About B40

Balkan Cities Network

Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul introduced the idea of creating a platform for local governments in the Balkans, envisioning it as a means to strengthen local democracy and foster regional peace and stability. This vision became the foundation for the B40 Balkan Cities Network (B40). Under the motto “Better Cooperation, Better Future,” the initiative quickly gained substantial support across the region, culminating in a shared commitment during the Istanbul Summit in 2021. The B40 Network was officially established on November 29-30, 2021, with the participation of 23 cities.

The B40 Istanbul Summit welcomed over 500 participants and 106 city representatives. The event featured sessions with mayors, technical workshops, and field visits. A total of 39 bilateral meetings took place during the summit, which has been recognized as a remarkable example of city diplomacy in the post-COVID-19 era.

B40 began its journey with 23 founding members, expanding its membership to 48 by the time of the Athens Summit in January 2023.Under the leadership of Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis, who assumed the B40 presidency in 2023, the network grew to include 55 member cities.

The presidency was later handed over to Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj at the Tirana Summit, held on January 29-31, 2024. By December 2024, the B40 Network had surpassed 70 member cities, further enriched by the inclusion of four observer organizations: the Union of Municipalities of Turkey (UMT), the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, ICLEI, and the Association of Local Autonomy of Albania.

The Tirana Summit, held in January 2024, represented a pivotal moment in the institutional development of the B40 Network and its mission to enhance regional cooperation among Balkan local governments. A defining feature of the summit was the adoption of critical documents that serve as the cornerstone of the network’s institutionalization. These included the Organisational Structure and Working Principles Document (OSWP) and the B40 City Diplomacy Strategy Paper.

Core Activities of the B40 Network

The B40 Mayors’ Summit serves as the flagship event of the network, hosted annually by the city assuming the presidency.

At these summits, mayors assess B40’s yearly activities, discuss regional challenges and opportunities, and hold bilateral meetings.

The summits foster closer ties among Balkan cities and are particularly significant for promoting dialogue between cities from nations with a history of conflict.

B40 operates through four working groups:

- Local Democracy and Migration
- Local Climate Action
- Local Economic and Cultural Cooperation
- Smart Cities and Digital Transformation

These groups convene three times a year—twice virtually and once in person.
Technical experts from member cities share best practices, identify common challenges, and collaborate on solutions. The primary goal is to develop practical projects with tangible outcomes and ensure broad participation from member cities.

The B40 Youth Summit, an emerging tradition, brings together young people from member cities to foster engagement and collaboration.

The inaugural summit, held in August 2022 in Istanbul, hosted approximately 400 young participants.
The second summit took place in Athens in November 2023, with 110 participants.
The third summit was held in Tirana in June 2024, bringing together 86 participants.