On 25 January, Mr Stanisław Szwabski, EA President and the Councilor of Gdynia participated in the joint Public Hearing of the COTER Commission of the CoR and the REGI committee of the European Parliament on the Implementation of the EU Urban Agenda: "Towards the Pact of Amsterdam".

The European Alliance President underlined the need to closely cooperate with all actors towards the development of the EU Urban Agenda. Mr Stanisław Szwabski said that "the discussion with the European Parliament at this stage is crucial to provide a political basis to strengthen the cooperation between both institutions towards the EU Urban Agenda and the envisaged Pact of Amsterdam".

"The Urban agenda should establish a more integrated approach to EU policy and legislation which has an effect in all our cities. There is a need to reinforce the role of local and regional authorities in the EU legislative process in this matter. This approach however should be done with a good urban-rural balance" - he added.