27 August 2025 – The Global Parliament of Mayors (GPM) is pleased to announce the launch of its new webinar series, GPM City Dialogue. This monthly series will bring together mayors, academics, and leaders of international and civil society organizations to explore the pressing issues cities face and exchange knowledge on innovative urban solutions.

Each session will be hosted by Prof. Dr. Eric Corijn, GPM Director of Policy & Research, philosopher and sociologist, and professor in Urban Studies at the Free University of Brussels. The series will build on the extensive experience of keynote speakers while inviting mayors and the public to join the discussion.

First Three Webinars Announced

📅 Monday, 29 September 2025, 5 p.m. (CET)

Putting Arts and Culture at the Centre of the Urban Project: How to Make Creative Cities

The world is rapidly changing and that affects cities. To fuel the urban project and to unite diverse populations cities must better develop urban imaging. Not just for their arts and culture, but in all sectors. Urban policy is not only about the hardware but needs good software for dynamic development and mobilizing the inhabitants. 

Keynote Speaker:

  • Charles Landry, internationally renowned author and advisor on the future of cities. Best known for popularising the Creative City concept, he is also the founder of the think tank Comedia and president of the Creative Bureaucracy Festival in Berlin.He is an Advisory Board member of GPM

📅 Monday, 27 October 2025, 5 p.m. (CET)

Compassionate Cities as a Complement to Declining Welfare Provisions: On the growing social agenda in cities and how to cope with it.

The world is rapidly changing and that affects cities. Countries are reducing social services. Urban populations are more diverse, growing older and younger alike, multiplying social challenges. Health policies must be adapted and better embedded in a broader conception of care and solidarity.  As welfare systems face growing strain, cities are increasingly tasked with addressing social challenges such as aging populations, health inequalities, and migration. This webinar will explore how compassionate cities can adapt health policies, embed solidarity, and create innovative approaches to care.

Keynote Speaker:

  • Prof. Dr. Luc Deliens, Sociologist, Professor of Palliative Care Research at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Ghent University. He is the Founding Director of the multidisciplinary and multi-professional End-of-Life Care Research Group. He is the Founding Chair of the first interdisciplinary Centre of Expertise on Compassionate Communities. Internationally, he is President of Public Health Palliative Care International (PHPCI), the leading association on Compassionate Communities and Compassionate Cities. He has world-wide experience.

📅 Monday, 24 November 2025, 5 p.m. (CET)

The Importance of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights: Human Rights and Urban Policies

As authoritarian tendencies rise globally, repression and exclusion increase in the urban context. Cities play a critical role in defending democracy and human rights.Human rights and the state of law are meant to preserve citizens from abuse and exploitation. How can mayors and cities refer to legal rights to defend and deepen democracy? This session will examine how mayors can use the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights as a tool to safeguard inclusivity and resilience at the local level. 

Keynote Speaker:

  • Prof. Dr. Françoise Tulkens, emeritus professor of Human Rights at UCL and former judge at the European Court of Human Rights, where she served for fourteen years. She has taught at universities in Geneva, Ottawa, Paris, Rennes, Strasbourg, and Louisiana State University.

Join the Dialogue

The GPM City Dialogue series offers a unique opportunity for city leaders and communities to share insights, debate challenges, and co-create solutions for the future of urban governance.

Stay tuned for registration details and further announcements on upcoming sessions.