The General Assembly of the Association of Towns Awarded the Europe Prize was held on 11 June 2026 at the Ömer Ersoy Cultural Centre in Gaziantep. It brought together representatives of European municipalities committed to strengthening cooperation, democratic values, and civic engagement.
The election of the Association’s new leadership was a key item on the agenda. The city of Ivano-Frankivsk was elected President of the Association by unanimous vote. The candidacy was presented by Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv, who received congratulations from member cities, followed by expressions of confidence that, under his leadership, the Association will continue to strengthen cooperation among European municipalities, promote shared values, and develop initiatives supporting solidarity and active citizenship.
The General Assembly also elected a new Presidium for the 2026–2028 term. The following cities were appointed:
- Ivano-Frankivsk (Ukraine) – President
- Lublin (Poland) – Vice-President
- Częstochowa (Poland)
- Gaziantep (Türkiye)
- Kharkiv (Ukraine)
- Mülheim an der Ruhr (Germany)
- Reggio Emilia (Italy)
- Würzburg (Germany)
The Assembly expressed its sincere appreciation for the outgoing Presidency, highlighting the leadership of Lublin and Mayor Krzysztof Żuk throughout the 2023–2026 term. Delegates underlined Lublin’s significant contribution to the Association’s activities, including setting strategic priorities, strengthening cooperation among member cities, and advancing joint initiatives across the network.
Following the General Assembly in Gaziantep, members of the newly elected Presidium will decide on the host city for their next meeting.
