Cities Forum 2025 - Mayors’ debate

The discussion between Mayors and deputy Mayors revolved around what makes a city liveable, how has EU support helped address specific local challenges, how can the voice of cities be included in policy and decision-making processes at EU level and sharing of ideas for the future EU Agenda for Cities.

Krakow (PL) was represented by its deputy Mayor, Maria Klaman. She highlighted the priorities of the city for developing green spaces, sustainable public transport, and making Krakow more open and accessible to everyone with a participatory approach on-going for preparing the Krakow strategy for 2030. Challenges in terms of air pollution, housing, and tourism management are to be tackled while taking into account societal polarisation. When connecting this issue to EU funds, the city representative recommended to not only focus on infrastructure development support but also on social inclusion and soft measures, through more integrated mechanisms and instruments to adapt the policy mix of measures to local needs. Krakow’ s representative also evoked the importance of the ability for cities to secure funding, of grassroot cooperation, working with local communities to increase impact in shaping EU programmes and the need to streamline communication.

The city of Bologna (IT), was represented by its deputy Mayor in charge of climate action and European funds, Anna Lisa Boni. She highlighted the work of the city to implement Cohesion policy and the Recovery and Resilience Facility funds from the European Union to reach the city’s ambitions for sustainability and climate neutrality. The city is also known for its access to basic services, low unemployment and rich educational and cultural offer. As the speaker emphasized, there is no need in pushing for competitiveness without focusing on increasing quality of life and attractiveness of territories. The deputy Mayor valued the preparation of an EU Agenda for cities, to highlight their role as engines for delivering on numerous priorities. Implementation and delivery are the next challenge to fulfil common ambitions. Corresponding funding should be provided in the next Multiannual Financial Framework, and all EU institutions should work on the basis of this future Agenda for cities.

The Mayor of Plovdiv (BG), Kostadin Dimitrov, referred to the role of the city as an economic and transport hub, and European capital of Culture in 2019, under the slogan ‘together’.  The city is attached to cooperation with local communities and actors, developing the cultural offer of the city which also benefits other economic sectors. The Mayor also flagged the important benefits from EU funding to develop infrastructure, while reminding of the importance of support for administrative capacity.

The Mayor of the city of Roman (RO), Laurențiu Dan Leoreanu, pointed to the role of its city as an industrial centre for metallurgic industry, food, textile. Its work prioritises the production of electricity, the reduction of energy costs and energy poverty, to increase independence and contribute as well to environmental goals and promote replicable solutions. Access to EU funding should fit more closely to needs of medium-sized cities, which also provide growth opportunities, and where every euro spent improves citizens lives. Roman’s representative pointed to the need for a direct dialogue between cities and EU institutions, with more tailored consultations on programmes, for cities’ voices to be part of the solution.

The positive impact of EU funds to green cities, increase the offer of sustainable transport options, and enhance economic development was highlighted.  

The session allowed to reiterate and illustrate the importance of funding support to small and medium sized urban areas in particular, to fully deploy their potential and contribute to EU priorities. It highlighted that “EU support is not a luxury but a strategic necessity for a small city”; it helps to obtain measurable impacts and enhance services for residents and surrounding areas.

Discussions also emphasised that working with local actors and communities and ensuring multi-stakeholder, integrated approach both to design and implement legislation remain crucial to ensure delivery and impact.

The European Commission will continue discussing with local authorities' representatives and work jointly towards the implementation of EU policies and legislation in cities.

An Implementation Dialogue on cities took place on 24 June 2025 with local authorities’ representatives to evoke the implementation of the provisions on Sustainable Urban development under Cohesion policy.