The municipality of Timisoara organizes this fall the Timisoara Cities Summit, an international event dedicated to the European Union's enlargement and to cooperation between EU cities and peers in candidate states, the Save Romania Union said in a release.

The summit will take place September 29 - 30 and is organized by the Timisoara City Hall through the city promotion organization Visit Timisoara in partnership with Eurocities - the leading network of major European cities.

Delegates from nine countries have confirmed their participation so far, including the mayors of Budapest and Sofia, and President Nicusor Dan is invited to the summit's proceedings, the cited source said.

'The enlargement of the European Union is not just a project negotiated in Brussels. It is a promise that comes to life in our cities - where prosperity, democracy and security turn to reality for people. The stability and European path of our eastern and southeastern neighbors are also essential for the stability and prosperity of Romania. Timisoara, through its history and European spirit, takes on this role of bridge between West and East,' mayor Dominic Fritz said.

The partnership with Eurocities, the network that brings together over 200 cities from 38 countries, places the summit among the European urban policies and provides a platform for direct collaboration between EU cities and those in accession hopefuls such as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, but also in the Western Balkans - Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the document shows.

The organization of the summit is part of Timisoara's strategy to be an active European actor. The city's emblematic initiatives include the Timisoara Award for European Values, which honors personalities who defend and promote European values. The laureates of the most recent two editions - Maia Sandu and Roberta Metsola - received the distinction in person, at the official galas held in Timisoara. The city is also involved in initiatives such as the Pact of Free Cities, with Dominic Fritz being the only Romanian mayor who is a member, the cited source states.

The draft decision regarding the organization and financing of the summit will be submitted for approval at the next meeting of the Timisoara Local Council. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Andreea Rotaru; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)