A Challenge Worth Taking: The Experience of EUI Peer Reviews
Imagine having a job that allows you to visit beautiful places across Europe—taking you to picturesque towns you might never have visited otherwise and revealing the emotional side of industrial transition (yes, there is one).
Imagine work that brings you together with fantastic peers: people with rich experience and deep knowledge, ready to dive into serious professional discussions but also to laugh and let their inner child out.
Imagine work that truly makes a difference—sparking new ways of thinking and improving life in municipalities across the European Union.
Would you take the job?
For those who accepted the “job”, i.e. the opportunity offered by the European Urban Initiative (EUI)—whether as Peer Reviewers, Cities Under Review, or EUI Peer Review Experts—numerous opportunities for growth have emerged.
In March 2026, the 13th Peer Review event took place, this time in Joensuu, Finland. What an adventure it turned out to be. While spring had begun to touch many parts of Europe, we found ourselves in the cold—yet truly magical—North, still covered in snow and ice.
Around 40 people, all passionate about sustainable urban development, gathered to address challenges faced by the cities of Pärnu and Saue in Estonia, and the host city of Joensuu. Among them was experienced Peer Reviewer Aikaterini Iosifidou from the Municipality of Drama (Greece), who shared her insights in a short interview with our CEO, Petra Grgasović, an EUI Peer Review expert.
“Every time I return to my municipality after a Peer Review, I share what I have learned with my colleagues and with the Mayor,” says Aikaterini with an honest smile.
What happens prior to the event?
Although the Peer Review event itself is short, its preparation begins months in advance. It requires dedication from both the City Under Review (CUR) and the group of Peers assigned to it. The process starts with the identification of three key challenges that the CUR considers crucial for the development and implementation of its Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) Strategy. Each city is supported by a tandem of two EUI Peer Review experts, who help clarify these challenges, shape the guiding questions for the Peers, and provide the necessary context.
Throughout the preparation phase, the EUI Peer Review experts accompany the City Under Review and guide the process—no city is left to navigate it alone.
The Peers themselves are representatives of other cities, selected for their experience and expertise, who come together to provide recommendations and share insights with the City Under Review.
Aikaterini confirmed: “Being a Peer Reviewer is not difficult, but you must prepare well. You need to understand that you are there to help another city.”
What does a Peer Review event look like?
One thing should be said right from the start: the schedule of a Peer Review event is intense. During the two days of the event, there are only a few hours of free time.
Yet the demanding agenda hardly feels like a burden when the sessions are engaging, and the participants are genuinely eager to contribute. In each Peer Review, one City Under Review works together with representatives from several peer cities to explore solutions, exchange practices, and develop practical recommendations. At the same time, many sessions bring different groups together, creating opportunities to connect with other Cities Under Review and their Peers. These exchanges not only enrich the discussions but also make the experience enjoyable and a great opportunity to expand one’s professional network.
As Aikaterini explains: “When you meet people who have done things differently or achieved more than you have in your own city, it motivates you to move forward. The Peer Reviews create a strong network and bring together experts who share knowledge and practical examples that we can bring back to our municipalities.”
How can you get involved?
If this experience sounds appealing, you might wonder how cities become Cities Under Review or how some city representatives become Peer Reviewers.
The good news is that many European cities can take part in the process. Participation is organised through regular Calls launched by the European Urban Initiative (EUI). Cities can apply either to become a City Under Review, presenting a concrete challenge related to the development or implementation of their Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) Strategy, or to participate as a Peer Reviewer, sharing their experience and insights with other European cities.
The most recent Call for Peer Reviews opened on 11 March 2026 and runs until 22 April 2026. Selected cities will participate in Peer Review events organised between July and December 2026. The activity is fully financed by the European Urban Initiative and includes expert guidance throughout the entire process.
If you are interested, you can apply today.
Is it worth it?
Some might argue that the logistics and time required to organise and participate in a Peer Review event are not proportional to the benefits. Preparing challenges, coordinating participants, and dedicating several days to intensive discussions can indeed seem demanding.
However, the value of the experience quickly becomes clear. The Peer Review process offers cities a rare opportunity to step back from their daily routines, reflect on their strategies, and receive constructive feedback from peers who face similar challenges. The discussions are honest, practical and solution oriented.
“My Mayor’s only complaint is that he doesn’t get to come with me to the Peer Reviews,” Aikaterini laughs.
Beyond the concrete recommendations produced during the event, the true impact often lies in the connections created along the way. Participants leave not only with new ideas, but also with a stronger professional network and a renewed sense of motivation to advance sustainable urban development in their own cities.
So, is it worth it? For those who have taken part in the process, the answer is a clear yes. If you have not yet experienced it, join us and find out—perhaps the next Peer Review will give you your own story to imagine.
