Transatlatic Expansion at the Pact of Free Cities Bratislava Summit

Founded in 2019 by the mayors of Bratislava, Budapest, Prague, and Warsaw, the Pact of Free Cities has evolved into a global network of local leaders committed to protecting democratic values and advancing practical solutions to the challenges facing cities worldwide.

This year’s summit marked the largest participation of U.S. city leaders in the Pact’s history, with ten American mayors joining discussions and exchanges throughout the event:

• Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones – San Antonio, Texas

• Mayor Todd Gloria – San Diego, California

• Mayor Michelle Wu – Boston, Massachusetts

• Mayor Lacey Beaty – Beaverton, Oregon

• Mayor Steven Reed – Montgomery, Alabama

• Mayor Aftab Pureval – Cincinnati, Ohio

• Mayor David Holt – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• Mayor Katie Wilson – Seattle, Washington

• Mayor Brandon Johnson – Chicago, Illinois

• Mayor Justin Bibb – Cleveland, Ohio

The summit focused on strengthening transatlantic cooperation between cities, with leaders sharing experiences and strategies on housing, economic inclusion, climate adaptation, public safety, democratic governance, and the future of urban leadership.

A major outcome of the summit was the establishment of the Pact’s new Executive Committee, a decision-making body created to strengthen coordination and guide the alliance’s future direction. The members of the Executive Committee are:

• Mayor Femke Halsema (President of the Executive Committee) – Amsterdam

• Mayor Matúš Vallo – Bratislava

• Mayor Jaume Collboni – Barcelona

• Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones – San Antonio

• Mayor Gergely Karácsony – Budapest

The creation of the Executive Committee reflects the Pact’s continued growth and increasing international relevance as cities take a more active role in addressing global challenges.

The Pact of Free Cities also announced a light institutionalisation process aimed at increasing the organisation’s long-term effectiveness and operational capacity. As part of this effort, a permanent secretariat has been established in Budapest.

In addition, the Alliance of Local Leaders International (ALLIES), a U.S.-based nonpartisan nonprofit organisation, has been selected as the strategic partner of the Pact of Free Cities. The partnership is expected to strengthen cooperation between European and American cities and support the Pact’s expanding international activities.

The summit also featured a public open session titled “Democracy in danger. Will free cities stay safe? Which cards to play with in the changing world?”, hosted at Bratislava’s Primate’s Palace and livestreamed to international audiences.

The first panel discussion, “What if. Can our Cities Keep us Safe in a Shifting World?”, focused on urban resilience, emergency preparedness, and the growing security challenges facing democratic societies. Participants discussed how cities can respond to crises ranging from cyberattacks and blackouts to geopolitical instability and armed conflict. The panel was led by former Slovak Minister of Defence Martin Sklenár and featured contributions from Mayor Vitali Klitschko of Kyiv, representatives from Lviv, Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski of Warsaw, Mayor Lacey Beaty of Beaverton, and Mar Jiménez from the Barcelona City Council.

The second panel, “Cities as Bastions of Democracy: Countering Narratives which push freedoms out”, examined the role of cities in defending democratic values amid rising authoritarian pressures and growing social fragmentation. Discussions explored how local governments can protect civil liberties, strengthen trust in institutions, and preserve municipal autonomy. Moderated by Slovak journalist Eva Mihockova, the session included opening remarks by Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony and contributions from Mayor Jakob Frey of Minneapolis, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones of San Antonio, Mayor Femke Halsema of Amsterdam, Deputy Mayor Debbie Weekes-Bernard of London, Deputy Mayor Audrey Pulvar of Paris, and Mayor Tomislav Tomašević of Zagreb.

The summit concluded with the announcement that the 2027 Pact of Free Cities Summit will be hosted in Amsterdam under the leadership of Mayor Femke Halsema, President of the Executive Committee.

As the Pact of Free Cities enters its next phase, city leaders reaffirmed their commitment to democratic values, international cooperation, and the belief that cities can play a leading role in shaping a more resilient and inclusive future.