From 22 to 25 June 2025, the Municipality of Sofia, in close collaboration with the B40 Permanent Secretariat, successfully hosted the in-person Working Group Meetings of the B40 Balkan Cities Network. The event brought together 32 municipal representatives from 13 cities and two national institutions across the B40 network, representing all four working groups: Local Climate Action, Smart Cities and Digital Transformation, Local Democracy and Migration, and Local Economic and Cultural Cooperation. Delegates attended from the cities of Sofia, Varna, Troyan, and Shumen (Bulgaria); Nikšić (Montenegro); Roskovec (Albania); Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina); İzmir, İstanbul, Muğla, Tekirdağ, Edirne, and Çanakkale (Türkiye). In addition, representatives from the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (TBB) and the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) contributed actively to the discussions.
All four B40 Working Group moderators were present in Sofia, ensuring high-level coordination across the sessions. Notably, all participants had the opportunity to engage in the full set of working group discussions, maximizing peer exchange and cross-thematic dialogue.
The meetings commenced with a welcome address by Mr. Nikola Barbutov, Deputy Mayor of Sofia. This was followed by opening remarks from Mr. Barbaros Büyüksağnak, B40 Permanent Secretary, who emphasized the growing importance of city diplomacy, regional collaboration, and peer learning within the B40 framework..
Following the opening remarks, each working group sessions were held under the guidance of their respective moderators and served as a platform to further develop the ideas introduced in the April online meetings.
A key highlight of the Sofia visit was the field trip to the Volunteer Training Center in Pancharevo, where participants observed the municipality’s civil protection and emergency response initiatives. The delegation received on-site demonstrations of fire prevention tools, earthquake response technologies, and rope rescue systems, reflecting Sofia’s preparedness and innovation in risk management.
The meetings were held in a constructive spirit, further strengthening the sense of shared purpose and regional solidarity among member cities. Sofia’s leadership and the proactive participation of all delegates were instrumental in ensuring that the B40 Working Groups not only advanced their thematic agendas but also built trust and community across borders.
With growing momentum and tangible project ideas now in motion, B40 cities are better positioned than ever to co-develop inclusive, smart, sustainable, and culturally vibrant urban futures.
