With the term “smart cities” or “smart communities” we refer to societal groups that offer digital services to their members (citizens, visitors, administrators, organisations etc.) which ultimately aim at the at their welfare and overall quality of life.
Smart cities target to achieve the optimal management of resources, progress towards more environmentally friendly methods of heating, aim at the reduction of local traffic, waste and pollution and generally offer better services to their members. The aim is to form better structured communities, that can ultimately reach the European Green Deal objectives. Furthermore, members of smart cities are actively engaged in their community's administration and decision-making processes, facilitated by interactive management approaches that prioritize people-centred structures and participation.
The European Commission is supporting the digital transformation of cities and communities, through various initiatives, platforms and programs, such as the Living-in.EU movement, the data space for smart communities and the DIGITAL programme.
See all initiatives and explore news and information about smart cities here and subscribe to shaping Europe's Digital Future website updates.