European Commission sets out the next phase of a flagship initiative for a sustainable, inclusive and beautiful Europe 

On 16 December 2025, the European Commission presented its plans for the future of the New European Bauhaus (NEB), marking a decisive step from vision to large-scale implementation. Adopted as part of the European Affordable Housing Plan, the Communication 'New European Bauhaus: From vision to implementation', together with an accompanying proposal for a Council Recommendation, sets out how the initiative will be scaled up to strengthen its role as a driver of the clean transition and innovation in Europe and beyond. 

A proven initiative with growing impact 

Launched in 2020 by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the New European Bauhaus brings together citizens, communities, businesses and public authorities to shape a future that combines sustainability, inclusion and quality of life. Working through a bottom-up and participatory approach, the initiative aims to deliver tangible change on the ground, particularly in the built environment. 

Five years on, the NEB has become a fully-fledged European movement, with over 700 projects supported across Europe and beyond, a community of nearly 2,000 organisations, and a growing network of national, regional and local authorities linking EU action to on-the-ground implementation.  

Key messages from the new Communication 

Looking forward, the Commission positions the NEB as a strategic enabler of innovation and the clean transition, moving from experimentation to large-scale implementation. The Communication defines three main objectives to scale up the initiative: 

• Enhance circularity, sustainability and innovation in the built environment
• Empower citizens through participatory processes to strengthen democratic, inclusive and resilient neighbourhoods
• Harness the transformative power of education, arts and culture to boost creativity and innovation 

To achieve these objectives, the Communication identifies a set of flagship actions, including: 

• Fostering bio-based and circular solutions for the built environment
• Improving access to funding and strengthening multi-level governance
• Turning the NEB Academy into a core infrastructure for skills, knowledge and innovation
• Boosting communities’ resilience to climate-related risks and natural disasters
• Enhancing the recognition and evaluation of NEB projects and initiatives
• Ensuring stronger impact through coordinated funding and governance
• Expanding the international role of the NEB, including support for Ukraine 

The Communication is supported by the NEB Facility (2025–2027) under Horizon Europe, providing a stable framework to fund research, innovation and the roll-out of successful NEB solutions, while improving access to funding for smaller and local actors. 

ERRIN and the New European Bauhaus

ERRIN has been actively involved in the New European Bauhaus since the launch of the initiative, as an official NEB partner. From the outset, the NEB resonated strongly with ERRIN’s membership - in particular local and regional authorities and their innovation ecosystems. - as it gave a common name and European framework to work, many territories were already being carried out on the ground. This includes developing the built environment in harmony with community needs, promoting sustainable and bio-based solutions, valuing cultural heritage, and ensuring meaningful stakeholder involvement through bottom-up processes. 

To closely follow and contribute to the evolution of the initiative, ERRIN established a dedicated NEB Task Force at an early stage. Over the past years, the network has organised numerous workshops, policy discussions and exchanges of experience, supporting peer learning and helping members translate NEB principles into practice. ERRIN has also actively contributed to European Commission consultations, including those related to the design of the NEB Facility and welcomes the publication of the new NEB Communication as an important step towards scaling up implementation. 

ERRIN members consistently highlight that the implementation of the NEB is place-based by nature, requiring local knowledge, capacity and tailored support. Continued assistance for local and regional authorities is essential to mainstream NEB principles across policies, funding instruments and support schemes - particularly in smaller communities, where resources are often limited. In this context, ERRIN strongly welcomed the NEB Boost call for small municipalities launched in January 2025 and is pleased to see this instrument reaffirmed in the new Communication. 

In parallel, ERRIN is directly involved in several NEB-related projects, including NEB Junction, a NEB Hub for Results and Impact under Horizon Europe. ERRIN welcomes the recognition of this initiative in the Communication, alongside the EU Preparatory Action for Innovation in Place-based Transformation and its NEB Experimentation Journey, in which ERRIN is also actively engaged. 

While fully recognising the crucial role of national governments in the next phase of the New European Bauhaus, ERRIN underlines the importance of ensuring that NEB priorities and approaches are fully embraced at the national level and that regional and local authorities are closely involved in the design and implementation of future instruments. Continued political commitment at the EU level will remain essential, as it has been instrumental in placing the NEB high on local political agendas and in fostering European cooperation among territories.