History of B40 - B40 Balkan Cities Network

HIstory of the B40

November 2021

İstanbul Summit

Establish of the B40 Balkan Cities Network

B40 Balkan Cities Network was established with the Istanbul Declaration signed by 23 mayors at the end of the Istanbul Summit held on 29-30 November 2021 with a “Better Future, Better Cooperation” motto. B40 Network, which was established with the contributions of 23 city leaders, aims to bring together the local governments in the Balkans, an essential region, by forming the Eastern borders of the European Union and the western leg of Eurasia. The mayors and their accompanying delegations discussed the future of local government, joint solutions to local problems, and potential cooperation areas.

To read the İstanbul Declaration

January 2023

Athens Summit

The second summit of the B40 Balkan Cities Network held in Athens on 22-24 January 2023 with the participation of 68 municipalities is an important event for the Balkan region and city diplomacy. The importance of this summit lies in the fact that it provides a platform for these cities to exchange ideas, share best practices, and collaborate on various projects aimed at promoting economic development, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability in the region. This kind of cooperation and dialogue is crucial for promoting peace and stability in the Balkan region.

The summit serves as a platform for collaboration and exchange of ideas between cities in the Balkan region. This helps to foster closer ties and promote cooperation in various areas, including trade, tourism, culture, local democracy and environment. The fact that the term presidency has passed from Istanbul to Athens indicates the continued commitment of the member cities to the B40 Balkan Cities Network and demonstrates the commitment of these cities to work together and support each other’s efforts towards achieving common goals.

The summit also highlights the importance of city diplomacy in the Balkan region. As cities become increasingly important players in global affairs, city diplomacy provides a means for cities to engage with each other and with other actors on the international stage.

Overall, the second summit of the B40 Balkan Cities Network is an important event for the Balkan region and city diplomacy. It demonstrates the commitment of member cities to cooperation and collaboration, and provides a platform for continued dialogue and exchange of ideas in the Balkan region.

January 2024

Tirana Summit

The B40 Balkan Cities Network (B40) is entering a new phase, with its third summit scheduled to take place in Tirana from January 29 to 31, 2024. This comprehensive event will bring together mayors from the Balkan region, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and solidarity among local governments.

Among the central themes at the summit are crucial topics such as local climate action, local economic and cultural cooperation, local democracy, smart cities and digital transformation. Cities affiliated with B40 will engage in sharing experiences and knowledge under these themes, developing strategies to overcome obstacles to sustainability and innovation.

The Summit’s motto is “Building Urban Resilience and Responding to Crises.” Centered on this motto, the Summit will focus on strengthening cities and establishing effective response mechanisms to crises.

The summit will also witness the handover ceremony of the B40 Network Presidency. A symbolic ceremony between Mayor of Athens, Mr. Haris Doukas and Mayor of Tirana, Mr. Erion Veliaj will mark the handover of the B40 Presidency from Athens Municipality to Tirana Municipality. Furthermore, Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the founding president of our network, will attend the summit and present a memorial symbol to Mayor Erion Veliaj, who will assume the term presidency. This handover ceremony aims to emphasize leadership continuity within the network, contributing to the establishment of solid foundations for collaboration among cities.

Previous B40 summits took place in Istanbul and Athens, making significant contributions to enhancing cooperation and solidifying solidarity among cities. B40 Tirana Summit, within this framework, aims to further strengthen collaboration among Balkan cities and take a step forward in achieving sustainable development goals.

To read the Tirana Declaration