The Call for Candidates is open from 6 May until 3 August 2026, 23:59 CEST.

Submit your candidacy now!

The members of the nine RexComs of ICLEI’s global organisation shall form the ICLEI Council. The Council is responsible for the election of the Global Executive Committee Portfolio Seats, the approval of the ICLEI Strategic Plan, and the approval of any amendments to the ICLEI Charter. The ICLEI Europe RexCom will nominate one member to represent the interests of the ICLEI European members in the ICLEI Global Executive Committee.

Each RexCom member shall fulfil its position according to ICLEI Europe’s Strategic Workplan, which is agreed within the RexCom and updated annually. RexCom representatives will hold topical portfolios related to their strategic and political expertise in thematic areas related to ICLEI’s work. The thematic areas are the following, including a non-exhaustive list of key priorities:

Other topics of relevance for the RexCom period will be / include:

• Reconstruction and resilience at the intersection of climate change and conflict: ICLEI Europe has joined various initiatives together with European and global partners to strengthen the decentralisation agenda and empower local governments for a sustainable and climate neutral reconstruction, e.g. related to the Ukraine
• Partnerships with the Middle East/ West Asia
• International Partnerships/ Global Gateway: sharing practices with cities in the Global South (ASEAN, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America)

• Contribute to ICLEI Europe’s positioning in relevant national, European and international policy processes, frameworks and initiatives. Examples of recent and ongoing involvement include acting as ICLEI spokesperson at high level meetings with EU decision makers on the topics of the EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), Revision of the EU Governance Regulation, Social Climate Fund, EU Cities Agenda, EU Competitiveness Agenda, and involvement in the UN CBD Biodiversity COP17 and the UNFCCC Climate COP31;
• Represent ICLEI Europe at meetings and events on national, European and, potentially, global level (various United Nations organisations and agencies);
• Contribute to ICLEI Europe’s topical positioning based on the assignment of 2-3 topical portfolios (more details in the Candidacy form);
• Contribute to advocacy and communication efforts such as providing input based on your local experience for the public consultations, position papers, signing letters to institutions, providing quotes and images for social media campaigns and other opportunities;
• Broker contacts and engagement opportunities through own networks, such as with national governments;
• Be involved in the political engagement and preparation of ICLEI Europe’s key conferences, such as the European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns planned to take place in the second half of 2027;
• Support cooperation with ICLEI Europe’s strategic partners and European institutions, such as the Committee of the Regions, the European Parliament, the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, the OECD and the B40 network;
• Promote, represent and drive ICLEI’s work on behalf of the European members of ICLEI in accordance with ICLEI Europe’s Strategic Workplan and in cooperation with ICLEI Europe’s senior staff;
• Attend and actively contribute to one or two ICLEI European RexCom meetings per year.

• Be the highest designated political representative (e.g. Mayor) or his/her deputy of a current ICLEI Member* in the region;
• Have a political mandate until at least end of 2028;
• Willingness to be spokespersons in meetings with (EU) decision makers related to European and international policy processes;
• Have strategic and political expertise in at least two of the thematic areas;
• Ensure that city staff is available to technically support the contribution to and development of the thematic portfolio(s);
• Be willing and able to travel for strategic meetings and events;
• Dedicate personal time amounting to approximately 10-15 working days per year;
• Be fluent in English.
  
  

* A "current ICLEI Member" is any local authority or local government association that has not been in arrears with its membership dues for more than one year.

To apply for a seat on the ICLEI European RexCom, the candidate must complete (in English) the candidacy application form, which includes the following sections:

After the closing of applications, the ICLEI Europe Regional Directors will carefully review the candidacy papers to assess each applicant’s eligibility. The review will also ensure that the final configuration reflects relevant qualifications and experience, adequately covering ICLEI Europe’s strategic priorities, and maintains appropriate gender and geographical balance. 

As part of this process, an exchange may take place with candidates as well as consultations with other Members in the region and/ or with the Secretary General. All candidates will be informed before a proposal is put to a vote. 

Finally, a RexCom composition will be proposed to Members and put to vote in the first half of October 2026. The proposal is approved by ICLEI Members if the majority of voters vote in favor of the proposal. Results shall be announced before the end of 2026.