The invitation of the day came from the host city itself. The representative of Tangier framed the 2026 Congress not only as a gathering, but as a responsibility. The ambition, he noted, is to create “a broad collective platform” where cities and regions take centre stage — through high-level political exchanges, scientific dialogue and spaces open to civil society.
The commitment extends beyond programme design. Through its “Green Congress” initiative, Tangier aims to reduce the environmental footprint of the event within a framework grounded in social justice, advancing toward carbon neutrality while ensuring that the Congress leaves a tangible legacy for the city.
Yet the message was not limited to logistics or sustainability targets. The invitation was also experiential. Tangier intends to offer an accessible and human urban encounter — one that reflects the everyday reality of municipal governance and the diversity of the communities it represents.
As the Retreat concluded in Barcelona, the horizon shifted south. The debates of the week have a date and a place. The work continues — in Tangier.