‘Shaping Tomorrow, Together’ is the motto of the European Week of Regions and Cities, which will celebrate its 23rd edition from 13 to 15 October 2025 in Brussels. Registrations close 30 September!
Eurocities will participate in several sessions. Here is the list.
Tuesday, 14 October
9:30 – 13:00
Session on the Union of Skills – organised by Twente Region
Marta Rodrigues, Eurocities Policy and Project Officer in the Social Affairs team, will speak at this session, which focuses on the European Commission’s ‘Union of Skills’ initiative, aiming to address labour and skills shortages across multiple sectors. The initiative emphasises lifelong learning, upskilling, and reskilling to empower individuals and businesses to adapt and remain competitive.
Venue: Comic Art Museum, Brussels
Those who want to participate can email Marloes Meijer, from the Twente Region.
11:30 – 13:00
Unlocking the Power of EU Funds for Cities
This session, organised by the city of Budapest with support from Eurocities, will explore how EU funds support cities in delivering local and European goals, as well as where critical gaps remain. We will discuss interim findings from the ESPON URDICO project targeted analysis, focusing on how to align EU funding with long-term urban development needs, boost local administrative and fiscal capacity, and ensure cities are well-equipped to tackle future challenges.
Among the speakers will be Mathias De Clercq, Eurocities President and the Mayor of Ghent, and Kata Tüttő, President of the Committee of the Regions. This event will also be an opportunity to share and reinforce our messages on Cohesion Policy and urban funding priorities.
Venue: European Committee of the Regions (Van Maerlant Building, VMA23)
Register here.
16:30 – 18:00
European cities facing the housing crisis
This session addresses the pressing housing crisis affecting European cities. It brings together representatives from the Province of Barcelona and the City Councils of Barcelona, Rome, Sant Boi de Llobregat and Zagreb to discuss challenges and solutions in providing affordable housing.
Venue: European Committee of the Regions (Jacques Delors building, JDE 62)
Register here.
16:30 – 18:00
EU Cities of tomorrow: Towards a holistic and inclusive European Affordable Housing Plan for EU citizens
This session explores the development of a comprehensive European Affordable Housing Plan, aiming to provide inclusive and sustainable housing solutions for EU citizens. Discussions will focus on strategies and policies to address housing challenges across Europe. Thomas Lymes, Eurocities Policy Director, will speak at this session, along with Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens.
Venue: European Committee of the Regions (Jacques Delors building, JDE 70)
Register here.
16:30 – 18:00
Housing for the Common Good: Sustainable Housing Governance in European Cities and Regions
This session highlights the vital role local and regional authorities play in implementing good housing governance, policies, and projects. It aims to inspire the upcoming EU Affordable Housing Plan based on best practices on the ground.
Venue: European Committee of the Regions (Van Maerlant Building)
Register here.
15:30 – 16:30
Co-Creating Resilient Cities: Citizens, Data, and Participatory Action
This session explores how local authorities can collaborate with citizens and civil society to co-design climate action and preparedness strategies. Led by the European projects CitiObs, CLIMAS and Empower-Citizens, the session showcases concrete examples of participatory approaches to urban planning and disaster resilience. The session is co-organised by Masha Smirnova, Eurocities Head of Governance and Just Transition, who will be the moderator.
Venue: Square Brussels
Register here.
17:30 – 20:00
Skills for Competitive Europe
This session discusses the EU’s urgent need to enhance skills in various professions, including construction, healthcare, technology, and IT. It emphasises the importance of addressing skills shortages to ensure a competitive and inclusive Europe. Nathalie Guri, Eurocities Project and Knowledge Sharing Director, will moderate this event. Participating Eurocities members are Helsinki, Vantaa and Espoo.
Register here.
