44 Arab and European Cities Adopt Working Groups to Strengthen Cooperation During AECD Forum 2027

24 Feb 2026

The Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI), through the Coordinating Committee of the Arab European Cities Dialogue Forum (AECD 2027), convened the second meeting of Arab and European cities, bringing together representatives from 44 cities and local government associations from both regions. The meeting is part of the ongoing preparations for the AECD 2027, which will take place in Madrid, Spain. During the meeting, participants reviewed and approved the framework for thematic working groups. These voluntary platforms will bring together cities, local government associations, and development partners around common priorities, aiming to generate practical outcomes that advance the Forum’s agenda. Participants approved four key thematic areas for shared cooperation, as follows:

Quality of Life and Community Development
Economic Development and Prosperity
Climate Action and Urban Resilience
Digital Transformation and Technologies

The meeting also reviewed the working mechanisms, organizational structure, and schedule of periodic meetings of the thematic groups. Attendees unanimously agreed to convene regular sessions throughout the year to ensure sustained coordination and deliver tangible results. An interactive segment gathered feedback from cities on ways to engage academic, development, and cultural institutions, as well as startups and international agencies, to enrich the dialogue. Participants also discussed the preferred format of the groups’ outputs, which included implementation recommendations, action plans, policy briefs, reports, and shared collaboration platforms. The meeting marks a clear shift into the implementation phase of the working groups, reinforcing the role of cities in producing practical outcomes that will help advance the agenda of the Madrid 2027 Forum.