Union of the Baltic Cities is an organization that has always supported the values of democracy, peace, freedom, respect for law, equality, cooperation, and friendship between neighbours. The role of UBC members as trendsetters in sharing knowledge and best practices is clear in the Baltic Sea region, but the bold goals and ambitious agendas to address future challenges need to be upkept.
The XVIII UBC General Conference will be held on 4-7 November 2025 in Słupsk/Dolina Charlotty, Poland.
As the European Union embarks on a new financial programming period, cities are uniquely positioned to influence and benefit from EU policies. This conference will focus on strengthening the role of cities in the EU, ensuring their priorities influence policy and funding decisions. The agenda will address navigating new EU financial frameworks, enhancing advocacy, maximizing funding opportunities, building policy engagement capacities, fostering inter-city cooperation, and maintaining urban issues on the EU agenda.
Topics to be addressed:
• EU Financial Frameworks: Challenges and opportunities of the new EU budgetary period
• Urban Priorities in EU Policies: Strategies to keep city-centric challenges and solutions at the forefront of policy discussions
• Advocacy and Lobby: Workshops to boost advocacy skills and/or efforts in influencing EU policies that concerns cities
• EU Funding Strategies: Sessions on tapping into EU funds, showcasing successful projects
• Advancing climate action through regional collaboration in the context of the European Green Deal
• Supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction and fostering regional stability
As in the previous years, UBC members are welcome to co-create the program of the Conference and propose the workshops, which they would like to organize or participate in.
The topics may be different, but it is advised to organize interactive discussions rather than presentations from many speakers.
The voices of young people are of big importance for the UBC Executive Board, so including youth representatives as speakers/panelists in the proposals of the workshops / round tables would be appreciated.
The preliminary proposals shall be sent to the UBC Secretariat by 15 March 2025.