This article investigates the elements of hard and soft urbanregeneration processes, largely grounded in the rationale ofintegrated, sustainable urban development supported by EUpolicies. Based on existing literature, it proposes a conceptualframework to distinguish hard from soft urban regeneration.Finally, this paper discusses the contribution of circular cities’strategies to foster soft urban regeneration, taking the case of thePortuguese InC2 Initiative (2019–2023). Mostly based on aliterature review, the analysis concludes that this Initiative hasprovided a very positive contribution to shift urban regenerationprocesses by reinforcing urban municipality cooperation, multi-level planning, knowledge sharing and administrative capacity.

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• Geografia Económica e Social - Ciências Sociais