On December 5, 2024, the Union of the Baltic Cities (UBC) hosted a Policy Debate at the European Parliament under the patronage of Ms Magdalena Adamowicz, MEP, Poland, EPP, and moderated by Mr Piotr Grzelak, Vice President of UBC and Deputy Mayor of Gdańsk.
The event brought together representatives of over 50 cities from the Baltic Sea Region (BSR), Members of the European Parliament, and EU stakeholders to discuss the critical role of cities in shaping and implementing EU policies.
Key speakers included:
- Ms Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, MEP, Poland, EPP
- Mr Robert Biedroń, MEP, Poland, S&D
- Mr Mantas Jurgutis, President of the UBC and Vice Mayor of Kaunas, Lithuania
- Ms Myriam Bovéda, Team Leader ‘Sustainable Growth,’ DG REGIO
- Mr Dainis Turlais, Member of the Committee of the Regions (COTER), Riga, Latvia
- Mr André Sobczak, Secretary General of Eurocities
Topics discussed included:
- Advancing climate action through regional collaboration in the context of the European Green Deal.
- Supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction and fostering regional stability.
- Strengthening the involvement of cities in EU policymaking processes and funding mechanisms.
Speakers emphasized the importance of Baltic cities in driving Europe’s climate and digital transitions while addressing pressing geopolitical and economic challenges. The debate highlighted how local governments are instrumental in bridging the gap between EU policies and their implementation on the ground.
With participation from over 50 cities in the Baltic Sea Region, the event demonstrated the region’s commitment to fostering cooperation, sustainability, and resilience. Stay tuned for the outcomes and follow-up initiatives from this impactful discussion!
At the 93rd UBC Executive Board meeting participants made a decision to welcome Kołobrzeg as a member city, Chernvitsi and Kamianets-Podilskyi as associated cities and NURI as a partner. Moreover, proposals on future actions were presented by the UBC Task Force on Ukraine. Last point on the agenda was PITCH project final conference on migrant women integration.
