The New Leipzig Charter: The transformative power of
cities for the common good
Preamble
The original Leipzig Charter is from 2007. That one has inspired urban policy in Europe and beyond.
The core message is: to promote integrated and sustainable urban development is as valid today as
in 2007.
Nowadays we have several things that directly impact the cities:
- Urgent global challenges: climate change, loss of biodiversity, resource scarcity, migration,
pandemics, rapidly changing economies. Those challenges may also intensify disparities in
our societies
- Digital technologies are transforming society, creating potential political, social, ecological
and economic benefits. However; they also trigger digital divide, lack of privacy, security
issues and market dependencies.
In response to this, the Leipzig from 2007 had to be refocused.
The need for sustainable transformation is underlined by:
- The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – in particular Goal 11: dedicated to making
cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
- The New Urban Agenda
- Paris Agreement
- Green Deal (aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent in the world
The Leipzig Charter provides a policy framework to envision and realise these European and global
agreements at the urban scale.
The ministers agree upon: the New Leipzig Charter emphasizes the pursuit of the common good
using the transformative power of cities:
- welfare, reliable public services of general interests
- preventing new forms of inequalities
Common goal: safeguard and enhance the quality of life in all European towns and cities and their
functional areas. No one should be left behind.
Cities are already taking over responsibility and leading the transformation towards just, green and
productive societies.
- Requires good leadership, governance and resources
- Cities need full support of all (non)governmental levels
The ministers reaffirm: support for this transformation with a place-based, multi-level and
participatory approach
The ministers highlight: the support from the EU, including Cohesion Policy and research
programmes.
The ministers acknowledge: the Urban Agenda for the EU, established by the Pact of Amsterdam, has
made an important contribution to urban development (multi-level and multi-stakeholder)
The ministers emphasize: their support for the objectives of the Territorial Agenda 2030. They
support strengthened cooperation between and across spatial levels. The New Leipzig Charter
provides guidance.
1
, The transformative power of European Cities
The culture is at the core of any sustainable urban development, including the preservation and
development of the built and other cultural heritage. It requires a holistic understanding of high-
quality ‘Baukultur’ as the basis of integrated planning and design processes. Cities need flexibility and
ability to respond to external disruptive events and stress. Predictive and preventive policies and
projects should include diverse scenarios to anticipate environmental and climatic challenges and
economic risks, social transformation and health concerns.
Three spatial levels of European Cities
Neighborhood level
Some neighborhoods can reflect on social tensions or poverty etc. others are arrival areas for
immigrants or affordable housing projects. Therefore:
- Policies should encourage local commitment for community building and inclusiveness.
Neighborhoods with a multitude of complex socioeconomic challenges need tailor-made
policy programmes and funding to stabilize in the long term.
- Neighborhoods should be regarded as potential laboratories for innovative approaches
covering all fields of urban development
Local authorities
- Are responsible for local urban development with a set of strategic guidelines for the whole
city area. They act as a formal link between small scale neighbourhoods and wider functional
areas
- Consideration must be given to comparable living conditions for citizens in small and
medium-sized towns and cities in shrinking areas.
Functional area
- This covers a metropolitan area or a combination of other territorial entities.
- Urban development relies on a network of functional interdependencies and partnerships
cooperation between cities is needed
Three dimensions of European Cities
Urban integration is based on the integration of: social, ecological and economic dimensions of
sustainable development. These dimensions are reflected by the transformative power of cities
(through just, green and productive dimensions). So that means when these are combined and
integrated, they contribute to the development of resilient cities, that are aiming for a high quality of
life for everyone.
The just city
A just city provides opportunities for everyone to integrate in society. All social groups, including the
most vulnerable, should have equal access to services of general interest (education, health care etc).
Socially balanced and mixed neighbourhoods promote the integration of all ethnic groups and
generations.
- Urban areas with high percentage of migrants need a large integration policy for this
- Citizens should be empowered to require new skills. This asks for high quality education +
lifelong learning opportunities (includes digitalization).
The green city
The transformative power of cities contributes to combatting global warming and to the high quality
for air, water, soil and land use.
