Overview

• On June 6 in Braga, Portugal, Barcelona was elected vice president of Eurocities alongside Ghent’s mayor, Mathias De Clercq.
• The two-year mandate grants Barcelona a leadership role in the network alongside Ghent, which will hold the presidency.
• Eurocities represents 212 municipalities and 150 million inhabitants and prioritizes housing access, climate action and democratic renewal.
• Collboni said the vice presidency will strengthen Barcelona’s negotiating leverage with Brussels to secure direct EU funds for social housing.
• The city intends to channel its new influence into local initiatives, such as office-to-residential conversions unveiled last month.