From Plans to Action: Indian Cities Drive EU–India Urban Cooperation Forward

EU–India city partnerships are moving from knowledge exchange to implementation—delivering scalable, climate-smart urban solutions across India

Across India, cities are beginning to translate international cooperation into real, field-based change—from mountain towns shaping sustainable tourism to industrial cities rethinking waste and mobility systems. Under the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Programme, this shift from planning to implementation is gaining momentum, reflecting a broader EU–India urban partnership for climate-smart, resilient, and inclusive cities.

A recent meeting with the EU Delegation in India and the CITIIS programme marked an important step in strengthening this transition. While IURC provides a platform for global knowledge exchange and capacity building, CITIIS brings a technology and investment focus, creating a bridge between ideas and execution. Together, they represent a complementary ecosystem linking policy, finance, and execution.

The city of Jabalpur stands at the centre of this convergence. Actively engaged in both programmes, Jabalpur is exploring solutions in the waste and circular economy sector, with a jointly planning to develop projects that can move from concept to implementation—demonstrating how multi-level and multi-stakeholder collaboration can accelerate urban transformation.

Across different thematic areas, Indian cities are shaping their own pathways:

1. In Pimpri Chinchwad, efforts are underway to promote future-ready and people-centric mobility, including non-motorised transport and shared mobility systems that prioritise accessibility, efficiency, and reduced emissions.
2. In the Himalayan city of Gangtok, the focus is on sustainable tourism and circular economy practices. The city is preparing to host an international study visit and lead a session on zero-waste tourism—positioning itself as a knowledge hub for mountain cities and advancing nature-based and resource-efficient solutions.
3. Meanwhile, Cuttack and Jabalpur are testing innovative circular economy approaches, from wastewater reuse to digital tools for waste management, contributing to resource efficiency and urban resilience.
4. In Chennai, innovation is focused on biogas and circular carbon systems, supporting the transition toward low-carbon and climate-smart urban development.
5. Leh contributes valuable insights on climate resilience in fragile mountain ecosystems, reinforcing the importance of context-specific adaptation and risk-informed urban planning.

What connects these diverse efforts is a shared trajectory: cities are moving from planning toward implementation, scaling, and replication of solutions, supported by decentralised city-to-city cooperation and structured knowledge exchange:

With study visits, pilot actions, and funding opportunities lined up through 2026 and beyond, Indian cities are not only learning from global peers—they are beginning to lead by example.

This evolving partnership between IURC, the EU Delegation, and national initiatives like CITIIS reflects a common goal: to build sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities, where international cooperation delivers tangible benefits for citizens.