Porto-Franco City

On October 16, 2024, Odessa's mayor Gennady Trukhanov visited the UNESCO office in Paris for a working meeting.
During the discussion, the parties addressed issues related to the management of the World Heritage site "Historic Center of Odessa". The collaborative efforts of Odessa and UNESCO will enhance the preservation of the city’s historical values and elevate its cultural significance on the global stage.

On October 18, as part of his working visit, the mayor of Odessa met in Vienna with Austrian partners. Odessa and Vienna have maintained fruitful partnerships for many years and are currently developing their relations in the fields of culture and heritage preservation. 
As Gennady Trukhanov pointed out, Vienna's experience in balancing heritage preservation with urban development is highly beneficial for Odessa, which is currently formulating management practices for its World Heritage site amidst wartime conditions.

The mayor also expressed gratitude to Austria for hosting the anniversary festival "Golden Violins of Odessa" in Vienna. The festival continues to strengthen cultural ties between Odessa and Vienna, showcasing new musical talents to the world and highlighting the rich cultural heritage of the Ukrainian city.

On October 21, a Summit of European City Mayors commenced in Strasbourg—a high-level political gathering of mayors from European cities and newly elected members of the European Parliament. 

Mayor Gennady Trukhanov also participated in the event where topics concerning the future of the European Union were discussed, particularly the role of cities in its development, democracy, decentralization, environmental challenges, and social issues. 

Today, October 22, a meeting of mayors with parliamentarians is scheduled at the residence of the European Parliament. 
At the conclusion of this meeting, a political declaration will be signed, outlining the mayors' vision for the future of Europe and their role in strengthening cooperation with the European Parliament.