Bringing together international headquarters cities and highlighting the challenges and opportunities they face was the agenda for the breakfast hosted by Alain Hutchinson, Brussels Commissioner for Europe and International Organisations. Strasbourg, Vienna, Geneva, The Hague, Montevideo and Montreal responded enthusiastically to the call.
The discussions provided an opportunity to share best practice in this area and to gain a better understanding of the challenges facing major international cities and urban centres in terms of welcoming policies, quality of life, not to mention socio-economic, environmental and planning issues. Being a host city for international organisations imposes numerous constraints that need to be managed as effectively as possible, taking into account the sometimes divergent interests of international activity and the daily lives of local and international citizens. The major challenges of this coexistence concern the implementation of complex urban policies in terms of land-use planning, access to housing for all, management of public spaces, safety and mobility, which must reconcile the often legitimate requirements of international organisations and the daily lives of local residents.
As a major international capital and home to a multitude of supranational and intergovernmental organisations, Brussels was naturally keen to share its experiences in this field with colleagues from other European and international headquarters cities, and to explore possibilities for future cooperation.
After the various discussions, Alain Hutchinson, Brussels Commissioner for Europe and International Organisations, invited all participants to reflect on the organisation of a network of host cities and regions at a more formal meeting in the coming months.
See you then!
Contact : Natacha Brieven
nbrieven@commissioner.brussels
0488/234 984
The Brussels Commissioner for Europe and International Organisations (CEIO)
At the end of 2014, the Brussels Commissioner for Europe and International Organisations (CEIO) was entrusted by the Brussels Government with the task of implementing a genuine host region policy in order to develop and strengthen structural links between the Brussels-Capital Region and the international institutions on its territory. This host region policy is defined as the policy of welcoming supranational and intergovernmental organisations with their seat or representation in the Brussels-Capital Region, including diplomatic missions and regional and local representations.
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