Under the motto ‘Stronger Cities, Fairer Europe’, the conference will bring together hundreds of political leaders, decision-makers, experts and innovators from across the continent to reflect on the role of cities in tackling major European challenges such as the climate crisis, economic competitiveness and access to housing. The event takes place between 4 and 6 June.
The programme occurs at Forum Braga and also includes study visits to various local reference projects and facilities such as the Human Power Hub – Braga Social Innovation Centre, INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, gnration and Startup Braga. The opening ceremony is scheduled for 5 June at Forum Braga and will be attended by Ricardo Rio, mayor of Braga, Burkhard Jung, president of Eurocities and mayor of Leipzig, and Younous Omarjee, vice-president of the European Parliament.
One of the highlights of the conference will be the presentation of the Eurocities Awards, which recognise projects and personalities that have excelled in improving the quality of life in cities and responding to Europe’s most pressing challenges.
As Ricardo Rio, mayor of Braga, emphasises, ‘this will be a strategic moment to put urban priorities at the centre of the European Union’s political agenda’. For the Mayor, this conference ‘is a unique opportunity to reinforce the role of cities in building the European project and to affirm Braga as an open, innovative city committed to the future of Europe’.
According to André Sobczak, secretary general of Eurocities, “this year’s Eurocities Conference in Braga is taking place at a decisive moment for Europe. With the new European institutions defining their priorities, mayors and leaders from across the continent will come together to send a clear message: cities must be recognised as essential partners of the European Union in tackling today’s most pressing challenges, from the climate crisis and housing to Europe’s future competitiveness.”
For him, ‘the city of Braga, with its dynamism and strong European spirit, is the ideal place to host these fundamental conversations and demonstrate how cities are already leading the way towards a greener, more digital and inclusive Europe’.
During the conference, participants will also have the opportunity to make complementary visits to the cities of Porto and Guimarães, promoting co-operation and the exchange of experiences at regional level.
All the information about the event is available here.