03 July 2024

U7 kick-start cooperation with French ministries on urban and local matters for the upcoming French G7 presidency in 2026

U7 partners kickstarted cooperation and consultations with representatives from different French ministries on priority topics for G7 countries in view of the upcoming G7 presidency of France in 2026. U7 partners reiterated their readiness to actively support G7 Ministers in defining “concrete actions to reduce spatial inequalities, protect the environment and climate, and promote smart and innovative economies in urban areas” as prioritized by Heads of State in the Apulia Leaders Communique at the G7 Summit in Apulia in June 2024. 

"Every national, as well as international policy initiative will ultimately be implemented on the local level, in our towns, cities and regions”says Wolfgang Teubner, Regional Director at ICLEI - Local Governments of Sustainability, a partner in the U7 secretariat. “For this reason, it is critical that we give more importance to  the urban development perspective when designing future cooperation and international strategies and U7 stands ready to support G7 Urbanisation Ministers in this regard”.

The U7 partners have been working towards the streamlining of urban matters and local perspectives across G7 cooperation topics and fora with previous G7 presidencies. As highlighted in the 2023 U7 Mayors Declaration, a multilevel approach is a prerequisite for achieving a prosperous, equitable and environmentally and socially sustainable transition in a rapidly urbanising society. On this note, U7 partners discussed support for recognising the U7 as an official engagement group in the G7 process, as well as the upcoming ministerial meeting on Urban Sustainable Development in November in Genoa (Italy) with French partners, as a key opportunity for G7 countries to deliver on their commitments toward multilevel cooperation.