European Metropolitan Authorities – EMA (EMA) Forum will be hosted by MMU and Bursa in 2026.
Mustafa Bozbey, President of Marmara Municipalities Union (MMU) and Mayor of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, represented Marmara Region at the 10th anniversary events of the European Metropolitan Authorities (EMA) Forum, held as part of the World Metropolitan Summit (WMS) in Barcelona from 14–17 October 2025. During the Political Meeting on October 14, the proposal to host the 2026 EMA Forum was discussed. Following President Bozbey’s proposal, it was agreed by consensus that MMU and Bursa Metropolitan Municipality will host the event next year.
In his opening speech at the joint session of WMS held on October 15th, Bozbey said, "Acting together is no longer a choice, but a necessity. Therefore, making our challenges, strategic policy proposals, and calls for solidarity visible before national and international institutions is our shared responsibility." He also highlighted the strategic importance of Marmara Region and Bursa and their capacity for regional cooperation. Emphasizing the strategic importance of Marmara Region and Bursa, home to 6 metropolitan cities and a population of over 26 million, he officially announced that the 2026 EMA Forum will be organized in Bursa.
Following the session, President Bozbey signed the Barcelona Metropolitan Declaration, which focuses on the critical role metropolitan cities will play in advancing and implementing global goals beyond the 2030 Global Agenda.
The World Metropolitan Summit brings together Europe's leading metropolitan leaders and provides a platform for experience sharing, joint policy development, and international advocacy among metropolitan governments. The summit addresses topics such as metropolitan-level cooperation in addressing urban challenges, sustainability, housing policies, and digital transformation.
The European Metropolitan Authorities (EMA), established in 2015 by the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, is a network representing Europe's leading metropolitan cities. EMA continues its efforts to foster knowledge exchange, develop joint metropolitan policies, and ensure effective advocacy before the European Commission and the European Parliament.
Highlights of this year’s summit include the development of coordinated metropolitan-scale policies to address the housing challenges arising from rising property prices, short-term rentals, and gentrification; cooperation on drought and unequal access to water management; and modernizing public services and data-driven governance in the field of digitalization.
