Conference of Mediterranean Cities Barcelona+30: Empowering local action for regional transformation
26 November 2025- 27 November 2025 | Conference | English | Spanish | French | Barcelona
The Conference of Mediterranean Cities Barcelona+30 will take place on the occasion of the 10th UfM Regional Forum/30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, to be held in Barcelona on 28 November 2025. The Conference, organised by MedCities, the Municipality of Barcelona, and the European Institute of the Mediterranean, with the support of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area and the Barcelona Provincial Council, seeks to foster an inclusive and forward-looking dialogue among Euro-Mediterranean policy-makers, civil society actors, academia, and socio-economic players from across the region. While reflecting on three decades of the Barcelona Process and its impacts, the event will explore future pathways for reinvigorating the role of local authorities in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation and dialogue.
The event will take place back-to-back with MedCities annual General Assembly, to create greater opportunities for members’ engagement and participation.
Cities have played and continue to play a crucial role in Euro-Mediterranean integration by driving decentralised cooperation, fostering territorial diplomacy, and promoting sustainable development at local level. Since the adoption of the Barcelona Declaration in 1995, local authorities have proven to be powerful agents of change, implementing sustainable practices, fostering dialogue, sharing lessons learned, and driving progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Being on the frontlines of regional challenges, their work enhances everyday environmental protection, promotes social inclusion, strengthens economic resilience, and connects policy with tangible benefits for citizens on the ground.
Indeed, without the active engagement of local authorities, no policy can truly be implemented in a way that reflects the lived realities of communities, as they are the essential link between strategy and action, translating global and regional frameworks into concrete, context-sensitive initiatives. Their proximity to citizens ensures that policies are not only executed, but adapted, monitored, and improved based on real needs and feedback. Moreover, they have shown a consistent commitment to strengthening what unites the region, serving as bridges for peace and solidarity.
The recent appointment of a European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, and the review of regional strategies of cooperation, notably around the development of a new Pact for the Mediterranean and the reform process undertaken by the Union for the Mediterranean, are powerful signals of renewed commitment. Local authorities must be integral actors to this process, to ensure a balanced, equal and pragmatic partnership. This Conference is a timely opportunity to build on 30+ years of decentralised cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean area, and to advocate for a strengthened role of local governments in shaping the region’s future.
Day 1 – 26 November 2025, 4.30 pm
Saló de Cent, Barcelona City Council (Plaça Sant Jaume)
LIVESTREAM: https://youtube.com/live/ZOTPAP0KWHg?feature=share
Day 2 – 27 November 2025, 9.15 am
Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat (Palau de Pedralbes)
LIVESTREAM: https://www.youtube.com/live/V-OETSLo-9Y
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