Edinburgh to host 2018 Eurocities Conference

The announcement was made on Friday morning at this year’s conference and AGM being hosted in Milan.

Eurocities is the network and platform for Europe’s Mayors and Political Leaders to address key urban challenges faced by cities in Europe.

Edinburgh has been a member since 1991.

The annual high profile event is usually attended by around 400-500 delegates including representatives from city authorities.

Cllr Gavin Barrie, economy convener, the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “It is a great honour for Edinburgh to be chosen to host this prestigious event in 2018 and it will be a tremendous boost to the city’s economy, particularly for the EICC. It will be a valuable opportunity to welcome cities from across Europe to Edinburgh to showcase and share know-how, expertise and ideas with our Eurocities colleagues.

“It is the cities of Europe that will drive sustainable growth, jobs and innovation in the future. Edinburgh is a vibrant capital city with a long history of strong international and European connections, having played a key role in the intellectual, scientific and cultural development of Europe.

“Together with Eurocities, and sponsors, we will be developing our proposed theme - Creative Competitive Cities – to showcase the best of Edinburgh.”

John Donnelly, chief executive of marketing Edinburgh, said: “Strong leadership and collaboration with our European city partners is integral to Edinburgh’s ongoing success and appeal as one of the best places in the world to live, work, invest, visit and study.

“Edinburgh is proud to be hosting Eurocities. This is a unique event that drives forward innovation, creativity, learning and sharing of good practice, allowing member cities to benchmark and raise their competitive game. Convention Edinburgh is delighted to be supporting this event, which as it also coincides with St Andrew’s Day, will guarantee an incredibly warm Scottish welcome to all delegates.”

Marshall Dallas, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), said: “Edinburgh has been one of Europe’s great cities for centuries, the so-called Athens of the North, with flourishing universities, modern industries, a vibrant cultural scene and a strong emotional connection to the continent so it is fitting that EUROCITIES will be taking place here for the first time. Edinburgh, like Scotland as a whole, is a very welcoming place and we are hugely looking forward to hosting delegates from almost every corner of Europe at our world-class venue in 2018.”

Keith Brown MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, said: “I am delighted that Edinburgh has been successful in their bid to host the Eurocities AGM and Conference in November 2018. This event, taking place during the 2018 Themed Year of Young People, provides Edinburgh, and Scotland, with an invaluable opportunity to interact with policy makers from across Europe, to showcase our field of excellence and our ongoing engagement as an active stakeholder at European and global levels.”

The conference has been provisionally booked with the EICC for 28 – 30 November.