New Urban Progress is revitalizing transatlantic relations by cultivating dialogue with community organizers, researchers, politicians, journalists, and start-up founders on how urban areas can be innovative, networked, and fair.

Presidential elections were planned for May 10th in Poland. The ruling PiS-party was determined to hold the election despite the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, but was forced to cancel it last minute as political pressure became too high. The current state of democracy and rule of law in the country has already been criticised for some time. In this interview, Maria Skóra, Head of the Programme International Dialogue at Das Progressive Zentrum, explains how the government is using the current health crisis to its advantage – and how this undermines democracy.

Over the course of three years, the project New Urban Progress is set to promote an exchange of ideas on how to deal with local challenges in Germany and the USA. It focuses on the role of cities in inclusive growth and sustainable innovation.

 
Maria Skóra, Head of Programme “International Dialogue” at Das Progressive Zentrum, has published an op-ed in the “International Politics and Society Journal” (IPS). She investigates the political impact of the COVID-19 crisis in Poland and unveils strategies of the governing PiS party in light of the upcoming presidential elections. 
 

Cities and metropolitan areas are currently protagonists in addressing climate change, energy transitions, rising xenophobia and increases in populism. However, how well they can lead these social transformations will depend on if their own communities are inclusive and equitable.

Watch the New Urban Progress United States kickoff of the three-year, comparative study of metro innovation. The launch will feature conversations with prominent urban leaders and mayors (in formation), including Mayor Bill Peduto, Pittsburgh, PA; Mayor Levar Stoney, Richmond, VA; Mayor Lovely Ann Warren, Rochester, NY; Former Mayor Sly James, Kansas City, MO.

How can we create inclusive, networked and fair cities of tomorrow? Discuss, debate and design with New Urban Progress this April in Leipzig!

New Urban Progress is working on making the cities of the future work. 100 experts will meet in Washington DC on March 10th to discuss inclusive innovation, networked governance, and social mobility in cities and metropolitan areas. Using these three themes as a framework, they will focus on identifying the current challenges US cities are facing.

New Urban Progress initiates a conversation with German and U.S.-American experts, activists, and local authorities on urban challenges and diverse innovative solutions on both sides of the Atlantic.

After innovating its governing structure, Das Progressive Zentrum is now led by an extended executive team, which is comprised of the Executive Director as well as three Heads of Programmes, the Head of Office and the Head of Communications.

New Urban Progress is pleased to announce its Sounding Board! The team is made up of seven transatlantic and metropolitan policy professionals, who will guide the project with their expertise. New Urban Progress supports transatlantic conversations on the future of cities while rethinking transatlantic relations.

Three organizations are joining forces in a transatlantic project which aims to support innovation in urban areas and to revitalise democratic engagement.

Am Mittwoch Abend des 16. Oktober 2019 trafen führende Köpfe aus Wissenschaft, Politik und Wirtschaft aufeinander um über die Herausforderungen der Zukunft der Arbeit zu diskutieren.

On the day of the Polish parliamentary election in 2019, our Head of Programme International Relations talked on British television about the obvious success of the ruling PiS party – and the less obvious one of the Left.

The discussion paper takes a closer look at the European Election Campaigns 2019 in France, Germany and Poland and analyses whether they favoured the emergence of a Europeanised public sphere.

Maria Skóra and Sophie Pornschlegel take a closer look at the European Election Campaigns 2019 in France, Germany and Poland and analyse whether they favoured the emergence of a Europeanised public sphere.

On May 29, the second workshop on dimensions, challenges and opportunities of a just transition took place in Brussels. The goal was to foster international exchange and knowledge sharing on the way to a more just and sustainable energy transition. Perspectives from eight countries worldwide contributed to an exciting debate on the role of foreign policy in that process.

We often hear that “Brussels is too far away” from the EU citizens: the turnout of the European Parliament elections is low, nationalist populism and Euroscepticism are on the rise. What to do? How to enhance citizens’ understanding of the EU, broaden ownership of the European project and build trust in the European structures?

In May 2019, Hungary celebrated 15 years of EU membership. However, the European Parliament believes that Hungary is in breach of EU values, thereby posing a threat to the existence of the union. The fundamental restructuring of the political system initiated by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party has had a tangible impact on the functioning of Hungarian democracy, raising concerns and criticism. How will this conflict develop – both with regard to Hungary as an EU member state and with regard to the future of the EU?

In May 2019, Hungary celebrated 15 years of EU membership. However, the European Parliament believes that Hungary is in breach of EU values, thereby posing a threat to the existence of the union. The fundamental restructuring of the political system initiated by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party has had a tangible impact on the functioning of Hungarian democracy, raising concerns and criticism. How will this conflict develop – both with regard to Hungary as an EU member state and with regard to the future of the EU?