The 5th B40 Balkan Cities Network High-Level Annual Summit was held in Zagreb from 25 to 27 January 2026, bringing together mayors and senior local government representatives from across the Balkans.
Moderated by Member of the European Parliament Mr. Gordan Bosanac, the Summit opened with an address by the Acting Mayor of Istanbul, Mr. Nuri Aslan, delivered on behalf of the founder of the B40 Network, Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu. Following the Acting Mayor Aslan’s remarks, Ms. Zeynep Neyza Akçabay, Deputy Secretary General of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality read a message from Mr. İmamoğlu addressed to the participants of the Summit.
The session was followed by a speech by the President of the B40 Network and Mayor of Sofia, Mr. Vassil Terziev, including the annual report of his presidential term.
The Summit continued with remarks by Mr. Barbaros Büyüksağnak, the Permanent Secretary of the B40, followed by the ceremony for the new members—Varna (Bulgaria), Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and Bursa (Türkiye).
At the conclusion of the opening session, the Presidency of the B40 Network was formally transferred by Mayor Terziev to the Mayor of Zagreb, Mr. Tomislav Tomašević.
After the handover ceremony, B40 Network President, Mayor Tomašević delivered a speech and shared his vision for the presidential term.
The Summit focused on key thematic priorities, including the green transition; resilient and smart cities; climate action and energy transformation; and the leadership role of cities in digital innovation. In addition, discussions addressed culture, creative industries, and tourism as driving forces for urban development, integration, and intercity cooperation. Mayors and local leaders exchanged experiences and best practices with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation and inspiring policy innovation across member cities.
As part of the Summit, a Democracy Panel was held in cooperation with the B40 Network and Eurocities, with the participation of Eurocities members. During the session, mayors and local leaders shared experiences and good practices related to democratic governance and participation at the local level.
During the Summit, the new Executive Committee of the B40 Network convened, comprising Mayor of Zagreb and the current president of the B40 Network, Mr. Tomislav Tomašević, Mayor of Sofia, Mr. Vassil Terziev, Mayor of Sarajevo, Mr. Samir Avdić, Mayor of Novo Mesto, Mr. Gregor Macedoni, Mayor of Muğla, Mr. Ahmet Aras, Mayor of Pella, Mr. Efstathios Fountoukidis, and the Mayor of Thessaloniki, Mr. Stelios Angeloudis.
At the same time, the Joint Support Letter for the detained Mayors and the Zagreb Declaration were signed by the participants of the Summit.
