The Role of the EU Mission Cities Program in Advancing Climate-Neutral Smart Cities in Central Europe

Berkecz, Balázs and Maráz, Henriett and Trócsányi, András (2027) The Role of the EU Mission Cities Program in Advancing Climate-Neutral Smart Cities in Central Europe. MODERN GEOGRÁFIA, 22 (1). pp. 171-190. ISSN 2062-1655 (In Press)

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Abstract

The study examines the role of the European Union’s “Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities” Mission (Mission Cities) in advancing climate-neutral and smart urban development in Central Europe, with particular attention to the Hungarian Mission Cities (Budapest, Miskolc, and Pécs). The research is based on a qualitative methodology combining content analysis of Climate City Contract documents with semi-structured interviews conducted with city leaders and development professionals. The findings indicate that in the examined cities, smart solutions primarily appear as technological and project-based interventions, while their implementation as integrated, data-driven governance models remains limited. The success of climate-neutrality efforts largely depends on institutional capacity, financial stability, and the quality of societal participation. The study concludes that although the Mission Cities programme functions as an important catalyst, its impact in Central European cities is currently better interpreted as a strategic adaptation rather than as a deep structural urban transition.

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