Mayor of Cluj-Napoca and former Prime Minister of Romania, Emil Boc has spent decades combining vision, policy, and citizen participation to turn his city into one of Europe’s leading models for inclusive, green and innovation-driven growth. Now, he’s being recognised as a City Hero.
A professor’s mind with a public servant’s heart
“Beyond his role as Mayor, Emil Boc is a teacher at heart.”
This is how his team describes him – not as a powerbroker or technocrat, but as a leader grounded in education and dedicated to sharing what he knows. With a PhD in Political Science and a teaching role at Babeș-Bolyai University, Boc sees leadership not just as administration, but as mentorship. This spirit of shared knowledge and long-term thinking defines both his leadership style and Cluj-Napoca’s transformation.
First elected mayor in 2004, Boc briefly left to serve as Prime Minister of Romania (2008–2012) before returning to City Hall. Over more than 15 years, he has reshaped Cluj-Napoca into a testbed for citizen participation, green mobility, digital innovation and urban-rural integration, all while remaining deeply committed to a guiding principle he calls “Eco, not Ego.”
Eco, not Ego.
This philosophy has helped the city win major European recognitions and positioned Boc as a key local voice in EU policymaking. Now, he is shortlisted for the Eurocities City Hero Award.
“Eco, not Ego”
Under Boc’s leadership, Cluj-Napoca has reimagined what urban development can look like in a fast-growing Eastern European city. The city has moved decisively toward green mobility, walkability and public space renewal, all grounded in citizen needs.
His “Eco, not Ego” approach “prioritises green mobility, smart urban planning and public spaces, ensuring sustainability while enhancing residents’ quality of life,” says Emilia Botezan, Head of International Affairs and Foreign Investment Department, Cluj-Napoca City Hall.
This has translated into major investments in pedestrianisation, cycling infrastructure and sustainable transport, all while managing the challenges of rapid growth and gentrification. The goal is not just surface-level – it’s about health, equity and liveability.
One stand-out result is that Cluj is among the 100 EU cities selected for the Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, aiming to reach carbon neutrality by 2030.
Cluj isn’t following the future – it’s helping design it.
But the transformation hasn’t always been smooth. “Transformative projects, such as pedestrianising central areas and prioritising green mobility, initially faced pushback from businesses and commuters concerned about accessibility,” Botezan explains. Through “effective communication, community engagement and gradual implementation,” the city was able to build trust and bring residents on board.
Cluj-Napoca is co-creating its future
The heart of Boc’s legacy is in participation.
He has positioned Cluj-Napoca as one of Europe’s leading examples of citizen co-creation. The Civic Innovation and Imagination Centre gives residents a direct platform to shape policies and co-develop projects with the city.
This model doesn’t just engage voters at election time. It empowers people daily, across sectors, to “develop urban solutions,” as Botezan puts it. From budgeting and mobility to housing and digital services, citizens have a meaningful seat at the table.
Boc’s administration also understands that inclusive governance means reaching out to people not traditionally involved in city planning. That’s why his team promotes tools for digital inclusion, civic tech and community listening to ensure Cluj’s policies reflect its diverse population.
Youth are not the future – they are the present
In 2015, Cluj-Napoca was named European Youth Capital. But unlike many cities where the title marks a high point, for Cluj it was a launchpad.
“Mayor Boc promotes youth empowerment and digital inclusion through OurCity, ensuring young people shape policies and use technology for a better future,” Botezan says.
He doesn’t just lead – he creates the next generation of leaders.
The OurCity platform has become a signature of Cluj’s youth policy, integrating young people not just as participants in projects, but as co-leaders of local governance. Young professionals have been involved in drafting strategies, designing digital services and even allocating funding.
The city’s SHARE 2015 youth platform has since evolved into a national network of youth-friendly cities, a model that continues to scale even beyond Romania.
For Boc, this work is all part of a deeper belief that cities thrive when they make space for emerging voices. “He creates the next generation of leaders,” Botezan says, “ensuring that knowledge, responsibility and ambition are shared for the future of Cluj and beyond.”
