The Spanish Urban Agenda (AUE), approved in 2019, has become the main strategic framework guiding urban and territorial development toward a more sustainable, inclusive, and balanced model. Adopted by regional and local governments of all sizes, the AUE has moved from an initial phase of awareness and diagnosis to one focused on effective implementation. Spain faces this process within a context of triple ecological, digital, and demographic transition, which demands adapting cities and territories, ensuring affordable housing, reducing inequalities, promoting sustainable mobility, and protecting biodiversity. The AUE serves as a bridge between major international agendas and local action, positioning municipalities as key actors in achieving real transformation. Its implementation requires strengthening multilevel governance and fostering cooperation among public administrations, economic sectors, and citizens.
Only through this collaborative approach can Local Action Plans become true instruments of transformative impact. The Agenda promotes a paradigm shift—placing sustainability, social cohesion, territorial equity, and quality of life at the heart of urban management. Experience so far has shown that implementation cannot be approached in isolation. Effective cooperation between levels of government is essential to ensure policy coherence, leverage synergies, and avoid duplication. The AUE has become a shared language that enables joint action on challenges such as climate change, demographic shifts, and the management of European funds. However, several challenges remain.
Many municipalities—especially small and medium-sized ones—lack the technical and financial resources needed to translate the Agenda’s objectives into action. Citizen participation continues to require sustained efforts, and mechanisms for monitoring, evaluation, and policy coordination need to be strengthened. In this context, the Third Spanish Urban Forum emerges as a key platform to advance the process, encourage exchange of experiences, and identify innovative solutions to reinforce the AUE’s implementation across the country. Ultimately, implementing the Spanish Urban Agenda means transforming a shared vision into concrete public policies, tangible projects, and measurable outcomes that respond to both present and future challenges.