This Friday (30th Nov.), Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, will take part in the conference closing session of EUROCITES 2018 at the EICC in Edinburgh.
She will share the stage with Young Ambassadors as they reflect on their conclusions from the three day conference in a session chaired by BBC journalist Allan Little.
Established in 1986, EUROCITIES is the network of major European cities, bringing together local governments that are responsible for 130 million citizens across 39 countries. Over 500 delegates from 120 cities are taking part in the event, including 70 Young Ambassadors. The theme of the conference is exploring how culture and creativity can deliver successful, inclusive and prosperous cities that enrich the quality of citizens’ lives.
First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said: “Scotland’s cities are vital to our economy and punch well above their weight in terms of tourism and investment. We are committed to building on that record and ensuring they continue to thrive.
“The Year of Young People aims to inspire Scotland through its young people, celebrating their achievements, valuing their contribution to communities and creating new opportunities for them to shine locally, nationally and globally. This event gives us the opportunity to showcase the fantastic work our young people have done through the year and I look forward to attending with the Young Ambassadors.”
Frank Ross, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, said: “I’m delighted the First Minister is joining us for the session that will bring EUROCITIES 2018 to an end. It is a great honour that Edinburgh is hosting this event to enable the sharing of ideas and insights with other European cities on how to tackle some of the big issues we all face.
“This is also a fantastic opportunity for Edinburgh to showcase the best our city has to offer and for us to hear from our Young Ambassadors about their aspirations for the Edinburgh of tomorrow. It chimes well with our ongoing initiative to hear from all Edinburgh Citizens about their vision for the Edinburgh of 2050.”
Anna Lisa Boni, Secretary General, EUROCITIES, said: “We are pleased to welcome the Scottish First Minister as our keynote speaker at our annual conference in Edinburgh.
“Edinburgh is a very good choice of host city and we look forward to hearing about the many positive examples of local innovation to share across our city network. EUROCITIES members will continue to work together in a spirit of openness and cooperation across Europe, despite the looming exit of the UK from the EU.”
