The program European Urban Initiative has been presented in the Working Breakfasts Europe 2027 organized by the FUE-UJI, through its European and International Projects Office (EuroFUE-UJI) with the collaboration of Caixalmassora. The Trustees of the FUE have been convened this Wednesday, May 19, to analyze the European Urban Initiative program with Antoni Such, general director of Local Administration of the Generalitat Valenciana, and Jon Aguirre, responsible for the URBACT National Point, as invited experts.
The session has opened Joan Antoni Martin, vice-rector for Internationalization and Cooperation of the Universitat Jaume I, who pointed out that "the local dimension is essential to build the Europe we want: sustainable and digital." Carlos Cabrera, executive president of FUE-UJI, introduced the session by presenting the European Financing strategy for Local Entities. "The fundamental objective of the European Urban Agenda is to strengthen the urban dimension, both in national and community policies," he noted.
In his speech, Antoni Such, general director of Local Administration of the Generalitat Valenciana, has presented the Sustainable Urban Development Plan in the 2021-2027 Operational Program. "Improving the safety and sustainability of cities implies improving urban planning and management so that it is participatory and inclusive," said Antoni Such. After his words, it was the turn of Jon Aguirre, responsible for the National Point URBACT, who highlighted the objective of the URBACT program as "promoting the sustainable and comprehensive development of European cities."
In the session, the Guardian Project from Riba-roja del Túria. Robert Raga, mayor of this municipality, explained the project, the different actions and the importance of the consortium.
Gloria Serra, manager of the Universitat Jaume I-Empresa Foundation, was in charge of leading the subsequent debate, in which the need for public-private collaboration and the role of companies was highlighted. Innovation in cities has been emphasized as an objective driven by the entrepreneurial capacity of the public sector, but above all by private companies that provide solutions adapted to existing and future technology. Without this participation, the implementation of European initiatives in cities and municipalities would be impossible.
The vice-rector of Internationalization and Cooperation of the UJI, Joan Antoni Martin, closed this day by highlighting the Europe 2027 Work Breakfast cycle as "the best forum to bring European financing mechanisms closer to the Trustees of the FUE-UJI." The cycle will continue next June with the Digital Europe Program 2021-2027.
