The Brussels-Capital Region appointed Vice-President of Metropolis
The Brussels-Capital Region (BCR) is the new Vice-President Europe and Treasurer of Metropolis, the global network of major cities and metropolitan areas. Brussels thus cements its status as capital of the European Union and international metropolitan area with an open and cosmopolitan outlook on the world.
On 30 November 2020, the BCR was elected Vice-President Europe and Treasurer of Metropolis during the virtual general meeting and meeting of the Board of Directors of this global network of major cities and metropolitan areas.
The Chinese megalopolis of Guangzhou was elected President from 2021 until mid-2022. The second half of the mandate, from mid-2022 until the end of the 2023, will be held by the Colombian capital of Bogota, making it the first Latin American city to hold this role.
“Brussels’ privileged access to the European institutions, and more specifically the EU’s Assembly of Regional and Local Representatives, will enable Metropolis to better influence the political agenda”, said Pascal Smet, Brussels State Secretary responsible for European and international relations.
In addition to the role of Vice-President, the BCR was also re-elected as Treasurer of the organisation. The position will be held by Jean-Luc Vanraes. “Many European and international institutions have their seat in Brussels, making it one of the most international cities in the world. We are therefore looking forward to playing a very active role within Metropolis”, he added.
Metropolis : 35 years of connecting the world’s major cities
As the global network of major cities and metropolitan areas, Metropolis groups 141 cities and regions having a population over one million around the world. The network, which has 35 years of experience, contributes to finding collective answers to common problems encountered by large cities, in order to improve their metropolitan governance.
The role of cities and regions during the pandemic
In the context of the current global health crisis and its serious impact on many industries, the cities and regions have shown great responsiveness, participating in the management of this pandemic. They also exchange good practices within international networks such as Metropolis. “We want to and must become agents of change. Strengthening the exchanges and cooperation of Metropolis’s members with local and regional actors, in Europe and the rest of the world, will help us achieve this”, concluded State Secretary Pascal Smet.
