The European Green Party is bringing together Green Mayors including Gergely Karácsony (Budapest), Tomislav Tomašević (Zagreb), Viesturs Kleinbergs (Riga), and Deputy Mayor Zita Pels (Amsterdam). They will be joined by David Belliard, Deputy Mayor of Paris, who is also candidate mayor for Paris from Les Écologistes.
The Greens are warning that the European Commission’s proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) (2028-2034) risks weakening cohesion policy, cutting direct ties with cities and regions, and jeopardising funding for climate protection, affordable housing, as well as public transport and services.
Cities are on the frontline in the fight against climate change, they implement over 70% of EU climate policies and 90% of climate adaptation efforts. They need access to more direct funding to allow them to respond with the urgency and scale required to the enormous threats posed by the climate emergency.
The event will also highlight threats to local democracy and autonomy. Mayor of Budapest Gergely Karácsony faces even more challenges as funding cuts by the far-right government of Viktor Orbán are threatening his city’s services. The revised MFF structure seems likely to continue to allow national governments to deny or delay funding to cities for political reasons.
When: 1 October 2025, 12h30. Doorstep interviews and pictures are possible from 12:30 to 13:30
Where: Maison Grand Place, Grand Place 19, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Photo opportunity: A symbolic action will be organised to express solidarity with imprisoned Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
There will also be a photo action to protest the banning of Pécs Pride in Hungary.
Interview requests: press@europeangreens.eu
Full list of participating Mayors of Green Parties
Vula Tsetsi and Ciarán Cuffe, EGP Co-Chairs
Jelena Miloš and Marieke Van Doorninck, EGP Committee Members
Gergely Karácsony (Mayor of Budapest, Hungary)
Tomislav Tomasevic (Mayor of Zagreb, Croatia)
Viesturs Kleinbergs (Mayor of Riga, Latvia)
David Belliard (Deputy Mayor of Paris, Candidate for Mayor Paris, France)
Zita Pels (Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Dan Boyle (Former Lord Mayor of Cork, Ireland)
Nadja Weippert (Mayor of Tostedt, Germany)
Alexandra Gauß (Mayor of Windeck, Germany)
Elke Van Den Brandt (Minister of Brussels, Belgium)
Miroslav Kaznowski (Deputy of Mayor Milanowek, Poland)
Maria Laua Orrù (Mayor of Elmas, Sardinia, Italy)
Tine Radinja (Mayor of Škofja Loka, Co-President Greens & Progressives in the Committee of the Regions)
Angelika Poth-Mögele (Secretary General Greens & Progressives in the Committee of the Regions)
Bart Dhondt (Party Leader, Groen, Belgium)
Louise Coffineau (Advocacy director, Eurocities)
Gordan Bosanac MEP
Ignazio Marino MEP, former Mayor of Rome
Leoluca Orlando MEP, former Mayor of Palermo
Vladimir Prebilic MEP, former mayor of Kočevje
