In May, our Executive Director Andrew Glass Hastings had the opportunity to attend the POLIS Network Leadership Summit, where leaders from cities across Europe gathered to discuss the shared challenges and opportunities facing urban areas today. One clear takeaway emerged from that trip: cities in the U.S. and Europe have far more in common than not.
From the bustling streets of Los Angeles to the historic boulevards of Paris, cities are grappling with many of the same core issues—affordability, housing, climate change, and traffic safety. Increasingly, city leaders on both sides of the Atlantic are voicing the same urgent call: we need stronger, more structured partnerships with our national governments.
At the summit, European city leaders emphasized their desire for deeper collaboration with the European Commission, echoing a familiar sentiment from U.S. cities that seek a more engaged and supportive relationship with the federal government. Recently, more than 80 mayors from across the EU, along with 12 major city networks including POLIS, Eurocities, and ICLEI Europe, published a joint letter outlining clear priorities for how national and supranational institutions can better support cities.
The letter’s key points resonate with the needs of U.S. cities, too:
- Establish permanent, structured partnerships between local/regional governments and national institutions.
- Involve cities from the start in setting agendas, designing policy, shaping financing mechanisms, and driving implementation.
- Recognize cities as more than implementers: cities are policy innovators, first responders, and the long-term stewards of community well-being.
- Empower city leadership to take on greater responsibility in achieving national and global goals.
At the Open Mobility Foundation (OMF), we see these parallels every day. Working alongside cities in both the U.S. and Europe — as well as our private-sector members and partners like NACTO, ITS America, CoMotion, Transportation for America, the International Transport Forum, UITP, and MobilityData — we strive to bridge local action with broader digital infrastructure and mobility innovation. Whether through global tools like the Mobility Data Specification (MDS) and Curb Data Specification (CDS) or through programs like the SMART Curb Collaborative, our work supports the growing role of cities as co-creators of the digital and physical infrastructure of the future.
As we continue to build these transatlantic connections, one truth remains clear: when cities come together to lead, everyone benefits. The path forward isn’t just shared — it’s collaborative.
Let’s keep building. The Open Mobility Foundation works with cities in both the U.S. and Europe. Learn more about becoming an OMF member today.Â
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