Fresh from his election as President of Eurocities at the network’s Annual Conference in Braga, Mathias De Clercq, Mayor of Ghent, brings both urgency and optimism to the role. As cities across Europe grapple with climate, housing, and democratic challenges, De Clercq sees local leadership as key to shaping the continent’s future. In this conversation, he reflects on the values that guide him, the power of citizen engagement, and his ambitions for Eurocities in the years ahead.
What personal value guides your role as a local leader?
As mayor, I always try to connect people and keep society together – as the former mayor of Amsterdam, Job Cohen, always said. This is becoming an increasingly difficult challenge in times when people are pitted against one another, algorithms fuel polarisation, and differences are being magnified.
Nevertheless, I remain convinced that there is always more that unites us. At the local level, I always start from the values we all share: equality, solidarity, mutual respect, and honesty, to name just a few.
For example, as a city, we showed solidarity from the very outset of the invasion of Ukraine. We called on the people of Ghent to take in families, we provided temporary refugee centres, and we built an emergency village. When our European values are at stake, we must not only raise our voices to defend them – we must also act.
How do you see the relationship between cities and citizens evolving in the next 10 years?
As home to 75% of Europe’s population, cities are becoming increasingly important within Europe. The greatest strength of cities lies with their citizens – they are the city.
Citizen participation is therefore essential. Being in tune with local needs means staying closely connected to neighbourhoods and their residents. In Ghent, we do this through neighbourhood managers who act as intermediaries, participatory budgeting, and neighbourhood panels. This not only builds trust, but also ensures that city policies reflect the lived experiences and needs of diverse communities.
When our European values are at stake, we must not only raise our voices to defend them – we must also act.
We use storytelling, data visualisation, and regular updates to show how individual projects contribute to broader goals. This helps citizens see the connection between local actions – such as a new cycle lane or green space – and global challenges such as climate change or social equity.
In the future, Ghent will focus on the neighbourhood barometer, linked to a neighbourhood quality plan. The barometer is a platform that brings together all relevant data – both statistical and qualitative – about a neighbourhood. This enables us to understand what is happening in each area and what matters to its residents. We link this to a neighbourhood quality plan, which sets out concrete actions for each area.
We will involve randomly selected neighbourhood panels, with representative composition, to participate in decisions about these actions. This will enable citizens to actively shape local policy. I strongly believe this will help people feel more involved and ensure decisions are more broadly supported.
What key challenges facing European cities do you believe require urgent attention at the EU level?
There are, of course, three well-known top priorities: climate action, affordable housing, and social inclusion.
We all want our cities to be prosperous, environmentally friendly, inclusive, and liveable. But none of this is possible without a stable democracy.
The greatest strength of cities lies with their citizens – they are the city.
If your city is under attack, with bombs falling and sirens wailing, you cannot build prosperity or plan for the future. Safety becomes the only priority, and all other ambitions are put on hold.
When populist parties are in power, banning protests or Pride events – as we’ve seen in Hungary – inclusion becomes impossible.
A fair climate transition isn’t possible unless everyone has equal rights and opportunities – something often undermined by populist regimes.
In the end, the success or failure of everything hinges on a well-functioning democracy. That’s why I believe that protecting our European democracy and values should be a top priority for mayors.
How could cities and European institutions work together to tackle them?
We must have a seat at the table to ensure that local voices are genuinely heard and involved in shaping Europe’s future.
We will therefore work to establish a regular and strategic high-level dialogue between mayors and EU leaders. We will advocate for more direct financial support for cities and for stronger recognition of the role we play in delivering Europe’s ambitions.
We will also build on the new Policy Agenda for Cities and push to influence key strategies – on housing, on the Multiannual Financial Framework, and on the values that unite us. I am hopeful. The new EU mandate has emphasised multi-level governance, where cities are not just implementers but also co-creators of policy. And with Raffaele Fitto, we now have – for the first time – an Executive Vice-President responsible for Cities.
I am hopeful. The new EU mandate has emphasised multi-level governance, where cities are not just implementers but also co-creators of policy.
In your view, what opportunities does the upcoming EU funding period offer for cities?
Cities are strategic partners for the EU. With over 75% of Europeans living in urban areas, cities are uniquely placed to translate EU priorities and regulations into concrete results for people and places.
To do so, European funding programmes and financial support are crucial to enable innovation and catalyse the necessary transitions. These resources are essential for local governments to address pressing urban challenges, and the perception that cities are being empowered financially strengthens trust in the EU’s approach.
What are your main priorities as the incoming President of Eurocities?
As a network, we must stand up for human rights and dignity. For example, we strongly condemn the arrest of our colleague Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul, and other local elected representatives in Turkey. We call on the European institutions to take action to secure their release.
Under my presidency, Eurocities will continue to advocate for democratic values, diversity, and peace.
Under my presidency, Eurocities will continue to advocate for democratic values, diversity, and peace.
At the same time, I will work to strengthen Eurocities’ voice in shaping a fair and inclusive green transition. With the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal reshaping the policy landscape, we have a real opportunity to align climate goals with economic resilience. But this transition must be inclusive, adapted to local realities, and socially just. From affordable housing to clean energy and innovation, we need EU policies and investments that reflect the real needs of people in our cities.
Finally, Ghent will work to strengthen our network from within. We want to make it easier for members to connect, share knowledge, and collaborate more effectively. By improving how we work together and exchange information, we can make Eurocities more agile and resilient – ready to respond quickly in a world where challenges are constantly evolving.
How will you ensure that Eurocities members’ diverse needs and voices are effectively represented?
As President and a member of the Executive Committee, Ghent will play an active role in implementing the Eurocities Strategic Framework. At the same time, we’ll encourage the network to stay closely aligned with the evolving European policy landscape. This way, we can ensure that cities’ voices continue to shape the key debates and decisions that affect our future.
As Vice President, I’ve done my best to attend as many high-level meetings as possible to represent the network. Over the past few months, I’ve held several meetings with European Commissioners.
Together, we can ensure cities are not only heard – but also help shape the future of Europe.
As President, I obviously aim to do more. I’m fully aware that these are crucial times for the role of cities in Europe – and that we must act quickly. I commit to being active, visible, and flexible, and I’ll make the most of Ghent’s proximity to Brussels.
I will rely on the engagement and active participation of each member city to ensure that Eurocities remains a strong and resilient network, making a real difference. Together, we can ensure cities are not only heard – but also help shape the future of Europe.
