From left to right: ECCAR President Benedetto Zacchiroli (City of Bologna), Deputy Mayor Stefanie Jansen (City of Heidelberg), Deputy Mayor Maria Éugenia Gay (City of Barcelona), City Councillor and ECCAR Vice President Sara Belbeida (City of Barcelona), Director of the Office of Equal Opportunities and ECCAR Vice President Danijel Cubelic (City of Heidelberg)
The City of Barcelona has officially launched its first Anti-Racism Plan during the international conference “Cities Leading for Racial Justice: Barcelona Forum 2026” on 18 - 19 May 2026, which brought together local, national, European, and international actors committed to advancing anti-racist policies.
The event was inaugurated by Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni, who presented the city's ambitious Barcelona Anti-Racism Plan 2026-2036, reaffirming the city's commitment to tackling structural and institutional racism. Throughout the conference, Deputy Mayor Maria Eugènia Gay played a leading role by delivering the opening and closing remarks, participating in the high-level multilevel dialogue on the role of public institutions in combating racism, and reinforcing Barcelona's vision of becoming an international reference in anti-racist policy. City Councillor and ECCAR Vice President Sara Belbeida moderated the opening session with members of the Anti-Racist Advisory Council.
As a partner in the organisation of the Forum, ECCAR contributed to the design of the conference programme, helping to shape discussions on effective local anti-racism strategies and the exchange of practices among cities. The event provided an important platform for dialogue, peer learning, and collaboration, highlighting the crucial role of local governments in addressing structural racism and promoting racial justice.
During the roundtable on The Role of International Organisations in the Anti-Racism Struggle, ECCAR President Benedetto Zacchiroli, representing the City of Bologna, joined speakers from UNESCO and UCLG to discuss how international cooperation can strengthen local anti-racism policies. The session was chaired by ECCAR Vice President and Director of the Office of Equal Opportunities of the City of Heidelberg, Danijel Cubelic. Further, Dr Linda Hyökki, ECCAR's Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor, chaired a mayoral conversation between the Deputy Mayor of Heidelberg, Stefanie Jansen, and Barcelona City Councillor and ECCAR Vice President, Sara Belbeida. The two politicians examined how cities and political leaders continue to uphold equality, inclusion, and human rights at the local level whilst in many European countries national politics are undermining anti-racist efforts.
The second day of the forum further highlighted the practical dimension of local anti-racism work through a dedicated roundtable on designing local anti-racism action plans. The session brought together city representatives from Barcelona, Bologna, Oulu, The Hague and Marseille, to exchange experiences on developing and implementing effective municipal strategies against racism.
Barcelona's Anti-Racism Plan is a comprehensive municipal framework to address racism in all its forms. It seeks to move beyond isolated initiatives and establish a coordinated, cross-departmental approach that tackles structural and institutional racism while promoting equal treatment and participation. It marks a significant step forward in the the City of Barcelona's political and practical commitment to equality, human rights, and the fight against structural racism. Through its holistic approach to fighting racism, the Plan is a beacon for other European cities. Developed through dialogue with communities, experts, and civil society organisations, the plan places particular emphasis on strengthening the rights and participation of racialised communities, improving institutional responses to discrimination, promoting awareness and education, and enhancing accountability across municipal services.
Both forum days reinforced a message that is central to ECCAR's work: cities are at the forefront of the fight against racism. Local governments are uniquely positioned to develop practical solutions, engage directly with affected communities, and build inclusive policies that respond to local realities. The Forum ended with reflective group sessions to discuss ways to bring the work in Barcelona and other cities towards the UNESCO Global Alliance Against Racism.
Download the Barcelona Anti-Racism Plan (English version) below to learn more about the city's vision, objectives, and actions to combat racism and promote equal rights for all residents.
