Atlantic Advocacy
Atlantic Cities defends the interests of Atlantic Arc local autorities by ensuring that the specific issues facing these regions are taken into account in European public policies and programmes.
The network plays a vital role in promoting Atlantic culture and the natural and heritage assets of the Atlantic Area, whilst drawing attention to its vulnerability to the effects of climate change, which require coordinated action. Atlantic Cities advocates for the protection of waters and oceans, as well as for the extension of the Atlantic Corridor as part of the development of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), and for the creation of an Atlantic Macro-region that involves all relevant stakeholders in its strategy.
In addition to this established institutional dialogue, the member cities regularly come together to sign Political statements highlighting these issues, such as the 2026 Bilbao Declaration for a strong, sustainable and inclusive Atlantic Macro-region (see below). Through these joint declarations, the cities recognise the role they have to play in addressing these issues and their commitment to acting collectively to implement solutions, whilst advocating for greater consideration of local authorities’ expertise within the decision-making process.
[Transport] Revision of the TEN-T: Atlantic Cities’ contribution
Between 2018 and 2020, Atlantic Cities undertook a process of analysis and advocacy in support of the extension of the Atlantic corridor of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). This initiative aimed to identify the missing links and shortcomings in the existing network. It resulted in the creation of a Map of the envisioned Atlantic Corridor, incorporating the candidate cities for the core network proposed by Atlantic Cities (black dots) as well as the recommended new connections (dotted lines). This map was presented in Brussels at a meeting of the Atlantic Cities Political Bureau, and subsequently forwarded to the relevant authorities and Members of the European Parliament.
Throughout this process, Atlantic Cities exchanged views and discussed its proposals with other Atlantic networks, notably the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CRPM), the Transnational Atlantic Network (RTA) and the Western Transport and Logistics Association, Association Logistique Transport Ouest (ALTRO).
In 2021, the European Commission incorporated a significant number of the proposals put forward by Atlantic Cities into its revision of the TEN-T.
Water and Oceans
Atlantic Cities’ actions to protect the oceans and aquatic environments build on the Biarritz Declaration, adopted by the network in 2022. The network has also signed the European Union’s ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’ Mission Charter, as well as the Blue Manifesto – a concrete roadmap for restoring the health of the oceans by 2030, proposed by the ocean community as part of the implementation of the European Pact for the Oceans.
This commitment has been reflected, in particular, in the network’s participation in the ‘MakeEUBlue: Cities in Action’ campaign, led by the EU4Ocean coalition, which aims to mobilise local authorities and citizens in support of the protection of the oceans and aquatic environments. The campaign is based on a simple principle: whether they are located on the coast or inland, all cities have a vital role to play in the conservation and restoration of Europe’s waters. The campaign has therefore produced a guide setting out ten concrete measures that local authorities can implement, ranging from improving waste management to adopting a municipal strategy that integrates issues relating to watercourses and the ocean into public policies, action plans, budgets and public procurement.
As part of this, Atlantic Cities took part in several awareness-raising initiatives, including an activity at the Mercado Artesano y Ecológico in Gijón (Spain) in August 2025. The network also took part in the workshop ‘Delivering the EU4Ocean Pact: Engaging Cities in Ocean Sustainability’, organised as part of European Week of Cities and Regions in Brussels in October 2025. Finally, Atlantic Cities is contributing to research on ocean literacy and the role of local and regional authorities in the transition towards a holistic approach to blue issues.
