Krakow and Vienna Formalize Partnership Agreement at Vienna City Hall
On Tuesday, a delegation from Krakow, led by the newly appointed City President Aleksander Miszalski, visited Vienna to formalize an updated cooperation agreement between the two cities. The signing ceremony took place at Vienna City Hall, where Mayor Michael Ludwig welcomed the delegates.
The Krakow delegation engaged in a comprehensive program during their visit, focusing on urban development, housing, and public transportation. Mayor Ludwig highlighted the rich cultural heritage shared by Vienna and Krakow, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in addressing the evolving challenges faced by cities within a united Europe.
Asserting that the ongoing partnership serves as a model for successful municipal cooperation, Ludwig noted that the two cities have maintained this relationship for 24 years, with numerous professional exchanges and joint projects.
The initial cooperation agreement was signed in 2000 and has been renewed every four years. This latest renewal marks the sixth extension following previous agreements in 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021. The preamble of the agreement reaffirms both cities' commitment to enhancing cooperation for the benefit of their citizens and aligns with the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development goals.
City President Miszalski expressed Krakow's particular interest in Vienna's expertise in subway construction, as Krakow is planning to develop its own underground transit system. He also acknowledged Vienna as a model for housing development.
The three-day itinerary for the Krakow delegation included visits to the U2/U5 Info Center focused on subway construction, the Seestadt Aspern area highlighting social housing initiatives, a professional exchange with Wien Holding, and a tour of the Otto Wagner site. Additionally, the delegation attended an architectural exhibition at the Ringturm that showcased modern developments in Krakow.
The Krakow delegation comprised not only City President Miszalski but also First Deputy Mayor Stanislaw Mazur, Fourth Deputy Mayor Maria Klamann, and Boguslaw Kosmider, the chairman of the Krakow Municipal Holding.
Krakow, with a population of approximately 800,000, is Poland's second-largest city and has been recognized as the country's cultural capital. The city is home to 22 universities with around 170,000 students and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for 45 years. Since 2000, cooperation agreements have existed between the Krakow Municipal Holding and Wien Holding GmbH, as well as with Vienna's municipal services.
The collaboration intensified significantly in October 2020 with two key agreements focusing on energy, mobility, and IT between the Vienna utilities and the Krakow Municipal Holding, alongside another agreement aimed at the 5G rollout in Krakow, joint EU projects, and the networking of universities and research institutions.