Driving competitiveness and inclusiveness in intermediary cities: Supporting the Right to Stay in the EU

Building on two OECD-EU projects, this session will explore how to strengthen the competitiveness of intermediary cities while ensuring all residents have access to opportunities. It will examine their roles as service hubs, employment centres, and urban-rural connectors, as well as key challenges such as skills mismatches and pressures on housing and services. The discussion will highlight practical, place-based and people-centred approaches to boost productivity, improve access to quality jobs, essential services, and affordable housing, and foster more inclusive and balanced urban development across Europe, ultimately advancing the Right to Stay in Europe.