EU: “Global challenges, local solutions”, European Summit of Regions and Cities in Mons (Belgium)

Preparations are underway in Brussels for the upcoming European Summit of Regions and Cities, which will be held in Mons, Belgium, on 18-19 March, under the slogan “Global challenges, local solutions”. Some 1.2 million elected representatives from cities, provinces and regions in the European Union have been invited to the Summit, organised by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). The aim of the Summit is to bring “a new perspective on topics at the heart of people’s concerns”, the invitation reads, “such as democracy, sustainable development, the future of the European Union and its enlargement”, young people, the need to ensure social, economic and territorial cohesion, and dealing with the consequences of the war against Ukraine. These are some of the topics on the agenda that will be addressed in several parallel “agoras”. The Summit will be opened by CoR President Vasco Alves Cordeiro; the Minister-President of the Wallonia Region Elio Di Rupo; and by European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič. The Summit will adopt the “Mons Declaration as the vision of regions and cities for the future of Europe”, on the 30th anniversary of the CoR.Sarah Numico