By designing digital public services with inclusivity at their core, local governments can create more responsive, efficient, and accessible systems that serve the needs of all residents. Rather than creating new services, Espoo is helping people navigate existing services and requesting feedback. The focus is on stay-at-home parents, especially mothers of Arabic, Farsi and Somali-speaking communities.

This report is part of a Eurocities series on the European Pillar of Social Rights, with a focus on mental health (Principle 16: Access to Health).
It highlights how cities are creating policies and services that not only target mental health but also address the social factors, such as housing, employment, and social inclusion, that heavily impact citizens’ well-being. The report underlines the need for a city-wide approach, where mental health is integrated into all areas of urban policy, from transport and urban design to culture, environment and social services.

In Turin, the municipality provided public land to schools, associations, gardeners, and residents transforming it into an educational hub, urban farm, and collective garden.

The Social Innovation Lab held in Torino last September brought together city leaders and experts from across Europe to address the urgent issue of housing affordability. As housing costs continue to outpace income growth, vulnerable groups, including low-income households, young workers, and students, are struggling to secure affordable housing. Besides learning from Torino’s experience, the event provided participants with a platform to discuss shared challenges, exchange best practices, and co-develop strategies for affordable housing.

A delegation of mayors travelled to Strasbourg to meet MEPs. Eurocities President, Burkhard Jung; and Mayor Barseghian signed a call, on behalf of all other Eurocities mayors, for 10 priority actions to be achieved in this EU mandate, including housing. “The many significant issues now confronting our society, including the rise of populism, the housing crisis, and the impacts of climate change, require EU-level solutions that are implemented at the local level,” said Burkhard Jung, President of Eurocities and Mayor of Leipzig.

Watch how Lodz’s urban regeneration plans involve revitalising and improving old or neglected parts of a city blending infrastructure upgrades with social and green projects. The goal is to fix past issues, create vibrant communities, and make cities more sustainable and livable for everyone.

This is a comprehensive look at how European cities foster inclusion and integrate migrants into their communities. The report highlights the pivotal role of local governments as policymakers, service providers, and employers in shaping local solutions to global challenges, innovative practices from cities around Europe that demonstrate how they improve housing, employment, education, and social inclusion for migrant communities, and includes key recommendations for empowering cities to collaborate with national and EU institutions, ensuring that resources and strategies effectively address local needs.

Lodz, Leipzig, Madrid, Katowice and Hanover pledged to the European Pillar of Social Rights this year. Do you want to join our campaign? You’re still on time!