G7 Presidency places voice of cities among its priorities

“We also owe it to a long-term movement, carried for decades by visionary mayors from around the world. They have held the conviction that transformative change emerges from the level of government closest to the people.”

The theme of the opening plenary on 3 June, “Resilient Cities, Resilient Democracies”, frames the entire summit. In an international context marked by geopolitical tensions, climate emergency and democratic mistrust, resilience is built at the level of cities, where vulnerabilities, capacities for action and public innovation concentrate. In most G7 countries, mayors of major cities are, according to opinion surveys, the elected officials who enjoy the highest levels of citizen trust.

“For the first time in G7 history, cities are officially at the table. We owe this to the French Presidency, which has placed the voice of cities among its priorities”

Cities embody this resilience across three interconnected dimensions, which will be explored in depth during three thematic workshops on the afternoon of 3 June:

• Socio-economic resilience builds community cohesion and economic vitality, countering inequality and fostering inclusive growth where social fractures threaten stability. This workshop will be moderated by the OECD
• Environmental resilience drives the sustainable transformation of urban spaces,  tackling climate vulnerabilities through green infrastructure, energy transitions and biodiversity protection. This workshop is co-led by ICLEI and the Fédération Nationale des Agences d’Urbanisme (FNAU)
• Democratic and institutional resilience strengthens governance, protects local elected officials under threat, and renews citizen trust through participatory innovation. This workshop will be co-led by France Urbaine, the German Marshall Fund of the United States, La 27e Région, and Sciences Po’s CrisisLab.

A dedicated workshop will also be held on the reconstruction and resilience of Ukrainian cities, with the participation of several Ukrainian mayors expected. The summit benefits from scientific coordination provided by the City Diplomacy Lab, led by the scholar Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi.

The Nancy Declaration handover

The Nancy Declaration will be adopted and publicly signed on Thursday 4 June at 2pm, during the closing plenary, before being handed over to the French G7 Presidency.

Drawing directly from the summit’s discussions and outcomes, this Declaration will deliver concrete, operational recommendations to G7 leaders while offering a fresh urban perspective to enrich the French G7 Presidency’s ongoing work. Its strategic timing, 11 days before the G7 Heads of State and Government Summit in Évian, ensures cities’ frontline insights will to some extent make their way into high-level discussion.

“We also owe it to a long-term movement, carried for decades by visionary mayors from around the world. They have held the conviction that transformative change emerges from the level of government closest to the people”

More than 200 participants are expected in Nancy, including mayors from more than 15 countries − representing G7 nations, Nancy’s twin cities, G7 outreach countries (Kenya, Brazil, India and South Korea), Ukraine, as well as cities specifically invited for their expertise on the Summit’s key themes. High-level institutional and academic representatives have also been associated to ensure substantive exchanges, with several G7 ministers also expected to attend.

Key figures include Eckart Würzner (mayor of Heidelberg, Germany, and head of the German delegation to the u7 Summit), Kizo Hisamoto (mayor of Kobe, Japan, and head of the Japanese delegation), Serhii Morhunov (Vinnytsia, Ukraine, twin city of Nancy since 2023), Dilpreet Sidhu (deputy mayor of Los Angeles, United States), alongside the president of France Urbaine and Mathieu Klein (Nancy).

“Welcoming the mayors of the largest G7 cities is both an honour and a responsibility, reflecting Nancy’s international standing,” said Mathieu Klein, mayor of Nancy and president of the Greater Nancy Metropolitan Area, host of the Summit. “This diplomatic gathering, just one year after hosting the signing of the Franco-Polish Friendship Treaty in 2025, also demonstrates the collective mobilisation of the entire territory − including its cultural, economic and academic stakeholders − to showcase its expertise and openness to the world.” 

To find out the full agenda, go to U7 Mayors’ Summit.