As part of Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the New Leipzig Charter was adopted yesterday at the informal meeting of ministers responsible for urban development. The charter reflects the principles of modern urban development policy and was developed jointly in a two-year participatory process at the national and European levels.

Anne Katrin Bohle, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community, said: "We cannot overcome any of the challenges of our time – whether migration, climate change or pandemics – without taking urban living space into consideration. That is why, with the New Leipzig Charter, we are laying the foundations for the urban development of tomorrow: sustainable, resilient and crisis-proof."

The New Leipzig Charter emphasises orienting European cities more to the common good. This includes providing vital public services reliably as well as reducing social, economic and environmental disadvantages. The charter aims to bolster integrated urban development for the common good, in the interest of preserving and improving quality of life in all of Europe’s cities and communities. The principles of the New Leipzig Charter are meant to be incorporated into national, regional and local urban development strategies. The charter also calls for municipal authorities to make greater use of the opportunities available through the European structural funds.

All of the ministers responsible for urban development in EU member states and partner countries took part in the meeting as part of the German Council Presidency, as did the European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, the President of the European Committee of the Regions, and high-level representatives of the European Parliament and European associations.

Along with the New Leipzig Charter, the meeting of ministers also adopted a second document entitled “Implementing the New Leipzig Charter through Multi-Level Governance: Next steps for the Urban

Agenda for the EU”. This document is a basis for further cooperation at local, regional, national and European level, to better deal with issues facing cities and communities in Europe. Both documents underscore the need for close cooperation among all partners in the EU.

Digital conference on the New Leipzig Charter on 2 December 2020

Building on the meeting of ministers, on 2 December 2020 the Federal Ministry of the Interior will host a one-day specialist conference on the New Leipzig Charter. The digital conference is part of the National Urban Development Policy. It will address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cities and communities, and will feature an interactive discussion among many national and international participants on the New Leipzig Charter as a new foundation for integrated urban development policy in Europe.

The New Leipzig Charter is available here: www.bmi.bund.de/neue-leipzig-charta