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News, 09/01/2025

OB-Barometer: Finances are the dominant issue for cities

Difu’s annual survey shows that finances are becoming considerably more significant as an issue. Housing, accommodating/integrating refugees and climate change mitigation were ranked much lower. Democratic scepticism and right-wing populism were identified as pressing issues for the first time. read more

News, 08/06/2025

Public transport – what will the new legislative period bring?

Safeguarding achievements, implementing the coalition agreement – and thinking ahead at the same time: to make public transport fit for the future, we must maintain and expand services while finding viable financing solutions. read more

News, 04/29/2025

The city as a raw materials store – Why cities should act circularly

The circular city is not a utopia, but the future of urban living. Municipalities can and should set the course now – for greater resilience, quality of life and independence. Circular principles create ecological, economic and social added value. read more

News, 12/16/2024

The digital provision of public utilities & services is a shared task

Without access to digital services, it is difficult to organise many necessary tasks. The digital provision of public utilities and services is therefore a basic service for which the responsibilities of the federal government, federal states and municipalities need to be clarified. read more

News, 09/19/2024

Climate Adaptation Act – Everything can, little must

For the first time, Germany’s Federal Climate Adaptation Act (KAnG) provides a nationwide legal framework for adapting to climate change. It is now in the hands of the regional federal states as to whether this will lead to the municipalities being able to prepare for climate change in good time. read more

News, 06/05/2024

Without housing provision: essential basis for integration is missing

A long-term and independent perspective for housing, which ensures privacy and security, is an important requirement for integration. When they have strong and motivated partners municipalities can make a contribution to solving this issue. read more

News, 03/27/2024

Standstill instead of necessary modernisation of the Traffic Act

The reform of the German Road Traffic Act [Straßenverkehrsgesetz] has been put on ice, meaning the municipalities’ scope to implement future-orientated measures for the necessary transport transition has been blocked. read more

News, 05/24/2023

Deploying artificial intelligence is attractive for municipalities

Recent months have been dominated by the debates around the possible risks and loss of control caused by the rapid further development of artificial intelligence. At the same time, the potential is huge as is already shown today by its increasing deployment in the municipalities. read more

Press release, 05/12/2023

OB Barometer 2023: Refugee aid is currently the most important task

According to the OB Barometer 2023, refugee aid is currently the most urgent task for the municipalities. However, with a look to the future, the town and city leaders undisputedly name climate topics as the most important areas for action. read more

News, 03/23/2023

Impulses For A Change Of Thinking

Child and youth welfare services must remain capable of acting, ensure child protection as their primary duty and properly integrate future duties in terms of quality and quality. To do so, sufficient professionals are urgently required. read more

News, 03/23/2023

Impulses For A Change Of Thinking

Child and youth welfare services must remain capable of acting, ensure child protection as their primary duty and properly integrate future duties in terms of quality and quality. To do so, sufficient professionals are urgently required. read more

News, 12/07/2022

Municipalities: key stakeholders in a successful heating transition

The heating transition is imperative — for climate change mitigation, security of supply and also for the affordability of energy. For it to work, the municipalities will be given an important coordinating role. read more

News, 10/11/2022

Municipal budgets in the age of sustainability

Sustainable development in the municipalities must include budgetary measures. The socio-economic transformation will struggle to succeed without more purposeful control of budgetary resources and funding streams. In this regard, municipalities are reliant on partners. read more

News, 06/21/2022

OB-Barometer: Climate is currently the most important municipal task

The annual survey by the German Institute of Urban Affairs (Difu) shows that compared to the previous year significantly more mayors regard climate as the municipalities’ most important current area of action. read more

News, 03/11/2022

Europe is not a luxury: If you're not at the table, you're on the menu

For many German municipalities having a European network is still not a given. Yet, the municipalities should be key players! For only as part of a network can they help shape legislation, funding opportunities and regulations. read more

News, 01/27/2022

‘Kiezblocks’ for Berlin: thinking beyond bollards!

Barcelona led the way with its ‘Superblocks’, and Berlin followed suit two years ago with its controversial ‘Kiezblocks’ – a modern take on low-traffic neighbourhoods to drive the transport revolution and sustainable urban development. read more

News, 12/06/2021

Tackling big challenges in urban development policy and law

Climate change, the energy revolution and securing social solidarity require focus to be placed on the stock in the settlements and the consistent application of a suitable legal framework. read more

News, 08/25/2021

Climate change adaptation: Glory in prevention!

The recent flood disaster in Germany has made it painfully clear to all of us how essential effective climate change adaptation measures are. Prevention plays a key role. Preventive measures must be construed as an ongoing responsibility for society as a whole. read more

News, 05/28/2021

Climate change mitigation becomes increasingly important for cities

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, climate change mitigation and mobility are the most important points on the municipal policy agenda for the mayors of the German cities and towns. Urban development is increasing in importance. These are the findings of the survey "OB-Barometer 2021". read more

News, 02/18/2021

OB-Barometer: Finances are the dominant issue for cities

Public transport – what will the new legislative period bring?

The city as a raw materials store – Why cities should act circularly

The digital provision of public utilities & services is a shared task

Climate Adaptation Act – Everything can, little must

Without housing provision: essential basis for integration is missing

Standstill instead of necessary modernisation of the Traffic Act

Deploying artificial intelligence is attractive for municipalities

OB Barometer 2023: Refugee aid is currently the most important task

Impulses For A Change Of Thinking

Impulses For A Change Of Thinking

Municipalities: key stakeholders in a successful heating transition

Municipal budgets in the age of sustainability

OB-Barometer: Climate is currently the most important municipal task

Europe is not a luxury: If you're not at the table, you're on the menu

‘Kiezblocks’ for Berlin: thinking beyond bollards!

Tackling big challenges in urban development policy and law

Climate change adaptation: Glory in prevention!

Climate change mitigation becomes increasingly important for cities

Town and city centres: Should we use taxes to control or shape them?

2016 and 2017: Spotlight on two years of intensive work at Difu

Making the Follow-up Costs of Settlement Development Transparent

Cities and Towns in the European Constitutional System

Status Report. The Programme "Social City" (Soziale Stadt)