The new International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme was launched on 4 May in India during the 2nd India–EU Urban Forum in the presence of Mr Kunal Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; Dr Ronald Hall, Senior Expert, Directorate General of Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission; and Ms Kamilla Kristensen-Rai, Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union to India. Mr Pablo Gandara, Team Leader of IURC Asia & Australasia, introduced the key programme elements while Mr Panagiotis Karamanos, IURC Urban Development Expert India, explained the benefits for Indian cities.
The 2nd India–EU Urban Forum on Sustainable Urbanisation for a Greener Tomorrow was held online on 4 and 5 May 2021. It was organised by the Delegation of the European Union to India and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under the Partnership on Smart and Sustainable Urbanisation between the EU and the Government of India. The 1st India–EU Urban Forum was held in September 2019 in New Delhi.
The forum brought together the Government of India, State Government, Indian and European cities, the EU, EU Member States, organisations, financing agencies, European businesses and partners on Sustainable Urbanisation for a Greener Tomorrow through 9 Sessions: 1) Promoting Smart and Sustainable Cities; 2) Investments in Sustainable Urbanisation; 3) Climate Action and Disaster Risk Reduction in Cities; 4) Solid Waste Management & Treatment – Promoting Circular Economy 5) European Businesses in Sustainable Urbanisation & B2B on Sustainable Urbanisation; 6) Water Supply & Sewage System; 7) Innovation in Housing; 8) Metropolitan Planning – Urban Resilience and Governance and 9) Urban Mobility.