The aim of the text is to highlight the achievements and outline the challenges which the European Union (EU) policy for sustainable development is facing in an attempt to identify the orientation and boundaries of a successful urban development strategy. Firstly, I analyze the problems related to the definition of the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development. Secondly, I raise the question why cities and urban development are important when talking about and striving for sustainability. On this theoretical basis and based on the presented data on urbanization and urban development, the text focuses further on the strategies for sustainable urban development at European level and in a global context, highlighting possible perspectives and obstacles. The thesis presented is that cities, city governments and urban communities are one of the main “players” in sustainable development policy at all levels – global, supranational (European Union), regional, national and local. The analysis of the policies at two of these levels – global and European – shows that cities are indeed leaders in the process of sustainable development. Under the pressure of urbanization, intensified human mobility and concentration of services in urban spaces, it is increasingly necessary to think globally and in terms of sustainability. The EU Urban Agenda, adopted in 2016, introduces an innovative working method for multilevel management of sustainability and objectives, co-chaired by all partners on a voluntary, inclusive, and equal basis. This confirms the conclusion that sustainable urban development and sustainable development in general are impossible without coordinated action, common strategies and shared visions of all social actors and stakeholders as well as integrated approach at EU level.
Rumiana Jeleva (Wed,) studied this question.