Abstract. Europe is currently facing major new challenges such as globalisation, climate change, the demographic decline, migration and energy security. EU’s urban policies are critical for the competitiveness growth of European cities. The integrated urban development policies offer a set of tools which have already proved their value in numerous European cities regarding the development of administration structures that are supporting an efficient and capable way to cooperate with one another.

Keywords: urban policies; urban development; competitiveness; European cities.