The network was founded in 1986 by the initiative of six cities (Barcelona, Birmingham, Frankfurt, Lyon, Milan and Rotterdam) and brings together local governments of more than 130 cities in over 30 European countries.
EUROCITIES provides a platform for its member cities to share knowledge and ideas, to exchange experiences, to analyse common problems and develop innovative solutions, through a wide range of forums, working groups, projects, activities and events. EUROCITIES Network represents their cities in the European community through dialogue with the EU institutions (European Commission, European Parliament, Council of the EU and the Committee of the Regions).
Poznań, as other Polish cities, with accession on 1st May 2004 received a full membership to the European Union and obtained the opportunity to apply for membership in the EUROCITIES. Formal accession to the network took place in 2004 during the General Meeting in Vienna. The main topic of the meeting was the perspective of socio-economic development of cities. Following Polish cities are currently committed in co-operation - Białystok, Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Katowice, Kraków, Łódź, Lublin, Rzeszów, Szczecin, Warszawa and Wrocław.
Involvement of Polish cities in EUROCITIES activities concentrates on participation and organisation of the Annual General Meetings, forums and working groups.
Poznań participates in General Meetings since 2004, thus attends debates on the forum in the thematic groups devoted to each meeting including socio-economic perspective of development of cities, solidarity in cooperation, cohesion policy, and creating active cities.