtown areas have lost some of their edge. 

 A result of urban sprawl and rising property values, the spatial fragmentation of our cities further strains the resilience of the high street. Amid all these challenges, city centres are well worth understanding, defending and improving. That’s where the URBACT Cities@Heart Action Planning network comes in. 

As part of the European URBACT IV programme, ten European local authorities have come together to form Cities@Heart, a network dedicated to sharing good practices and improving the evaluation of public policies in city centres. 

Coordinated by the Greater Paris Metropolis (Métropole du Grand Paris) and accompanied by expert Mar Santamaria Varas, the Cities@Heart network is part of a sustainable urban revitalisation approach, supported by the European Union's ERDF funds through the URBACT programme. The National Agency for Territorial Cohesion (ANCT) manages the URBACT programme on behalf of the European Union. 

Launched in June 2023 and active until December 2025, Cities@Heart focuses on five key levers to strengthen city centres : supporting local commerce, boosting residential life, promoting inclusive environments, building a strong city centre identity and establishing shared governance. 

Each partner city will develop a local Integrated Action Plan (IAP), in connection with these themes, in order to strengthen the resilience, inclusiveness and attractiveness of their city centre. 

The partners of the network are : 

• The Greater Paris Metropolis, France 

• The City of Cesena, Italy 

• The City of Granada, Spain 

• The City of Osijek, Croatia 

• Amfiktyonies (Lamia), Greece 

• The City of Celje, Slovenia 

• The City of Fleurus, Belgium 

• Sligo County and Sligo BID, Ireland 

• Krakow Metropolitan Association, Poland 

• Pentágono Urbano, Portugal 

Each partner in the network is facing their own challenges : loss of inhabitants to the peripheries or the metropolitan areas, underdeveloped local commerce networks, conflicts generated by the intensive use of public space, the transition to walkable and carless environments, gentrification and over-tourism, gender equality and inclusion... Yet, all partners can agree on one thing: city centres are unique places and not just because they hold a certain affective charm: they truly are the lifeforce of our urban societies. Keeping the heart of downtown healthy is key to ensuring the vibrancy of local economies and the well-being of inhabitants.   

During the life of the network, seven transnational meetings have been organised, the last one being held in Paris on the sidelines of the European Forum on City Centres. These meetings, fully aligned with the URBACT methodology, promote intercultural exchange, the observation of good local practices, and the organisation of collaborative workshops. These meetings allow the project partners to deepen the network's methodological principles and consolidate their integrated action plans. 

Network deliverables Cities@Heart

The Cities@Heart network and the Living Downtowns program have produced several resources for local authorities, technicians, business owners and citizens involved in the transformation of downtowns.  

Discover the Cities@Heart deliverables here and on the network's URBACT page: 

- Cities@Heart Playbook

- Making Space for Citizen Dialogue in City Centres

- Cities@Heart Toolkit

After two successful editions, the last of which was held at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the Greater Paris Metropolis and the association Centre-Ville en Mouvement are proud to organise the third European Forum on City Centres. This flagship event will be held on November 6 and 7, 2025 at the Maison de la Chimie in Paris. 

From BID (Business Improvement District) officials to local commerce experts, the event brings together elected officials, policymakers and private sector actors with leading knowledge and expertise on the interdisciplinary topic of city centre management. The organisers of the event, Centre-ville en mouvement and the Greater Paris Metropolis, are using their recognised expertise in the local economy to develop a stimulating and relevant programme, with round tables, presentations and site visits. 

This year, the European Downtown Conference will bring together delegations from all over the European Union around a common goal: to reflect on the future of city centers on a European scale, share best practices and build together a sustainable, dynamic and inclusive vision of city centers.  

Launched in 2018 by the Greater Paris Metropolis in collaboration with metropolitan mayors, the Lively Downtowns program marked a strong and deliberate commitment to breathing new life into city centres. Originally introduced as a Call for Expression of Interest (AMI – Appel à Manifestation d’Intérêt), the initiative evolved in 2021 into a dynamic framework offering personalized, ongoing support. This transformation established genuine partnerships between the Greater Paris Metropolis and each participating city, fostering long-term collaboration and impactful urban renewal. 

Since its inception, the Lively Downtowns program has supported over 101 cities and awarded 88 subsidies through its FIMACS fund (Metropolitan Intervention Fund to support Craftsmanship, Commerce, and Services), totaling 30 million euros.  

In 2023, with the Bank of Territories and partners (the Chamber of Commerce Paris Île-de-France, the Chamber of Crafts Île-de-France, SEMMARIS, and Crédit Agricole Île-de-France), the Greater Paris Metropolis created the “Lively Downtowns” Real Estate Public Company with an initial investment fund of 150 million euros. This initiative equips metropolitan cities with a powerful tool to encourage greater artisan and commercial diversity within their jurisdiction.  

The Greater Paris Metropolis remains firmly committed to enhancing the appeal and vibrancy of its city centres. In 2025, it launched the third edition of the Lively Downtowns program, reaffirming its dedication to inclusive and sustainable urban renewal. This new phase tackles pressing social challenges and intensifies support for cities with particularly fragile urban cores. By promoting territorial equity and long-term revitalization, the initiative continues to shape a more resilient and attractive metropolitan landscape