The Eurocities Monitor shapes the debate about the situation and needs of European cities.
The Eurocities Monitor shapes the debate about the situation and needs of European cities.
Foreword from Mathias De Clercq, Mayor of Ghent; President, Eurocities
Across Europe and beyond, cities are at the frontline of defending democratic values. Too often, when national governments hesitate, remain silent or reduce complex realities to narrow financial considerations, it is mayors who step forward. We speak up, we act and we stand with our citizens.
Against that backdrop, many mayors have shared their concerns about the state of democracy, both within Europe and beyond. The situation in Turkey has been especially prominent, with local leaders facing pressure, uncertainty and, in some cases, detention. At Eurocities, we stand in solidarity with our colleagues, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul, and with all those whose democratic mandate must be respected and protected. The Eurocities missions to Istanbul in August 2025 and February 2026 illustrated how fragile democracy can be when its foundations are put under pressure. In our cities, democracy is therefore not an abstract principle, but something we practise every day, through participation, the protection of rights, and local autonomy.
This matters far beyond one country. Across Europe, mayors are witnessing how polarisation, disinformation and mistrust are putting democratic life under strain. As city leaders, we are often the first to feel these pressures, but also the first to respond. We work closest to people’s daily realities. We listen, we act and we deliver. We bring communities together, protect public services, create spaces for dialogue and show that democracy can deliver real change for people. When European values are at stake, we must raise our voices to defend them.
The Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey 2026 shows how strongly these concerns are reflected in the work of mayors. Democracy and services for citizens have moved higher on mayors’ agendas. Local leaders consider rule of law backsliding, geopolitical shocks and disinformation as major threats for Europe. Four in five mayors report direct exposure to online violence, harassment or disinformation, a stark reminder that democratic leadership today comes with growing personal and political risks.
Despite these challenges, mayors continue to show ambition and test solutions. Climate action remains our top priority for the third year in a row. Cities are not just maintaining ambition – they are accelerating it. They are turning climate goals into concrete action on the ground and keeping Europe’s transition on track. At the same time, affordable housing has become one of the defining issues of urban leadership, and the highest-ranked issue when mayors identify their single number one priority. Cities are also acting on poverty, inclusion, infrastructure, local economies and social cohesion. This is what mayors do: we respond to crises and keep building the future.
The coming months will be decisive for that future. Europe is preparing its next long-term budget, developing a new EU Agenda for Cities and shaping responses to the housing crisis, competitiveness, climate resilience and democratic renewal. These debates must include local realities. If Europe wants to deliver, it needs cities on its side. The new EU Agenda for Cities is an opportunity to build a strong alliance with cities – one that gives local leaders the trust, tools and investment needed to turn the European ambitions into tangible results for people.
The Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey 2026 shows that mayors are ready for that responsibility. We are defending democracy, standing with colleagues under pressure, keeping climate ambition alive, tackling housing and inequality, and giving Europe a stronger local foundation.
Cities are ready to lead. I am grateful to all mayors who contributed to this survey, and above all to those who continue to lead with courage in difficult times.
Foreword from André Sobczak, Secretary General, Eurocities
This fourth edition of the Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey brings together the views of mayors from across our network. On behalf of Eurocities, I would like to warmly thank all those who took the time to share their insights, priorities and concerns. Your responses help us understand what cities are facing today and how they see Europe’s future over the next decade. Of course, this evidence guides our network’s activities. It steers our engagement with EU institutions and instructs our support to members.
The Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey 2026 comes at a particularly topical moment. The European Union is discussing its next long-term budget, developing the EU Agenda for Cities and preparing major policy responses on housing, competitiveness, climate resilience, democracy and social fairness. Eurocities represents the collective voice of cities in these discussions, ensuring that local realities and evidence inform European decisions. The choices the EU will make for the next long-term budget will shape the conditions in which cities act. The survey makes clear that mayors are ready to deliver on Europe’s priorities, but that delivery requires a budget that recognises cities as essential partners in design and implementation as well as a more balanced partnership between the EU, national governments and cities.
The findings of the Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey are striking. Climate action remains the top priority for mayors, even as other issues rise in urgency. Housing continues to move up the agenda and is now the highest-ranked issue when mayors identify their single most important priority. This confirms what we have seen across our work with cities and justifies our strong advocacy investment in defending this topic in close partnership with the #Mayors4Housing alliance led by our Vice President, the Mayor of Barcelona. The housing crisis is no longer only a social question. It affects inclusion, labour markets, climate renovation, demographic stability and the ability of cities to remain attractive and liveable.
The survey also shows that democracy has become a central concern for mayors. Rule of law backsliding, geopolitical shocks and disinformation are among the main threats they identify. Online harassment and disinformation are affecting many mayors directly. These findings connect strongly with this year’s guest contribution from Commissioner McGrath, and with Eurocities’ ambitious #Mayors4Democracy campaign to support mayors at risk. They also guide our activities to stimulate innovation on local democracy, citizen participation, and democratic resilience.
Another important message concerns inequalities and poverty. Mayors expect income, wealth and housing affordability gaps to increase and put the biggest pressures on their cities. At the same time, they are confident in areas where local action can make a visible difference, including digital inclusion, skills and neighbourhood cohesion. Their anti-poverty priorities are practical and clear: affordable and social housing, access to quality jobs, early childhood support and inclusive education. However, mayors also point to persistent barriers that limit impact, including fragmented funding, high land costs, co-financing requirements and complex rules.
This year’s special section on city diplomacy is also timely. As Pol Morillas explores in his contribution to this publication, cities are becoming more active international actors. The survey shows a shift from broad recognition to tangible influence, with mayors increasingly focused on shaping EU priorities, climate cooperation, economic partnerships and democratic values. This reflects the reality of today’s urban leadership: local challenges are increasingly connected to European and global developments.
The Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey is a key instrument for bringing the voice of mayors into European policymaking. I encourage you to read the results and the guest essays in this publication. They show how mayors are leading in a period of pressure and possibility. With the right partnerships and support, cities can continue to make Europe more democratic, more inclusive, more sustainable and closer to people.