Ten years ago, the EU Member States agreed on the Leipzig Charter, a basic document on integrated urban development. Since then, the challenges for our cities and our societies have grown further. Everywhere in Europe we are facing challenges, such as climate change, digitalisation, the integration of immigrants and the strengthening of social cohesion. In order to cope with these tasks, not only consistent and coordinated solutions across all governmental levels are necessary. Participation of all groups in the city is also needed. With this claim, the Leipzig Charter specifically focused on socially and economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods already in 2007.

The present report "Ten years after the Leipzig Charter" investigates in what way urban policy has been designed in an integrated and holistic fashion in various European and some extra-European countries in recent years. This report's findings show that, by now, integrated and participative urban development policy according to the Leipzig Charter prevail all over Europe and at local and regional levels in particular. Building upon the legacy of the Leipzig Charter will be of key importance with regard to European structural policy after 2020. And anticipating the German Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2020, the study also serves to reflect upon the future of integrated urban development in Europe.

Scientific support
Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR)
Department I 2 – Urban Development
Dr. Marion Klemme ( marion.klemme@bbr.bund.de )

Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB)
Department SW I 1 – General Issues of Urban Development Policy, BBSR
Tilman Buchholz

Research contractor
European Urban Knowledge Network (EUKN), The Hague
Direction: Mart Grisel, Dr. Sjoerdje van Heerden
Edited by: Dr. Sjoerdje van Heerden, Lea Scheurer