An assessment of the achievements and lessons learnt from the 'Healthy Cities' World Health Organization initiative launched in Europe fifteen years ago, now regarded as one of the cornerstones of the new public health movement. The continuing success, relevance and appeal of the healthy cities concept to politicians, professionals, NGOs and communities has resulted in a continuing growth of the movement across Europe and the world. A unique feature of the global movement is the WHO 'Healthy Cities Network in Europe': fifty fully committed cities that work directly with the World Health Organization and provide the impetus for innovation, experimentation and precious know-how. Developed over three 5-year phases between 1998 and 2002 with each phase focused on a different strategic agenda, the initiative entered a fourth on-going phase in 2003. This book reviews the accomplishments of Healthy Cities so far, inclulding healthy public policy, partnerships for health and sustainable development, integrated health development planning, equity, vulnerability and exclusion, urban design and transport, participative governance and community empowerment, and networking and international cooperation.