UDiTE executive team Ronny Frederickx and Simon Pascoe were present at the Summit of Regions and Cities in Mons, Belgium on 18-19 March 2024. As a highlight of the Belgian Presidency of the European Union, UDiTE was honoured to be part of this high level European level Summit for local and regional authorities.  

Thousands of mayors, councillors, regional ministers and top European and global decisionmakers gathered in Mons, in the Walloon Region of Belgium, in the heart of Europe, to debate the challenges and solutions for the future of Europe and beyond. With more than 3500 participants, from 59 countries, and all 5 continents, 80 stands, and over 4000 live views worldwide, the Summit was been a great success, and concluded with the presentation of a Summit declaration that was presented to Alexander De Croo, Belgian Prime Minister and representative of the Europe Council, with only weeks left before the European elections where the vital important of the EU’s Structural and Investment Funds after to 2027 was underlined.

Organised by the European Committee of the Regions, the 10th European Summit of Regions and Cities has brought a new perspective on topics at the heart of people's concerns, such as democracy, sustainable development, the future of the European Union and its enlargement, the need to ensure social, economic and territorial cohesion, and dealing with the consequences of the war against Ukraine. Global challenges were addressed by bringing together different perspectives from across the world. The European Committee of the Regions is particularly proud that this occasion coincides with its 30th anniversary.​​​

The President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Vasco Alves Cordeiro, and Wallonia Region's Minister-President, Elio Di Rupo, together with more than 3500 mayors, councillors, regional ministers, representatives of the European Parliament, the European Commission, national governments, and civil society, discussed the role of regional and local authorities and the cross-cutting issues faced by local communities around the world with top representatives of the global, EU and national levels.

Contributors to the debate included Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Fatimetou Abdel Malick, President of Nouakchott Region, Chair of the Africa Section of the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments, Sérgio Aguiar, President of the National Union of State Legislators (Brazil), Brian Patrick Kennedy, President of the National Conference of State Legislatures (United States), Rudi Vervoort, Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region, Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko, Chair of the Kharkiv Regional Council (Ukraine).

The Summit was also a key moment in shaping the vision of regions and cities for the future of Europe, ahead of the European elections. The key priorities for a stronger, fairer and more resilient Europe was enshrined in a declaration that was presented to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, representing the Belgian presidency of the EU Council.

The 10th European Summit of Regions and cities marked the 30th anniversary of the European Committee of the Regions, the political assembly of local and regional representatives within the EU institutions. Over 3500 local and regional representatives from 59 countries and all 5 continents gather to address the subnational response to overcome global challenges and to call on European leaders to ensure that all EU policies are anchored in the local and regional level, thus reinforcing the democratic legitimacy and efficiency of the EU.

It is of vital importance the UDITE, the only European Federation of Chief Executives, continues to be part of these high level European events building its profile alongside the established European associations for local and regional authorities.

DOWNLOAD SUMMIT DECLARATION

REWATCH SUMMIT OPENING SESSION - LOCAL & REGIONAL SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL CHALLENGES - HERE IN YOUR LANGUAGE
 

REWATCH PLENARY SESSION - Just transition and cohesion at the heart of future EU investment policies

SESSION 1 - Cohesion Alliance: A renewed cohesion policy that leaves no one behind 

SESSION 2 - SESSION 2 - Fostering digital innovation ecosystems at regional level  

SESSION 3  - Building inclusive communities

SESSION 4  - Strategies and approaches to improve gender parity in politics

SESSION 5  - Co-creating cities and regions with young people

SESSION 6  - Towards a Green Deal 2.0: Driving the green transition locally

PLENARY SESSION  - Plenary session and adoption of the Mons Declaration The vision of regions and cities for the future of Europe

SESSION  7 - Ensuring a decentralised reconstruction process for Ukraine

SESSION  8 – RESILIENCE - Preparing regions and cities against crises

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