CITIES Forum 2020: “Together we shape a sustainable future”

The 4^th CITIES Forum 2020, which was organised by the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission and the City of Porto, brought together more than 700 key stakeholders from European, national and local levels on 30 and 31 January 2020. This major event was also a good opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the European Union in terms of urban development and on future directions.

The ERDF Directorate of Brussels International actively participated in the event, presenting the project for integrated health and social centres of Doctors of the World. The project aims to provide a response to the major challenges that large cities face, in a context of migration crises and the issue of access to care for vulnerable populations. The project provides for the establishment of two new integrated health and social centres in the Brussels-Capital Region, bringing together a series of existing and recognised support services under one roof (social services, mental health, family planning, debt mediation, help with drug addiction, primary health care). By grouping all these operators in one place, this project of Doctors of the World constitutes an important link in the Brussels health ecosystem, in view of the precarious circumstances of certain population groups.