Timișoara Hosts the First Edition of the Cities Summit, Dedicated to European Union Enlargement

On September 30, 2025, Timișoara will host the first edition of the Cities Summit, an event dedicated to the future of the European Union and its enlargement. Representatives from 15 countries will participate in the debates, including mayors of European capitals, officials from European institutions, ambassadors, politicians, and analysts.

“We are bringing together mayors, politicians, and experts from 15 countries to discuss the issues concerning the continent: security, prosperity, and the future of the European Union. This is a great opportunity for the voice of European cities to be heard, and for Romania, through Timișoara, to become relevant in these debates about the future of the European continent,” stated Dominic Fritz, the Mayor of Timișoara Municipality.

The event, organized by the Timișoara City Hall, has two parts: a closed summit dedicated to mayors from EU countries and candidate countries, and an open public conference for civil society and citizens.

In the morning, during the closed summit, mayors will participate in debate sessions on topics such as European Union enlargement, continental security, the European Green Deal, and direct funding for cities. The summit will conclude with the signing of a joint declaration by the mayors from the EU and candidate countries, underscoring the essential role of cities in the enlargement process.

Among the mayors who have confirmed their attendance are Vassil Terziev (Sofia, Bulgaria), Gergely Karácsony (Budapest, Hungary), Tomislav Tomašević (Zagreb, Croatia), Andriy Sadovyi (Lviv, Ukraine), Roman Klichuk (Chernivtsi, Ukraine), Nicolae Dandiș (Cahul, Moldova), Dušan Raičević (Bar, Montenegro), and Ivan Gulam (Pirovac, Croatia).

In the afternoon, the public conference “Europe at a Crossroads – Security, Prosperity, and Our Common Future” will take place at Cinema Timiș, where Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement, will also deliver a video message. Ministers Oana Țoiu and Dragoș Pîslaru, the mayors of Budapest, Sofia, and Timișoara, Anitta Hipper (EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security), Katalin Cseh (Member of the Hungarian Parliament), Lyudmyla Tautiieva (Public Policy Consultant from Ukraine), and journalist John Kampfner have confirmed their presence at the conference. The debate sessions will be moderated by Sorin Ioniță (Expert Forum) and Romain Le Quiniou (Eurocreative, France).

https://timisoarasummit.eu/