Transversal International Networks: Urban Responses to Global Challenges

Brussels International monitors and coordinates the activities of the following transversal international networks, ensuring that the participation and representation align with the Region’s strategic priorities. International networks that focus on specific themes are monitored by the relevant Brussels administrations.

The AER is the largest Opens in new windowindependent network of regions in wider Europe, comprising 131 member regions from 30 countries and 15 interregional organisations.

Its main objectives are achieving European integration through the regions while maintaining political and social cohesion, as well as promoting and developing interregional cooperation and partnership networks.  

Its activities include:

• Advocacy towards European and national decision-makers
• Collecting and disseminating expertise on regionalism, and networking between member regions. The AER also organises training sessions, facilitates the exchange of good practices, and supports regions in identifying opportunities, in particular by monitoring European project calls and assisting in partner searches. Finally, it enhances the visibility of its members through events, awards, and media campaigns. 

The Region participates in working groups, particularly on improving Cohesion Policy and integrating Ukraine.

The Brussels-Capital Region is one of the most active members of the Opens in new windowEurodyssey programme, which promotes mobility and exchange for young jobseekers aged 18 to 30 among AER member regions.

Opens in new windowMetropolis is the global network of large cities and metropolitan areas with over 1,000,000 inhabitants, and serves as the metropolitan section of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) network.

For the past 40 years, the network has provided a platform for connecting metropolises, sharing experiences and identifying innovative and sustainable solutions to current and future urban challenges. Its key priorities include access to water, wastewater treatment, waste management, environmental issues, gender equality, and citizen participation. Through its activities, Metropolis contributes to effective and inclusive metropolitan governance. 

To carry out its activities and support inclusive metropolitan governance, Metropolis has structured its actions around three main pillars:

1. Advocating for global agendas, through initiatives such as Opens in new windowWorld Metropolitan Day and the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation;
2. Developing knowledge of metropolitan governance, in particular through projects such as the Opens in new windowUSE (Urban Sustainability Exchange) platform for urban sustainability and Opens in new windowMetro Futures ;
3. Encouraging exchange and cooperation, using tools such as Solutions Labs and the Opens in new windowCity Managers Community. Membership in Metropolis also enables the Brussels-Capital Region to participate in side events organised alongside international organisations, although it can also participate directly in these events. 

With around 250,000 members across more than 140 countries, Opens in new windowUCLG is one of the largest networks of local and regional governments in the world. It is composed of seven regional sections, a metropolitan section – the Metropolis network – and a Forum of Regions. UCLG is a recognised stakeholder within multilateral institutions. 

The main objectives of the network are:

1. Advocating for local and regional governments, by promoting decentralised governance and strengthening their role in global policies;
2. Becoming the global reference source for information and analysis on local authorities, through monitoring,publication ofreports, and tools made available to members;
3. Sharing best practices, exchanging knowledge and building the members'capacity to develop large-scale urban solutions. This can be done through training, peer learnings, learning initiatives, working groups, awards (co-)organised by the network, such as the Opens in new windowGuangzhou Award for Urban Innovation with Metropolis, or initiatives such as the Opens in new windowLocal4Action Hubs.

Eurocities is the Opens in new windowleading network of major European cities. With over 200 member cities in 38 countries, the network represents more than 150 million inhabitants. The organisation links cities so that they can work together to improve the quality of life for all. Eurocities aims to position cities as full partners of the European Union in building a sustainable and inclusive future.

Eurocities' ambitions are far-reaching and future-oriented. For example, the network is committed to:

• Strong cities, where democracy and civic engagement are pivotal, and where municipal governments have the necessary governance, capacity for innovation and access to funding.
• Inclusive societies, focusing on affordable housing, the fight against poverty and homelessness, equal opportunities in employment and education, and the integration of refugees and migrants.
• Healthy and climate-resilient living environments, thanks to local action plans;
• Attractive and liveable cities, by investing in public spaces and infrastructure that connect and inspire.
• A sustainable and prosperous economy, by attracting and retaining talent, and supporting local industries, start-ups and circular initiatives;
• A people-centred digital transformation, with a focus on digital inclusion, data-driven policies, and the protection of digital rights.

To achieve these goals, Eurocities provides a platform for knowledge sharing, experience exchange, and collaboration. Through forums, working groups, projects, and events, cities work together to find innovative solutions to common challenges.

The Brussels-Capital Region is active within Eurocities and participates in various forums and working groups, notably on digitalisation, mobility, cohesion policy, and the Urban Agenda for the EU.

Brussels International also represents the Region within the” Opens in new windowPlatforma“ coalition.

Platforma is a pan-European coalition of local authorities – cities and regions – as well as their associations involved in development cooperation. Its aim is to strengthen the contribution of these local and regional governments to development cooperation policies, both at the level of the European Union and in other international bodies.

The Brussels-Capital Region is an associate member of Platforma. As such: 

• It participates in the network’s Steering Committee and Policy Committee;
• It benefits from the exchange of good practices through participation in two thematic clusters:
• A cluster on education for global citizenship based on solidarity, focusing on the exchange of good practices;
• A cluster entitled “Geographical Dialogues”, which aims to strengthen links between Platforma partners and the various EU delegations.