The EPP-CoR Group congratulates its member Ricardo Rio who received the World Mayor Sustainability Award for his efforts to deliver Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) at the local and regional level across the European Union (EU). Reacting to his achievement Rio said "This award was only possible because of the European Committee of the Regions' strong commitment to this topic, towards a more sustainable Europe that values and reinforces the role of local authorities."
Rio served as the European Committee of the Regions Rapporteur on 'Delivering on the SDGs by 2030'. His opinion called for the SDGs to be reinstated at the core of the EU political overarching goals. Considering that local and regional authorities (LRAs) are essential for the realization of 65% of the SDGs, Rio stressed the need of a collective effort of all actors to ensure the successful implementation of the 2030Agenda. Rio also recommended the re-establishment of an instrument for participative governance at EU level to facilitate the direct involvement and active participation of stakeholders in a structured dialogue with the European Commission on the SDGs.
The City Mayors Foundation has awarded The World Mayor Prize since 2004. Every two years, the World Mayor Project features some of the world’s most outstanding mayors, mayors who have served their fellow citizens with integrity, courage and diligence. People nominate and vote for mayors who, in their opinion, deserved to be honoured. The 2021 World Mayor Project features mayors who have shown leadership during the pandemic and are now preparing their cities to become stronger, fairer and greener.
Ricardo Rio has been the Mayor of Braga, the third largest city of Portugal, since 2013. He was first elected to public office in 2005 as a City Councilman and City Assemblyman of Braga Municipality. He was also President of the Social Democratic Party of Braga and a member of the Social Democratic Party’s National Political Committee. He is currently the President of Galicia-North of Portugal Euroregion, and the President of the Intermunicipality Community of Cavado. He is also a Member of the Committee of the Regions of European Union, the Daily Board of Global Parliament of Mayors and the Executive Committee of EUROCITIES.