The Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing uses EU funding in order to expand its financial and political scope: EU Structural Funds complement Berlin’s measures for sustainable, integrated, social and economic development of Berlin’s neighbourhoods. The help to improve the living conditions of Berlin residents, especially in more the disadvantaged parts of the city.
Furthermore, the Senate Department participates in European action programmes to work with European partners to find concrete solutions to challenges of urban development and to find the best solutions for Berlin.
European Structural Funds: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF):
“Europa im Quartier” (Europe in the Neighbourhood) was developed by the Senate Department to implement integrated urban development projects within the framework of the Berlin ERDF programme. At the heart of the funding programme is support of more disadvantaged parts of the city through construction and/or socio-integrative projects. More information…
European action programmes
The Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing has participated in two projects funded by the European research and innovation funding programme Horizon Europe (or Horizon 2020):
Between 2020 and 2023, the “Edible Cities Network” developed solutions for social, resilient and sustainable cities. Various edible projects were tested in living labs and the findings were used to create planning and strategy papers. The Berlin living labs included Gutsgarten Hellersdorf and St. Jacobi Cemetery.
Since November 2024, the project “Timberhaus – Climate-smart use of wood in the construction sector to support the New European Bauhaus” has been focusing on developing holistic and circular timber construction plans for multi-storey buildings. Unused timber and reclaimed wood are also considered. For Berlin, the former airport Tegel serves as the pilot project.
Under the headline “European Territorial Cooperation”, the Senate Department represented by the Spatial Planning Department Berlin-Brandenburg (Gemeinsame Landesplanung Berlin-Brandenburg) participates in Interreg programmes. These are part of the EU regional policy and support cross border, transnational and interregional cooperation of stakeholders in Europe on issues such as climate change, energy, environmental and resource protection, labour markets, social development and mobility. More information…