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Streetscape in a small town close to the sea (Copyright: Almada City Council)

CITIZENS

Discover how interregional cooperation is helping to make a Europe closer to citizens.

Creating a Europe closer to citizens means fostering the sustainable and integrated territorial development of urban, rural and coastal areas through local initiatives.

Our programme helps local, regional and national governments across Europe to develop and deliver better regional development policies in this field.

We create opportunities for sharing solutions to regional development issues, for exchanging good practices and for policy learning via our two pillars: our interregional cooperation projects and our Policy Learning Platform.

Scroll below to capitalise on the knowledge they've gained, take part in upcoming capacity building opportunities or apply for your own project proposal.

CITIZENS sub-topics

Discover the CITIZENS sub-topics we address and click on the link to find all related resources on our website.

Icon of the topic Citizens with no name below
Integrated urban development

To foster the integrated and inclusive social, economic and environmental development, cultural, natural heritage sustainable tourism and security in urban areas.
Icon of the topic Citizens with no name below
Integrated non-urban developments

To foster the integrated and inclusive social, economic and environmental local development, culture, natural heritage, sustainable tourism and security in areas other than urban areas.

Projects and project ideas

Get inspired by our approved projects or explore one of these CITIZENS project ideas. Then, discover how you can get involved in interregional cooperation by preparing your own project proposal.

CITIZENS projects

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CITIZENS project ideas

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Policy solutions

Explore all the policy solutions our projects and policy experts have identified on the topic of CITIZENS. Read through our policy briefs and good practices. Watch our webinar recordings. Download the conclusions for past workshops and peer reviews.

Good practices

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Good practice - Citizens
2014 - 2020

De Nieuwe Mark

Reinstatement of former river and harbour to reach a wide range of different objectives concerning economy, climate change, quality of life, water/heritage.
19 Oct 2020 | By project WaVE
Approved content by an expert Expert approved
2014 - 2020

Provincial Water Board

Provincial Water Board is a panel of water experts and civil society representatives that designs consensual strategies to manage water, and its heritage.
12 May 2020 | By project WaVE
Approved content by an expert Expert approved
2014 - 2020

Reconnecting Aarhus to the Sea: Urban Mediaspace

Creating Urban Mediaspace. Reconnecting the city of Aarhus to the waterfront and sea by transforming industrial harbor areas into a contemporary urban locality.
23 Apr 2020 | By project WaVE
Approved content by an expert Expert approved
2014 - 2020

The Uncovering of The River Aarhus (1992-2015)

The uncovering of The River Aarhus. The river was covered between 1933-57. It was uncovered from 1992-2015 to create recreational areas along an open canal.
21 Apr 2020 | By project WaVE
Approved content by an expert Expert approved
Good practice - Citizens
2014 - 2020

Development in dialogue

Development in dialogue is the integral approach of heritage in a way that stakeholders learn about each other’s motives and incentives.
15 Apr 2020 | By project WaVE
Approved content by an expert Expert approved
2014 - 2020

Redoutes

Making cultural heritage more perceptible while solving water management issues during the realisation of new nature.
15 Apr 2020 | By project WaVE
Approved content by an expert Expert approved
2014 - 2020

LIFE - PLETERA

Restoration of a coastal wetland in a partially urbanized land due to a change in land classification, from developable to protected.
21 Jun 2019 | By project Land-Sea
Approved content by an expert Expert approved
2014 - 2020

EBRO - ADMICLIM

Mechanisms to guarantee the maintenance of a fragile ecosystem: how to avoid the disappearance of a delta system.
20 Jun 2019 | By project Land-Sea
Approved content by an expert Expert approved

CITIZENS policy solutions

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Webinar
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Smart
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Citizens
Governance

Replay available: Next generation policymakers

More than 150 participants, 10 talented speakers around an important subject: why continuous learning and cooperation helps policymakers to face today and tomorrow's challenges. Watch the recording.
| By Platform
Webinar
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Smart
Citizens

Key learnings of the webinar on Smart Villages

On 28 June 2022, the Policy Learning Platform organised a webinar on the topic of Smart Villages. Learn about the key insights and good practice to turn your village smart!
| By Platform
Policy brief
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Green
Citizens

Cultural routes in Europe

Discover the transnational routes that help tourists discover how Europeans have lived since ancient times. This policy brief presents the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes Programme, the EU’s policies on Cultural Routes, and good practices.
| By Platform
Policy brief
Ancient castle on a hill
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Citizens

Cultural heritage in mountain regions

Read this policy brief and get an overview of EU initiatives that local and regional authorities should refer to for boosting sustainable development in mountain areas through the valorisation of the cultural heritage.
| By Platform
Policy brief
Inside of a church
Green
Citizens

Built cultural heritage

Explore successful approaches and solutions in protecting, conserving and valorising of heritage buildings of cultural and historical value.
| By Platform

Get policy advice

Are you looking for help on a regional policy-making challenge or simply have a question? Make use of our Platform services. 

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Policy helpdesk

Get relevant resources and contacts through a written exchange with our experts.
Matchmaking icon
Matchmaking

Get ideas on how to resolve your policy challenge during a two-hour discussion with peers.
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Peer review

Get in-depth analysis and peer recommendations on your regional policy challenge in two days.

News and events

Explore the latest news and upcoming events on CITIZENS topics.

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News
3rd SYSTOUR project RSG meeting at Lea Artibai Foundation
Citizens

The stakeholders of Bizkai territory meet in Lea Artibai

Town councils and tourism companies of Lea Artibai met with the responsible of the Region of Bizkaia to discuss the Tourism Revitalisation Plan of the region and also to learn about the good practices presented during the study visit of SYSTOUR
| By Project SYSTOUR
Event
Event
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15 Apr 2024
Online

Building a successful partnership webinar 2024

Join us on 15 April for a project development webinar about building a successful partnership. It is the first one in a set of four webinars on how to develop your project and submit it in an application during this call.
By Joint secretariat
Event
Event
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Smart
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16 Apr 2024
Online

Designing project methodology webinar 2024

Join us on 16 April for a project development webinar about designing the project methodology. It is the second one in a set of four webinars on how to develop your project and submit it in an application during this call.
By Joint secretariat
Event
Event
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Smart
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Governance
17 Apr 2024
Online

Management and finances webinar 2024

Join us on 17 April for a project development webinar about the project management, budget and finances. It is the third one in a set of four webinars on how to develop your project and submit it in an application during this call.
By Joint secretariat
Event
Event
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Smart
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Governance
18 Apr 2024
Online

Project communication webinar 2024

Join us on 18 April for a project development webinar about project communication. It is the fourth one in a set of four webinars on how to develop your project and submit it in an application during this call.
By Joint secretariat
News
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Get ready for the third call

Our third call for project proposals has launched! The call is open from 20 March to 7 June 2024.  See what support tools we have available to you.
| By Joint secretariat
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