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EUROCITIES is the network of major European cities. Founded in 1986, it brings together the local governments of 137 large cities in 36 European countries. EUROCITIES represents the interests of its members and engages in dialogue with the European institutions across a wide range of policy areas affecting cities. These include culture, economic development, the knowledge society, social affairs, environment and mobility.

EUROCITIES has a rich experience of working with European institutions: the European Commission, both at political and technical level, as well as with the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and EU member states. EUROCITIES coordinates and is involved in several EU-funded projects, including: the Covenant of Mayors, a mainstream European initiative involving cities in climate mitigation via a more sustainable use of energy; and Culture for Cities and Regions, a €1 million Creative Europe project aiming to examine existing practices of culture as a key driver of local and regional development strategies. As the network of major cities, EUROCITIES puts local authorities together and builds up bridges among them to create optimum conditions for exchange, transfer and take-up activities.

Over the past year, EUROCITIES has developed strong and precise competences in knowledge transfer methodologies: work shadowing, mentoring visits, peer-to-peer reviews, study visits which have been implemented in several field of activities, though many projects, and have shown high benefits to European cities.

EUROCITIES Culture forum works to promote the increased recognition of culture as a vital aspect of public policies, and to foster access to and participation in culture for all.

EUROCITIES Knowledge Society forum supports cities to ensure that all citizens can have access to ICTs and participate in the information and knowledge society and helps public administrations to make the most of the rapid development of new technologies.

ROCK will be directly linked to the EUROCITIES Culture forum, gathering representatives from more than 100 cities. The EUROCITIES Culture forum aims to raise awareness of the contributions made by culture and cultural heritage to challenges faced by cities. Its members share knowledge, best practices implemented in their cities and develop cooperation projects. They closely follow EU developments on culture and develop positions linked to EU policy, for example on specific funding programmes or on European Capitals of Culture. The Culture forum thematic working groups gather specialist practitioners on young people and culture, access to culture, culture as a resource and the cultural and creative industries. A specific group will be created on heritage-led regeneration.

EUROCITIES main tasks in ROCK will be the development and management of a series of peer-to-peer exchanges for practitioners and politicians. EUROCITIES will also support the exchange of successful practices on heritage-led urban regeneration and lead on selected dissemination tasks. EUROCITIES will also make sure that the activities and outcomes of the project are well communicated to representatives of the European institutions and of other relevant European networks and that they feed in the work carried by European institutions regarding urban development in general.

Eurocities will lead WP1 Mapping and Mentoring and will have the leadership of mentoring and knowledge sharing activities.