During the June NAT External Commission meeting in Toruń, Poland, Mr Banaszak, was appointed rapporteur for the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU referral on "Cities as Health Promoters".

With 70% of Europeans living in cities, the opinion will aim to outline the impact that the urban environment has on health outcomes. On the one hand, urban residents may enjoy better health and well-being than people living in rural areas because of better access to health infrastructure and services in general, improved sanitation, higher income, and better levels of social support. On the other hand, an unhealthy urban environment can contribute to a greater prevalence of non-communicable diseases, communicable diseases through crowding and spreading of infections, lack of adequate ventilation and sanitation, and acute respiratory diseases from outdoor and indoor air pollution and mouldy housing interiors. Mental health is also frequently poorer in cities.

The opinion will explore how smart and connected urban policies can influence health outcomes: transport and mobility, green spaces, urban planning, early childhood and education, public procurement, and social care.

The opinion will be up for adoption in the NAT Commission meeting in October before being presented at the CoR plenary in November.