Building an inclusive knowledge economy through purposeful innovation
Cluj-Napoca is now widely recognised as one of Eastern Europe’s strongest startup ecosystems, but its success hasn’t come from unregulated growth. It’s been intentional, strategic and always based on social benefit.
Botezan describes it as “an innovation-driven economy, where both the public and private sectors work hand in hand.” This includes policies that “mirror the agility and adaptability of the private sector,” while reinforcing public values of openness, inclusion and accessibility.
The city’s Cluster of Education (C-EDU) is central to this model. It connects academia, business and policymakers in a shared effort to develop innovation and skills development. This has helped future-proof Cluj’s workforce, drawing in top tech talent while investing in digital literacy and lifelong learning for all citizens.
Meanwhile, smart public administration has helped bring this culture of innovation into City Hall itself. Digital tools and open data are now part of everyday governance, driving efficiency, transparency and service quality.
Reaching beyond city limits
In many cities, progress stops at the city’s edge. Not in Cluj-Napoca.
To reduce inequality and expand access to opportunity, Boc’s administration launched the Rural-Urban Hub – a pioneering initiative that connects surrounding rural areas to Cluj’s innovation ecosystem.
Cluj-Napoca is growing on its own terms, by building its future with the people who live it.
This effort extends education, digital infrastructure and economic opportunity into towns and villages outside the city’s administrative boundary. In doing so, Cluj is tackling the growing rural-urban divide – one of Europe’s most pressing challenges.
In the words of Botezan: “Fairness isn’t just about who gets access to opportunities – it’s about where those opportunities exist.”
Speaking for cities in Europe
Boc’s role as a European leader has deepened in recent years through his work in the European Committee of the Regions, particularly the COTER and SEDEC commissions.
These platforms have allowed him to advocate for stronger cohesion policies that ensure all regions, regardless of size or economic power, have the resources to thrive. He has been a consistent voice for city-led policymaking, flexible funding mechanisms and greater recognition of local governments in EU decision-making.
Botezan explains: “By bringing Cluj’s best practices in smart governance, citizen participation and economic innovation to the European level, Mayor Boc ensures that cities – large and small – have a voice in shaping the future of Europe.”
Measurable impact, recognised results
Mayor Boc’s achievements have been recognised at the highest levels:
- European Capital of Innovation (iCapital) Finalist (2020) – for Cluj’s collaborative innovation model, “The Cluj Way.”
- European Youth Capital (2015) – led to SHARE 2015 and a national youth-friendly cities network.
- EU Mission for 100 Climate-Neutral Cities by 2030 – confirming Cluj’s leadership on decarbonisation and sustainability.
- New European Bauhaus Award (2024) – celebrating inclusive and aesthetic urban regeneration.
- European City of Sport – for investments in health and well-being.
- Multiple Smart City Awards – for digital tools, mobility, and participatory planning.
The results speak for themselves. Quality of life has improved, congestion has been reduced, citizen engagement is up, and access to services and jobs has been expanded.
Fairness means creating opportunities where they’re needed rather than just deciding who gets them.
The road hasn’t been easy
Botezan openly acknowledges the barriers faced along the way:
- Rising costs of living and housing pressures due to urban growth
- Resistance to changes in transport and mobility
- The challenge of making tech-driven growth inclusive
- Complex bureaucratic frameworks limiting local flexibility
- The pressure of achieving climate neutrality by 2030
Each of these required new thinking, new tools and in many cases, new partnerships.
A model city with a human approach
According to Botezan, “Cluj is not just a city adapting to change – it is leading the way in shaping the cities of tomorrow.”
This captures the spirit of Mayor Boc’s leadership, which is firm in purpose, humble in tone and committed to its people. Whether he is mentoring a student, testifying in Brussels or helping shape a local co-creation process, Boc has made Cluj a modern city, and a meaningful one too.
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Mayor Emil Boc is one of the shortlisted ‘City Heroes’ at the Eurocities Awards 2025. This year, for the first time, Eurocities member cities are involved in selecting the winners of the awards. Our members can now vote to choose the best city hero and the best city initiative.
You can view the full awards shortlist here.
Results will be announced on Thursday 5 June at Eurocities 2025 Braga.
