B40network

09/09/2026

B40 Working Group Meetings Held in Zagreb

The B40 Local Democracy and Migration & Local Climate Action Working Group Meetings were held in Zagreb between 6–8 September 2026, hosted by the City of Zagreb.

Representatives from the cities of Bijeljina, Chania, Constanța, Edirne, İstanbul, Kotor, Larissa, Sarajevo, Muğla, Novo Mesto, Tetovo, Tuzla, Zagreb, and the B40 Permanent Secretariat participated in the meetings.

The opening reception was held on 6 September, followed by the main program on 7 September at Zagreb’s Old City Hall. The working group meetings opened with remarks by Barbaros Büyüksağnak, Permanent Secretary of the B40 Balkan Cities Network, at the City Assembly.

The Local Democracy and Migration Working Group explored artificial intelligence in public services, citizen participation and neighborhood innovations, youth-oriented cultural initiatives, and innovative approaches to migration challenges.
The Local Climate Action Working Group focused on urban heat islands and heat resilience, citizen-centered urban greening, and the transformation of urban spaces into climate-resilient areas in collaboration with citizens.

The program concluded with field visits to Zagreb’s One Stop Shop for Migrants and Green Courtyard, providing participants with an opportunity to experience local practices firsthand.

The meetings highlighted the value of knowledge exchange, cooperation, and shared local solutions in building more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient cities across the Balkans.

02/07/2026

📍 B40 Smart Cities and Digital Transformation Working Group Meeting Held in Istanbul

The B40 Smart Cities and Digital Transformation Working Group Meeting was successfully held in Istanbul from 28–30 June 2026, hosted by İSKİ (Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration).

The main programme opened on 29 June with remarks by Tayfun İşbilen, Head of Information Technologies at İSKİ, followed by Barbaros Büyüksağnak, Permanent Secretary of the B40 Balkan Cities Network, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şafak Başa, General Director of İSKİ. The sessions focused on the role of artificial intelligence in local government, featuring contributions from Gartner, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Caner Güney on the İSKİ AI Platform, and Global Maksimum on data engineering and AI applications.

Municipal representatives from Lefkada, Zagreb, and Roskovec also shared their smart city and digital transformation experiences, followed by a visit to the Digital Experience Museum, showcasing the intersection of technology and urban innovation.

The meeting reinforced the importance of regional cooperation, data-driven governance, and innovative digital solutions for building more sustainable and resilient cities across the Balkans.

02/07/2026

📍 B40 Smart Cities and Digital Transformation Working Group Meeting Held in Istanbul

The B40 Smart Cities and Digital Transformation Working Group Meeting was successfully held in Istanbul from 28–30 June 2026, hosted by İSKİ (Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration).

The main programme opened on 29 June with remarks by Tayfun İşbilen, Head of Information Technologies at İSKİ, followed by Barbaros Büyüksağnak, Permanent Secretary of the B40 Balkan Cities Network, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şafak Başa, General Director of İSKİ. The sessions focused on the role of artificial intelligence in local government, featuring contributions from Gartner, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Caner Güney on the İSKİ AI Platform, and Global Maksimum on data engineering and AI applications.

Municipal representatives from Lefkada, Zagreb, and Roskovec also shared their smart city and digital transformation experiences, followed by a visit to the Digital Experience Museum, showcasing the intersection of technology and urban innovation.

The meeting reinforced the importance of regional cooperation, data-driven governance, and innovative digital solutions for building more sustainable and resilient cities across the Balkans.

29/06/2026

B40 Youth Summit 2026 took place in Zagreb from 24–26 June under the theme “Contemporary Tools for Building Future Cities.”

The summit brought together young representatives from B40 member cities, experts, and policymakers to exchange ideas on innovation, sustainability, and the future of urban development.

The program began with a welcome reception on 24 June, followed by the official opening on 25 June, featuring remarks by the Mayor of Zagreb and President of the B40 Network, Tomislav Tomašević, and Barbaros Büyüksağnak, Permanent Secretary of the B40 Balkan Cities Network, who emphasized the importance of youth engagement in regional cooperation through innovation.

Panels, workshops, and site visits throughout the program explored AI, digitalization, robotics, coding, and citizen-centered urban solutions.

The summit concluded with a visit to the Nikola Tesla Technical Museum and a tour of Zagreb’s historic center.

A strong reminder that the future of cities is shaped through collaboration, innovation, and empowered youth.

13/05/2026

The B40 Local Economic and Cultural Cooperation Working Group Meeting Held in İzmir

The B40 Local Economic and Cultural Cooperation Working Group Face-to-Face Meeting was successfully held in İzmir from 6 to 8 May 2026 under the leadership of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, bringing together representatives from 15 member cities.

