Urban areas account for more than 70% of the population within the EU. According to the European Commission, urban areas consume also 70% of energy whilst they account for 75% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions, therefore making cities the place where most energy savings could be made. Furthermore, cities are centres for most of the economic, social and cultural activities in Europe creating approximately 80% of  the EU’s GDP. As urbanisation is expected to increase in the following decades, there is an urgent need to work towards further developing models that promote more citizen-centred, economically viable and environmentally sustainable solutions in European cities.The symposium aims to assess the challenges that lie ahead in creating smarter cities and moving towards improved and sustainable public services for citizens.