IURC Convenes 100 City and Regional Leaders at the World Cities Summit in Singapore

EU-funded programme advances city cooperation and subnational diplomacy at Asia’s premier urban platform, as a strategic partner of the World Cities Summit 2026.

SINGAPORE —­ The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Asia and Australasia programme is bringing together 100 delegates from cities and regions across Europe, Asia and Australasia in Singapore on 16 June 2026, for the 2nd IURC Global Thematic Workshop at the World Cities Summit 2026 (WCS 2026). IURC is a strategic partner of WCS 2026, alongside Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

The one-day workshop brings together mayors, technical delegates and senior officials from across Europe, Asia and Australasia to advance Communities of Practice and shape joint pilot projects. Participating cities and regions include Hamburg, Melbourne, Christchurch, Coimbra, South Gippsland, Valencia Region, Granada, Chennai and Cali.

Hosted during WCS 2026, Asia’s premier gathering of government leaders and urban practitioners, the workshop marks a key milestone in IURC’s second phase (2025–2027). 

Following months of online collaboration, technical exchanges and study visits, and building on relationships strengthened during the programme’s first in-person gathering in Barcelona in November 2025, participating cities and regions are now moving from knowledge exchange towards the co-design and development of pilot projects. The Summit provides a global stage to showcase progress and deepen collaboration among participating cities and regions.

Event Highlights (16 June):

• Opening Ceremony: Remarks by Dr. Syed Harun Alhabsyi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of National Development and Education, Singapore; Andreas Röttger, EU FPI; Errol Levy, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Delegation of the European Union to Singapore

• Leadership Dialogue: High-level exchange bringing together the Mayors of Melbourne, Coimbra and South Gippsland, alongside senior representatives from Valencia Region, Chennai and Cali

• Communities of Practice (CoP) Working Sessions: Parallel breakout sessions for cities and regions to report on pilot project progress and next steps
• Reporting and Closing: Synthesis across Communities of Practice and programme commitments for the second half of 2026
• IURC Booth (Level 4, B6, 14–16 June): Bilateral meetings, on-site interviews and delegate networking

Singapore is pleased to welcome the IURC delegation to the World Cities Summit 2026 and we are grateful for their partnership in making this workshop possible. At this time of increasing global uncertainty, cities and regions are navigating challenges of unprecedented complexity and rapid change. Platforms like this allow us to learn from one another and build lasting partnerships between Asia, Australasia and Europe, helping us to do better by our residents.“
— Dr. Syed Harun Alhabsyi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for National Development and Education, Singapore

21 Communities of Practice, One Shared Agenda

Delegates will work across the programme’s 21 thematic Communities of Practice, spanning city-to-city themes such as mobility and transport, urban innovation, circular economy, climate adaptation, urban regeneration, social cohesion and housing, strategic sectors, and sustainable smart tourism, alongside region-to-region themes including clean energy, agri-food systems, industrial modernisation, blue economy and just transition. Sessions will report on progress against Urban and Regional Cooperation Action Plans (UCAPs and RCAPs) and set clear directions for pilot project development in the second half of 2026.

The cities and regions in the IURC programme have done the groundwork, building relationships and advancing through Communities of Practice towards concrete pilot projects. Singapore is where that progress becomes visible at the global level, translating EU cooperation into tangible action across continents.“
— Andreas Röttger, Head of the Regional Team Asia/Pacific, European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments

From Partnership to Impact

As a strategic partner of WCS 2026, alongside key Summit highlights such as the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize and the WCS Young Leaders Symposium, IURC Asia and Australasia connects 30 EU cities and 16 EU regions with counterparts across Australia, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan through 21 thematic Communities of Practice. Singapore marks the programme’s second global in-person milestone, following Barcelona (November 2025), which brought together 240 delegates from 130 cities and regions across four continents. Cities and regions have since completed preparatory CoP sessions, technical deep dives and study visits, and drafted Urban and Regional Cooperation Action Plans, the foundation for the workshop in Singapore.

The European Union’s presence in Singapore reflects our long-term commitment to working with cities and regions as partners in sustainable development. Initiatives like IURC translate that commitment into practical cooperation, connecting European expertise with the dynamism of Asia’s urban centres.“
— Errol Levy, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Delegation of the European Union to Singapore

About the World Cities Summit

The biennial World Cities Summit (WCS) is a platform for government leaders and industry experts to address liveable and sustainable city challenges, share integrated urban solutions, and strengthen international partnerships. Jointly organised by Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), key highlights of the Summit include the Mayors Forum, WCS Young Leaders Symposium, the Science of Cities Symposium, the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, and an exhibition. 
For more information, visit www.worldcitiessummit.com.sg  

About the IURC

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) is a European Union-funded programme advancing decentralised subnational cooperation in sustainable urban development and regional innovation. It is implemented by a consortium commissioned by the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (EU FPI) and Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO).
Additional stories and visuals available at www.iurc.eu/asia-australasia

Media Contact

David Zeller
Communications Manager, IURC Asia and Australasia
Email: info@iurc.eu

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Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.