5 good reasons to apply to the EUI Peer Review call
Are you wondering why you should apply for this call? Well, look no further because here are 5 very good reasons to get involved….
1. Improve your SUD strategy with concrete solutions.
All urban authorities designing and implementing SUD strategies want to ensure that this process is smooth and there is a clear added value. An EUI Peer Review will provide focused, concrete and tested solutions to the challenges your city is facing. SUD strategies and Article 11 are implemented in significantly diverse ways across the European Union. By gaining a solid understanding of these different approaches it is possible for your urban authority to identify areas for improvement or examples of good practice that can be transferred.
Konstantia Bessa, Metropolitan Area of Thessaloniki (EL) “As host city we were able to connect with local stakeholders during the EUI Peer Review. The advice from peers helped us to address key challenges linked to the implementation of our SUD strategy, we have made some changes as a result of the peer review. It was an extremely positive experience which I recommend to others.”
2. Build alliances and work with local stakeholders.
Multi-level collaboration is a challenge for all urban authorities. Connections with national and regional bodies, key to the success of the SUD strategy, are facilitated through the EUI Peer Review process. Bringing along relevant stakeholders and allowing them to be part of the EUI Peer Review process can lead to significant gains in terms of relationship building, long term commitment and feeling of ownership.
Jorge Brito, CIM Coimbra (PT) “CIM Coimbra applied as a CUR and hosted a Peer Review in November 2023. This experience helped us to address key questions at a crucial time in the development of our SUD strategy. The Peer Review allowed us to connect with important regional and national bodies which helped put our cities on the map. By inviting key stakeholders to join our peer review we have made long lasting connections which serve beyond the work on the SUD strategy.”
3. Raise your city’s profile.
Being part of an EUI Peer Review in any capacity allows your city to gain valuable publicity. At the Peer Review in Poland in January 2024, participants visited three small municipalities, all were able to showcase good practice locally. With representatives from the European Commission and the regional managing authority present, the exposure for these small cities was fantastic.
Arkadiusz Ptak Mayor of the Town and Commune of Pleszew (PL) “Hosting visitors from the European Union and other EU cities is a perfect opportunity for a small city like ours to prove that small cities can be a positive impact for others. We showed that we are a 15-minute, smart and green city. EUI Peer Review as a good tool of exchanging experiences not only helped to improve our SUD strategy but also helped to be appreciated one more time on the EU map”.
4. Learn new skills including self-assessment.
EUI Peer Reviews offer all participants the opportunity to test new methods and tools to build local capacity. Collaborative brainstorming exercises about green and digital transition, dynamic World Café sessions about cross sectoral/departmental collaboration and the SAT4SUD Self-Assessment tool are some examples.
Luka Buić Pula-Pola Municipality (HR) - “The self-assessment using SAT4SUD forced us to ask ourselves difficult questions about governance and monitoring. As a result, we can focus on improving the weaker areas of our SUD Strategy through the EUI Peer Review”.
5. Find new partners for future collaboration.
Each EUI Peer Review brings together around 20 urban authorities. Through small group working, participants have the chance to really dive deep into the situation in other cities. There has already been one successful City-to-City exchange approved following the first EUI Peer Review between Beja (PT) and Novo Mesto (SL) and there are several other in preparation after the more recent events.
Fernando Gomes, Municipality of Maia (PT) - “In Maia we are firmly committed to design and implement a robust SUD strategy. As a CUR and a Peer in recent EUI Peer Reviews we were inspired by solutions from other EU cities. But transnational cooperation is a two-way street! Maia is thrilled to have made some connections for future collaboration during the Peer Review event. Our next chapter will be to share good practice through an EUI City-to-City exchange!”
Join us and see for yourself what value this activity can add to the design and implementation of the SUD strategy in your city!
The Peer Review Call is OPEN and the application process is very simple. Get all the info about the call at our online Info day and on the call page.