India-EU Urban Forum Strengthens Collaboration for Smart and Sustainable Cities

New Delhi: Marking a significant milestone in the India-EU partnership on urban development, the 4th India-EU Urban Forum was held in New Delhi, building upon the 2017 Joint Declaration on Partnership for Smart and Sustainable Urbanization. The forum brought together senior officials, policymakers, and experts from India, the European Union (EU), and its Member States to explore integrated approaches to sustainable urbanization and reinforce the EU’s Global Gateway strategy in India.

The discussions at the forum centered around 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. Experts examined strategies to promote gender-inclusive, resilient, and climate-smart urban development while exploring innovative financing mechanisms to support these initiatives.

EU-India collaboration has been instrumental in promoting sustainable city models, public-private investments, climate action, and disaster risk reduction. Since 2017, Team Europe has engaged with over 40 Indian municipalities, enhancing their capacity to implement climate-smart development, urban mobility solutions, waste management, and climate action planning.

Addressing the forum, H.E. Hervé Delphin, Ambassador, Delegation of the European Union to India, emphasized the importance of EU-India cooperation in urban development. “Since 2017, the EU has been actively supporting India’s urban development plans. With the right policies in place, urbanization presents a great opportunity for sustainability. Our partnership has focused on improving the eco-design of cities, waste disposal, water recycling, and urban mobility through financing of metro projects,” he stated. Delphin further highlighted that with €45 million [INR 400 crores] in investments, the EU has leveraged over €1 billion [INR 9000 crores] to support sustainable urbanization in India, reaffirming the EU’s commitment for the period 2025-2027.

Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), outlined India’s commitment to urban innovation, stating, “Indian cities are adopting smart solutions, developing green infrastructure, and implementing inclusive policies to ensure sustainable urbanization for future generations.” He emphasized the growing synergy between India and the EU in creating sustainable cities that foster innovation, resilience, and inclusive growth while addressing pressing climate challenges.

The forum served as a platform to shape a collaborative approach to India’s urban transformation, ensuring alignment with emerging challenges and opportunities. It reaffirmed the commitment of India and the EU to drive smart, sustainable, and inclusive urban development in line with MoHUA’s programs and missions.