11 June 2026

Urban7 brings the Nancy Declaration to the Élysée ahead of the G7 Leaders' Summit

On 10 June, Jean-Luc Moudenc, President of France urbaine, Mayor of Toulouse and President of Toulouse Métropole, formally presented the Nancy Declaration to French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on behalf of the cities and local government associations participating in Urban7.

The presentation marks a key milestone in the Urban7 process, just days before G7 Heads of State and Government gather in Évian (15–17 June). Adopted on 4 June at the conclusion of the Urban7 International Mayors' Summit in Nancy, the Declaration sets out a shared vision from cities and local governments for addressing today's interconnected global challenges.

Developed through several months of dialogue between the national municipal associations of the G7 countries and their international partners, the Nancy Declaration calls on G7 leaders to recognise cities as custodians of peace, democracy and international solidarity; fully integrate cities into climate and economic resilience frameworks; and mobilise cities as drivers of the ecological, digital and economic transitions.

"Embedding cities in the Évian conclusions means grounding G7 commitments in the territories where they must actually be delivered," said Jean-Luc Moudenc during the meeting at the Élysée Palace.

The Nancy Declaration was adopted by more than 220 participants from 15 countries who gathered in Nancy on 3–4 June, including mayors, local elected representatives, urban experts and representatives of international organisations. It was signed by the seven national city associations that make up Urban7, representing Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

This year's Summit marked a historic milestone for Urban7. Under the French G7 Presidency, Urban7 was formally recognised for the first time as an official G7 Engagement Group, acknowledging the vital role of cities and local governments in addressing global challenges and contributing to international policymaking.

Representing the Urban7 Executive Secretariat at the Élysée Palace were Matthew Bach, Regional Director of ICLEI Europe and Co-Director of the Urban7 Secretariat, and Rainer Kern, Executive Director of the Global Parliament of Mayors and Co-Director of the Secretariat, alongside representatives of France urbaine.

The presentation of the Nancy Declaration follows a year of intensified dialogue between cities and the G7 process. Throughout the Urban7 Summit, local leaders highlighted the importance of city diplomacy, multilevel governance and international municipal cooperation in advancing resilience, democratic governance, sustainable development and peace. These priorities are reflected throughout the Declaration, which calls for stronger recognition of cities as strategic partners in addressing global challenges.

As G7 leaders prepare to meet in Évian, Urban7 calls for the final communiqué to explicitly recognise the role of cities and local governments in delivering solutions to the defining challenges of our time. Building on its new status as an official G7 Engagement Group, Urban7 remains committed to strengthening the urban dimension of international governance and ensuring that local perspectives continue to inform global decision-making.

The Urban7 Executive Secretariat, co-led by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the Global Parliament of Mayors, will continue to advance this dialogue across future G7 presidencies, working with national city associations and international partners to ensure that the voice of cities remains a permanent part of the G7 conversation.