The 2026 ECCAR Steering Committee Meeting in Vienna brought together 54 member cities and municipalities, experts, and partner organisations to advance local action against racism through stronger data foundations, cooperation, and evidence-based decision-making. Held on 24–25 March in Vienna’s Festival Hall of the Municipal Office of the 10th District, the meeting focused on how cities can move from the collection of equality data to measurable impact.
On the first day, Vienna’s Integration and Diversity Monitor provided an example of how systematic local data can inform policy-making and guide targeted measures. Thematic group discussions explored collecting data on anti-Black and anti-Muslim racism, understanding LGBTQIA+ lived realities in intersection with racism, and demonstrating the value of investing in diversity management and its impact on economic growth. Expert conversations with representatives from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, the European Network of Equality Bodies and the OHCHR highlighted the importance of aligning national and local data systems. For cities, this alignment can improve comparability, strengthen advocacy at national and EU levels, and ensure local realities are reflected in broader policy frameworks. Furthermore, the importance of active collaboration with non-local stakeholders was highlighted as a key factor for success.
The ECCAR Working Group on Equality Data Collection further deepened the discussion by presenting approaches for assessing the impact of local actions, including good-practice examples from the City of Ghent and the City of Barcelona. These case studies demonstrated how evaluation can help cities refine policies, build political support, and move from dialogue to structural change.
The second day combined governance matters with forward-looking exchange. The Steering Committee voted to add the City of Verviers (Belgium) and the City of Fürth (Germany) as new members of the Coalition, and Evans Gumbe as a new member of the Board representing the City of Ratzeburg and the Local Authority District Lauenburgische Seen.
The new Vienna Action Plan against Racism provided a concrete example of a long-term, cross-administrative strategy that treats the fight against racism as a cross-cutting issue. Its presentation was followed by various group discussions on racism in public spaces and in schools. Allsession aimed to translate the meeting’s data-focused conversations into practical initiatives, demonstrating how evidence can inform interventions in everyday urban environments.
For ECCAR cities and stakeholders, the Steering Committee meeting in Vienna reinforced three priorities: investing in meaningful equality data, strengthening cooperation across institutions and civil society, and systematically evaluating local anti-racism strategies. By sharing tools, challenges, and experiences, the two-day program strengthened the network’s collective capacity to translate evidence into action and to support cities in building inclusive, resilient communities.
