The German Urban Studies Institute has estimated that the investment needs of municipalities across the country amount to some EUR 47 billion a year. This event attempted to pinpoint specific ways to raise these resources and identify the financing sources – tried and trusted or innovative; regional, national and European – that are available to help meet the manifold challenges.

The presentations and discussions provided an opportunity to exchange ideas on current urban development issues with representatives of the worlds of politics, management and finance against the backdrop of the financial crisis. The emphasis was on the financing and implementation of municipal transport, education, energy efficiency, water and waste management projects.