Bratislava Summit of Cities

During a closed session of the summit, the delegates discussed and exchanged information on city-level initiatives aimed at protecting and developing democracy. Participants agreed that liberal democracy is facing a challenging period and defending it must be a top priority for democratic leaders. Clear ideas, a shared vision, and efforts to foster civic unity and good governance were identified as key components of resilient democracies. Mayors emphasized that building trust at the local level—through transparent policies and credible public institutions—is one of the most effective ways to strengthen democratic values and increase public confidence in democratic systems. A key outcome of the session was the adoption of the Bratislava Declaration, which identifies key current threats to democratic development, including populism, disinformation, and declining public trust in institutions. The declaration also includes a strong condemnation of any politically motivated violence against individuals or groups of people. One of the central topics of the summit was the situation in Ukraine and ongoing support for Ukrainian cities. The Pact of Free Cities has maintained cooperation with Ukrainian municipalities even before the Russian invasion, especially with Kyiv and other major cities. In 2022 in Prague, the Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, joined the Pact at the invitation of its four founding members. At this year’s Bratislava summit, Mayor of Kharkiv was officially welcomed as a new member. The Pact of Free Cities also expanded to include two additional European mayors – Mayor of Reykjavík (Iceland) and Mayor of Sofia (Bulgaria). The Summit concluded with an agreement among the member cities to continue their joint efforts in defending democratic values and fostering resilient and transparent local governance. It was also announced that the next edition of the Pact of Free Cities Summit will be hosted by the city of Tirana (Albania).