70 Years of the Europe Prize and the General Assembly of Europe Prize Cities – a joint celebration
On 5–6 June 2025, Donostia/San Sebastián (Spain) – the European Capital of Local Democracy – hosted celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the Europe Prize establishment, awarded by the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe. The anniversary events began on June 5 (Thursday), with the General Assembly of the Association of Europe Prize Cities, organised by the Association in cooperation with the San Sebastián City Council. The meeting gathered representatives of institutions and city delegations from across Europe.
The cities represented at the event included: Częstochowa, Gdynia, Katowice, Lublin (Poland); Altötting, Darmstadt, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Würzburg (Germany); Donostia/San Sebastián, Girona, Terrassa (Spain); Gaziantep (Türkiye); Kharkiv (Ukraine); Marvejols (France); and Zelzate (Belgium).
During the General Assembly, the current Board of the Association – chaired by Mayor of Lublin – was unanimously re-elected for another one-year term. Alongside the Association’s proceedings, a Youth Forum took place with the participation of young local leaders from across Europe.
On 6 June, members of the Association took part in the official celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the Europe Prize.
The event, held under the catchphrase “Democracy under pressure: how cities carry hope for European values”, aimed to highlight the role of cities as the first to stand up for democracy and the European cause.
The programme included an international conference focusing on the role of local governments in upholding democracy, as well as a ceremonial event at Donostia/San Sebastián City Hall, where 68 former laureates of the Europe Prize were honoured.
“For centuries, cities used to be surrounded by walls to protect themselves from enemies. Nowadays, cities – laureates of the Europe Prize – have not only removed these old historical walls but also have built roads and bridges to connect people, foster cooperation, enable the exchange of experiences, and nurture friendships across borders”- says Despina Chatzivassiliou, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
It was a remarkable period of gathering and exchange, dialogue, and jointly shaping a future based on European values: democracy, peace, and cross-border cooperation.
#EuropePrize #Donostia #SanSebastian #Democracy #LocalGovernance