2
cities for the common good
Preamble
The original Leipzig Charter is from 2007. That one has inspired urban policy in Europe and beyond.
The core message is: to promote integrated and sustainable urban development is as valid today as
in 2007.
Nowadays we have several things that directly impact the cities:
- Urgent global challenges: climate change, loss of biodiversity, resource scarcity, migration,
pandemics, rapidly changing economies. Those challenges may also intensify disparities in
our societies
- Digital technologies are transforming society, creating potential political, social, ecological
and economic benefits. However; they also trigger digital divide, lack of privacy, security
issues and market dependencies.
In response to this, the Leipzig from 2007 had to be refocused.
The need for sustainable transformation is underlined by:
- The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – in particular Goal 11: dedicated to making
cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
- The New Urban Agenda
- Paris Agreement
- Green Deal (aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent in the world
The Leipzig Charter provides a policy framework to envision and realise these European and global
agreements at the urban scale.
The ministers agree upon: the New Leipzig Charter emphasizes the pursuit of the common good
using the transformative power of cities:
- welfare, reliable public services of general interests
- preventing new forms of inequalities
Common goal: safeguard and enhance the quality of life in all European towns and cities and their
functional areas. No one should be left behind.
Cities are already taking over responsibility and leading the transformation towards just, green and
productive societies.
- Requires good leadership, governance and resources
- Cities need full support of all (non)governmental levels
The ministers reaffirm: support for this transformation with a place-based, multi-level and
participatory approach
The ministers highlight: the support from the EU, including Cohesion Policy and research
programmes.
The ministers acknowledge: the Urban Agenda for the EU, established by the Pact of Amsterdam, has
made an important contribution to urban development (multi-level and multi-stakeholder)
The ministers emphasize: their support for the objectives of the Territorial Agenda 2030. They
support strengthened cooperation between and across spatial levels. The New Leipzig Charter
provides guidance.
1
, The transformative power of European Cities
The culture is at the core of any sustainable urban development, including the preservation and
development of the built and other cultural heritage. It requires a holistic understanding of high-
quality ‘Baukultur’ as the basis of integrated planning and design processes. Cities need flexibility and
ability to respond to external disruptive events and stress. Predictive and preventive policies and
projects should include diverse scenarios to anticipate environmental and climatic challenges and
economic risks, social transformation and health concerns.
Three spatial levels of European Cities
Neighborhood level
Some neighborhoods can reflect on social tensions or poverty etc. others are arrival areas for
immigrants or affordable housing projects. Therefore:
- Policies should encourage local commitment for community building and inclusiveness.
Neighborhoods with a multitude of complex socioeconomic challenges need tailor-made
policy programmes and funding to stabilize in the long term.
- Neighborhoods should be regarded as potential laboratories for innovative approaches
covering all fields of urban development
Local authorities
- Are responsible for local urban development with a set of strategic guidelines for the whole
city area. They act as a formal link between small scale neighbourhoods and wider functional
areas
- Consideration must be given to comparable living conditions for citizens in small and
medium-sized towns and cities in shrinking areas.
Functional area
- This covers a metropolitan area or a combination of other territorial entities.
- Urban development relies on a network of functional interdependencies and partnerships
cooperation between cities is needed
Three dimensions of European Cities
Urban integration is based on the integration of: social, ecological and economic dimensions of
sustainable development. These dimensions are reflected by the transformative power of cities
(through just, green and productive dimensions). So that means when these are combined and
integrated, they contribute to the development of resilient cities, that are aiming for a high quality of
life for everyone.
The just city
A just city provides opportunities for everyone to integrate in society. All social groups, including the
most vulnerable, should have equal access to services of general interest (education, health care etc).
Socially balanced and mixed neighbourhoods promote the integration of all ethnic groups and
generations.
- Urban areas with high percentage of migrants need a large integration policy for this
- Citizens should be empowered to require new skills. This asks for high quality education +
lifelong learning opportunities (includes digitalization).
The green city
The transformative power of cities contributes to combatting global warming and to the high quality
for air, water, soil and land use.
2
