ANCI IDEALI, the European Foundation of Cities, was created by ANCI in December 2006. Its main objective is to strengthen the role of Italian cities at European level, asking for more urban policy and instruments to the EU Institutions. ANCI IDEALI Foundation is a “network of networks” that associates: - Capital cities of provinces - Municipalities involved in European programmes and projects - Associations, organisations, agencies which were already partners of Ideali. Main objectives: 1-Improving the role of the cities in Europe: An international profile improves cities' competitiveness. ANCI IDEALI encourages member cities to rediscover and use their historical heritage, cultural attractiveness, businesses, research centres and innovative experiences to present themselves in Europe. 2-Enhancing competences: ANCI IDEALI gives local authorities the know-how to improve their administrative action through training on specific European Commission programmes and technical assistance to prepare appropriate communitarian projects. 3-Establishing relations and partnerships: The wide network of relationships established in Europe by Ideali is an opportunity and a starting point to create new partnerships between Italian and European cities, to compare innovation and governance experiences, to learn from positive European examples and to make known the successful Italian cases. Study trips, experiences exchanges, benchmarking among administrative models are promoted to foster cooperation among European cities. ANCI IDEALI helps, on one hand, member cities to find European partners for communitarian projects, and, on the other hand, European cities to find Italian cities interested in joining their projects.