ICLEI colleagues outlined the key messages included in the Basque Declaration at a recent stakeholder meeting convened by the European Greens, attended by a select group of MEPs, NGO representatives, and others working in the field of urban sustainability policy.

Austrian MEP Monika Vana, a Member of the Greens/European Free Alliance parliamentary group, moderated the informal meeting. Former ICLEI Regional Executive Committee member Evelyne Huytebroeck, now a member of the European Green Party Committee, provided the opening welcome to participants.

Head of the ICLEI Brussels Office Peter Defranceschi and Coordinator Giorgia Rambelli gave a succinct presentation, providing information on the background of the urban sustainability movement, the launch of the Basque Declaration at the 2016 Sustainable Cities and Towns campaign in the Basque Country, and the role of local governments in meeting transnational agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Urban Agenda.

“Everybody is aware that there is an urgent need to transform our societies. The Basque Declaration is really about seeing the local level as agents of change, and empowering civil society to have an active role and responsibility in bringing about this change,” said Mr Defranceschi.

A networking session followed the presentation, in which representatives from the European Greens asked follow up questions about ICLEI’s vision for urban sustainability and transformative actions by cities.

For more information, contact peter.defranceschi@iclei.org.