Cities

The CIVITAS Forum Network is a platform for the exchange of knowledge, ideas and best practice between cities committed to introducing sustainable urban transport policies. Any European city can become a member.

By signing the CIVITAS Forum Declaration (see adjacent), they join an active community of over 300 cities, most of whom have taken part in at least one of the initiative's five phases.  

Regular workshops and training events inform and inspire members, who can also participate in the annual CIVITAS Forum Conference. Politicians from Forum cities can apply to be part of the Political Advisory Committee (PAC). Through sharing of expertise and promotion of  continuous learning, the network ensures that it remains at the forefront of pioneering clean urban transport across Europe.

How to join

Eligible cities

The CIVITAS Forum is open to all cities that want to learn more about the usefulness of individual measures that support clean urban transport and the best ways to combine and integrate them on a large scale. Participating cities have to prove their political and technical commitments to introduce ambitious, integrated urban transport strategies.

Have a plan

Specifically, this means that the city plans to:

• Achieve a significant change in the transportation modal split, in favour of sustainable modes;
• Follow an integrated approach, by addressing as many of the categories of CIVITAS instruments and measures as possible in its policy.

Each city must commit itself to the introduction of an ambitious, sustainable urban transport policy. This commitment must be politically endorsed on the CIVITAS Forum Declaration by the signature of a local politician who has executive power, such as Councilor or (Vice) Mayor.

Be an active member

Active participation in the CIVITAS Forum further requires that:

• A representative of your city attends CIVITAS Forum meetings;
• You have a constructive and proactive approach to the distribution of information about the CIVITAS Initiative, at local and national levels;
• You provide a paper that gives background information about your city and its transport policy. This paper should mention the categories of CIVITAS instruments and measures, and specify how they are being implemented and integrated in your city.

How to join

To become a member, simply follow these steps:

• Download the CIVITAS Forum Network declaration and administrative annex here (right column). The Declaration is available in all the EU languages. 
• Complete and sign the declaration and administrative annex.
• Send the declaration and administrative annex to the CIVITAS Secretariat at secretariat@civitas.eu.

Once the declaration has been reviewed and approved, your city will receive a confirmation letter from the Chair of the CIVITAS Political Advisory Committee and a CIVITAS welcome package sent by the CIVITAS Secretariat.

You will be then asked to provide pictures and city information (in English) to be placed on the website (a specific webpage will be created for your city on CIVITAS.eu).  

Should you have any questions, please contact the CIVITAS Secretariat at secretariat@civitas.eu.

Benefits

The CIVITAS Forum Network brings together all CIVITAS towns and cities committed to introduce ambitious clean urban transport strategies. Participation in the CIVITAS Forum Network bring several advantages at various levels, including assistance with policy formation, visibility, and learning from other cities' experiences.

The Network is open to all towns and cities that want to learn more about the usefulness of individual measures supporting clean urban transport and the best ways to combine and integrate them on a large scale. Members are invited to demonstrate their political and technical commitments to introduce ambitious integrated urban transport strategies.

Joining the CIVITAS Forum Network offers members 5 concrete benefits:

1. Branding

CIVITAS Forum Network members belong to an association of towns and cities that are pioneering sustainable urban mobility. They can widely communicate their commitment to sustainable urban mobility by using the CIVITAS Forum Network Member logo.

2. International Visibility

CIVITAS Forum Network members can showcase their local experiences and achievements, via for example:

• Participating in the annual CIVITAS FORUM Conference;
• Hosting CIVITAS events such as study tours and peer-reviews and participating in other activities, such as webinars. Check the CIVITAS calendar to find out more about past and future events;
• Boosting the member's visibility through a dedicated page on the CIVITAS website, which showcases their mobility-related projects and plans;
• Sharing articles and news through the CIVITAS website, CIVITAS social media (Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn) and MOVE, the quarterly CIVITAS newsletter.

3. Networking

CIVITAS Forum Network members can participate in the annual CIVITAS FORUM conference and present the results of their urban mobility measures within technical sessions and/or the exhibition.

4. Recognition

Members of the CIVITAS Forum Network can apply for the CIVITAS AWARD, official European Commission recognition of the most ambitious, innovative and successful efforts of towns and cities in the field of sustainable urban mobility.

5. Partnership

Political representatives (elected councillors, vice-mayors and mayors) of members of the CIVITAS Forum Network can become members of the CIVITAS Political Advisory Committee (PAC) that acts as the steering group of the CIVITAS Initiative and network of cities in collaboration with the Commission.