The start of the 21^st century offers a unique historical moment to build a transatlantic exchange focusing on the challenges facing cities and regions as dramatic changes - economic, social, and environmental - are occurring in Europe and the United States. Cities and regions in both the United States and the European Union are grappling with similar economic and social challenges - aging urban infrastructure, energy costs and environmental quality concerns, social integration, changing demographics, workforce development, and economic restructuring, to name just a few.  Most of these policy areas are dealt with at the local and regional, rather than national government levels, yet there are very few opportunities for civic leaders to meet, to observe new approaches to persistent challenges, and to exchange best practices in addressing these challenges effectively.

The Comparative Domestic Policy Program is contributing to this exchange of ideas through the creation of a Transatlantic Cities Network. The Network's main focus is to share innovative approaches to challenges affecting cities and regions, including urban economic development, sustainable development and energy, and changing demographics and social policy, with a particular focus on nationally significant cities and regions.  The CDP program has three main components that underpin the Network: highly focused study tours, research fellowships, and seminars and policy briefings.