Europäisierung der Städtepolitik? Das Beispiel 'CIPU' in Luxemburg

Europeanization of Urban Policy? The example of 'CIPU' in Luxemburg

For many years, the ‘Europeanization’ of urban policy and urban development has been vividly discussed as a result of European and intergovernmental initiatives in this particular policy field. Based on Radaelli’s concept of Europeanization, this paper examines the development of a European urban policy as well as its increasing importance and impact on the Luxembourgish urban policy with the example of the National Information Cell for Urban Policy (Cellule nationale d’Information pour la Politique Urbaine – CIPU), established in 2008. The empirical evidence shows that the competent Luxembourgish institutions have recognized that European urban policy is of vital importance to the sustainable and polycentric development of Luxembourg. Due to the establishment of CIPU, greater account is taken of the potential of cities and the current challenges that they are facing. This is achieved, among other things, by means of better coordination and an improved provision of information for Luxembourgish stakeholders, a more efficient concentration of means and measures as well as extended opportunities for local stakeholders to influence European policy-making.