Wednesday, 15 October
9:30 – 10:30
Cities building tomorrow: Working together on National Building Renovation Plans
Co-hosted with BPIE, the workshop explores how cities can shape and strengthen National Building Renovation Plans (NBRPs). NBRPs should be guided by strong public consultation, including structured multilevel dialogues between national and local levels, before the 31 December draft deadline. With new survey insights and expert input from the EU, national and local levels, the focus is on governance, consultation and policy needs for local authorities driving building decarbonisation. Participants will share experiences, discuss challenges and identify ways to improve collaboration across governance levels to ensure NBRPs deliver on the path to a zero-emission building stock by 2050.
This session focuses on the strategic direction and implementation of building renovations in line with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. It discusses the role of National Building Renovation Plans (NBRPs) in guiding these efforts. Meline Piloyan, Eurocities Policy Advisor and Project Coordinator, will moderate this session, in which The Hague will be one of our participating members.
Register here.
11:30 – 13:00
Living-in.EU Digital Assembly: Empowering Cities and Regions through Data and People-centred Digitalisation
This assembly focuses on how cities and regions can leverage data and digitalisation to empower citizens and improve urban services. It highlights people-centred approaches to digital transformation in local governance. Gabriela Ruseva, Coordinator of Living-in.EU, co-organises this session, along with Luca Kerscher, Project Officer, Ana Georgieva, Policy and Project Officer, and Chiara Venturini, Eurocities Head of Digital Transformation and Economic Development. Participating members are: Eindhoven (moderator), Sofia and Sant Boi de Llobregat (speakers).
Venue: European Committee of the Regions (Van Maerlant building), followed by a lunch reception at Scotland House (Rond-Point Schuman 6)
Register here.
14:00 – 15:00
Covenant Board meeting – in person only
This meeting convenes the Covenant of Mayors Board to discuss ongoing initiatives, review progress, and plan future actions to enhance local climate and energy policies across Europe. Participating members are Marc Serra Solé, from Barcelona Province, Åsa Lindhagen, Vice-Mayor of Stockholm, and Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw.
Venue: European Committee of the Regions (Building TBC)
16:00 – 18:00
European Urban Forum
The European Urban Forum serves as a platform for discussing urban development challenges and opportunities. It brings together city leaders and stakeholders to share best practices and collaborate on sustainable urban solutions. Louise Coffineau and Thomas Lymes, Eurocities Policy Directors, will speak in this session, along with representatives from some of our member cities: Marc Serra Solé, from Barcelona Province, Åsa Lindhagen, Vice-Mayor of Stockholm, and Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw.
Thursday, 16 October
9:00 – 13:30
Covenant of Mayors Ceremony (+ Board meeting with Von der Leyen, Metsola, and lunch meeting with Fitto)
This ceremony celebrates the achievements of the Covenant of Mayors initiative, recognising cities’ efforts in sustainable energy and climate action. It includes a board meeting with key EU figures to discuss future directions. Marion Pignel, Eurocities Project Coordinator, and Eugenia Mansutti, Eurocities Co-Head of Climate and Environment, will speak at this session, along with Marc Serra Solé, from Barcelona Province, Åsa Lindhagen, Vice-Mayor of Stockholm, and Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw.
The event will feature high-level speakers, including Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Kata Tüttő, President of the European Committee of the Regions, along with mayors and regional leaders from across Europe.
Venue: European Parliament Hemicycle + EP
Register here.
Social Climate Fund High-Level Political Roundtable
This roundtable discusses the implementation and impact of the Social Climate Fund, focusing on its role in supporting vulnerable communities in the transition to a green economy. The session is co-organised by Masha Smirnova, Eurocities Head of Governance and Just Transition.
What is the European Week of Regions and Cities?
The European Week of Regions and Cities is the biggest annual Brussels-based event during which cities and regions showcase their capacity to create growth and jobs, implement European Union Cohesion policy, and prove the importance of the local and regional level for good European governance.
The European Week of Regions and Cities is organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy and the European Committee of the Regions.
More information here.