Held alongside the İzmir Culture Policies Workshop, the working group meeting commenced with opening remarks by Mr Barbaros Büyüksağnak, Permanent Secretary of the B40 Network, and Prof. Dr Pınar Okyay, Deputy Secretary General of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and Chair of the Working Group.

The meeting provided an important platform for participating cities to present project proposals, exchange ideas, and discuss a shared roadmap for future cooperation.

The programme also featured a cultural visit to Selçuk and the ancient city of Ephesus.

This productive gathering marked another significant step towards strengthening regional economic and cultural ties among B40 member cities.

29/01/2026

5th B40 Balkan Cities Network Summit | Zagreb 🇭🇷
From 25–27 January 2026, mayors and local leaders from across the Balkans and Europe gathered in Zagreb for the 5th B40 Balkan Cities Network Summit.
The B40 Presidency has been transferred from Sofia Mayor Terziev to Zagreb Mayor Tomašević.
The Summit focused on shaping the future of cities through:
🌱 Green transition
🏙️ Resilient & smart cities
⚡ Climate action & energy transformation
💡 Digital innovation
🎭 Culture, creative industries & tourism
🤝 A dedicated Democracy Panel, held with the participation of Eurocities member cities, provided a platform for sharing experiences and best practices on democratic participation at the local level.
📌 In addition, the B40 Executive Committee Meeting convened during the Summit, bringing together mayors from across the region to guide the Network’s strategic direction.
Stronger cities. Stronger cooperation. Shared futures. 🌍

https://b40network.org/v2/5th-b40-balkan-cities-network-summit-held-in-zagreb/

SustainableCities UrbanFuture BalkanCities

.municipality

29/01/2026

12/12/2025

📅 25–27 January 2026
📍 Zagreb, Croatia

The 5th B40 Summit is bringing together mayors, local government leaders, and experts from across the Balkans and Europe for a powerful regional gathering. 🌍🤝
✨ Summit Highlights
🌱 Green Transition & Sustainability
🎭 Cultural & Tourism Cooperation
🗳️ Democracy & Good Governance
🤝 Regional Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing
The program will feature:
🏛️ B40 General Assembly
🧭 Executive Committee Meeting
🤝 High-level bilateral meetings among city leaders
🔷 Local Democracy Panel

In partnership with Eurocities, this panel will welcome mayors from major European cities, focusing on protecting and defending local democracy. 🛡️🏙️
With its forward-looking agenda, the Zagreb Summit aims to create concrete, collaborative, and future-oriented outcomes for more sustainable, resilient, and democratic Balkan cities. 🚀🌿

04/09/2025

🌍 In İzmir, where culture met innovation, B40 cities took a stand for a brighter future.

Between 3 – 5 September 2025, mayors and representatives from the member cities, gathered at the B40 Local Economic and Cultural Cooperation Summit in İzmir, within the framework of the 94th İzmir International Fair.

This year’s theme, “Brain Circulation, Digital Nomads, and the Future of Urban Innovation,” explored how cities could transform the challenges of brain drain into opportunities for collaboration, creativity, and growth. ✨

From democratic culture to digital mobility, from cultural diplomacy to mission-driven governance, the Summit highlighted how urban innovation could strengthen solidarity and resilience across borders.

With this summit, B40 cities wrote a story of solidarity: a future powered by the free flow of talent, imagination, and democratic values.

Guided by the vision of our Founder President Ekrem İmamoğlu, B40 events are moving forward with full momentum.

02/09/2025

🌍 In the city where B40 was born, a historic stand for democracy!

On August 27–28, 2025, mayors from Eurocities and the B40 Balkan Cities Network came to Istanbul to show solidarity with its elected Mayor and B40’s Founding President, Ekrem İmamoğlu. ✊🇪🇺🇹🇷

📍 Beyoğlu: The delegation joined citizens at a rally, amplifying the call for democracy. 🗳️
📍 Saraçhane: Eurocities presented İmamoğlu with the Special Democracy Award, received on his behalf by Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu. 🏆✨
📍 Silivri: Mayors held banners reading “Free İmamoğlu”, turning their visit into a powerful symbol of freedom and solidarity. 🕊️✊

👏 Among the delegation were Barcelona’s Mayor Jaume Collboni, Sofia’s Mayor and current B40 President Vasil Terziev, Athen’s Mayor Haris Doukas, Zagreb’s Mayor Tomislav Tomašević, Utrecht’s Mayor Sharon Dijksma, Timișoara’s Mayor Dominic Fritz, Budapest’s Mayor Gergely Karácsony, Madrid’s International Relations Director José Francisco Herrera Antonaya, and Eurocities Secretary General André Sobczak. Together, they transformed Istanbul into the crossroads of freedom, democracy, and intercity solidarity.

✨ In the very place where B40 was founded, city diplomacy once again made history: democracy rises as a shared value, uniting the Balkans and Europe.