Building on the 2017 Joint Declaration on Partnership for Smart and Sustainable Urbanization, the 4th India-EU Urban Forum was held recently in New Delhi, marking a significant milestone in the EU-India collaboration on sustainable urban development. This high-level event brought together officials and experts from India, the European Union (EU), and its Member States to discuss policies and best practices to work towards integrated approaches to sustainable urban development, reinforcing the EU’s Global Gateway strategy in India.
The forum explored transformative initiatives and innovative financing mechanisms to foster gender-inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban development, focusing on three key themes: Urban Alliance and Integrated Approaches in Indian Cities, Promoting Innovation and Circularity at the City Level, and Inclusive Urban Mobility as a Social Enabler.
The EU-India collaboration is crucial, considering urban areas account for two-thirds of global energy consumption, emissions, and pollution. Since 2017, the India-EU collaboration has been instrumental in promoting sustainable cities models, public-private investments, climate action, and disaster risk reduction. The Team Europe has engaged with over 40 Indian municipalities, enhancing their understanding of climate-smart development, supporting urban mobility solutions, waste management, and climate action planning.
H.E. Hervé Delphin, Ambassador, Delegation of the European Union to India highlighted the importance of EU-India cooperation in urban development, stating, “Since 2017 the EU has been engaged in accompanying and supporting Indian Government’s planning the development of Indian cities. With the right policies in place, urbanization can be an enormous opportunity for sustainability. Smart and sustainable urbanisation has been at the core of our partnership: to improve the eco-design of cities; to improve waste disposal, to improve water recycling; to facilitate urban mobility with financing of metros.” He added that, “With over € 45 million [INR 400 crores] we have leveraged over € 1 billion [INR 9000 crores] of capital to support sustainable urbanisation. It is our commitment to pursue this effort in the period 2025-2027.”
Setting the tone for the forum, Shri Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, underscored India’s commitment to urban innovation, stating, “Indian cities are embracing smart solutions, building green infrastructure, and implementing inclusive policies to sustainable urbanisation for generations to come.” Emphasizing the significance of the India-EU partnership, he added, “India and Europe are collaboratively creating sustainable cities of the future, fostering innovation, resilience, and inclusive growth while addressing pressing climate challenges.”
The forum served as a crucial step in shaping a collaborative approach to India’s urban transformation, ensuring alignment with evolving challenges and opportunities. It reinforced the commitment of India and the EU to drive smart, sustainable, and inclusive urban development in line with MoHUA’s programs and missions.
About the European Union (EU): The EU, which consists of 27 countries, has one of the world’s largest economy and has third largest population, after China and India. Though richly diverse, the countries that make up the EU (its ‘Member States’) are all committed to the same basic values: peace, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. They have set up common institutions so that decisions on matters of joint interest can be made democratically at the European level. By creating a frontier-free single market and a single currency (the euro) which has been adopted by 20 Member States, the EU has given a significant boost to trade and employment. It is also at the forefront of policies on sustainability.
EU-India relations: For over 60 years, the European Union and India have collaborated to reduce poverty, prevent disasters, protect human rights, expand trade, and promote joint research in areas such as energy, health, agriculture, and many other fields of mutual interest. More information at:http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/india