On October 12, 2026, in Brussels, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Raffaele Fitto delivered a speech at the opening of the 'European Week of Regions and Cities 2026' forum. The event traditionally brings together representatives of regional and municipal authorities, as well as leaders of European institutions to discuss regional policy and EU cohesion. Among the participants were European Council President António Costa, Chair of the European Committee of the Regions Vashvari Tuttö, and Jyrki Katainen. In his address, Fitto emphasized the forum's motto 'Strong Regions – Strong Europe', stressing that this is not merely a symbolic formulation but a reflection of the real principle upon which the resilience and unity of the European Union is built. The European Week of Regions and Cities is an annual event organized by the European Commission in cooperation with the European Committee of the Regions. The forum serves as a platform for exchanging experience between local and regional authorities of EU member states, discussing cohesion policy issues, the distribution of structural funds, and supporting sustainable regional development. The event traditionally attracts thousands of participants—politicians, experts, and civil society representatives from across Europe.