Partner Cities

Location

The strategic partnership between Bratislava and Vienna is due to their mutual location along the Danube river and the fact that they are the two closest European capitals. This creates a need for coordination in cross-border cooperation, development, transport links and tourism as well as in the coordination of strategic interests within the EU.

Inspiration

Vienna’s place within Bratislava’s network of international cooperation is connected to its potential to serve as an inspiration. Vienna was predestined to have this role due to its different path of development on the other side of the Iron Curtain and its long-standing position within European and international structures.

Common topics

Cooperation is traditionally present in areas such as transport, territorial development, social housing, tourism, care for the elderly and cleanliness in the city.

Regular contacts and meetings take place between the city hall directors. The mutual cooperation and partnership between Bratislava and Vienna was confirmed by the Twin Cities Cooperation Agreement in 2010.

V4

Together with Prague, Budapest and Warsaw, Bratislava works on cooperation within the V4 in the interest of supporting this group as a stable and effective regional platform in central Europe.

Although the mutual ties with these cities do not have a formal character, the long-standing and good relationships and the stable network of contacts make cooperation and the exchange of information within this group of partners extremely efficient and useful.

The Pact of Free Cities

A confirmation of common interests and closer ties is also embodied in the Pact of Free Cities, which the mayors of the four cities established in 2019.

In addition to promoting shared values, the pact highlights the growing need to take account of the increasing role of cities in tackling major challenges.

Prague

From a bilateral point of view and thanks to historical links, Prague is Bratislava's most natural partner. Urban policies and issues involving urban planning, social affairs and the environment are directly discussed between the professional departments of both cities.

Bratislava, Prague and Budapest all take part in meetings of the city hall directors of five central European capitals. These meetings provide an informal platform for discussion and the exchange of practical experiences on the most current challenges and topics that the cities are dealing with.

One of the most active partnerships

Brno is one of Bratislava's most active and useful international partners. The close relationship between the two cities is defined by an overlap of priorities and interests in many areas, the geographical proximity of the two cities, a common historical, political and social experience, their comparable size and the absence of language barriers.

Topics

In addition to traditionally developed areas of cooperation – such as culture, transport and tourism – the two cities actively exchange experiences in a wide range of urban topics, including city strategies, territorial planning, the functioning of the city administration in terms of organisation, the functioning of city enterprises, safety in the city and care for the elderly.

Contacts at the level of city hall administration are also active. Cooperation with Brno was formally recognised in a joint agreement in 2012.

The relationship with Krakow was formally established by a 1974 cooperation agreement and later documents confirming this cooperation. Topics such as culture, tourism, sport and youth affairs dominate mutual interactions. Krakow is also a partner in the exchange of experiences on current urban issues.

The second longest lasting partnership

The partnership with Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is Bratislava’s second oldest international partnership, having been formally established in 1967.

The annual meetings of city hall directors are a practical platform for the exchange of experiences.

Inspiration, especially in environmental matters

In addition to exchanging experiences on current urban issues, Ljubljana is an inspiring partner in the environmental field; this is especially thanks to successful urban green spaces, electro-mobility and, above all, waste management projects.

The oldest international partnership

The 1962 Protocol of Cooperation and Friendship between Bratislava and the Italian city of Perugia was the basis for the establishment of Bratislava's oldest international partnership.

Another direction of cooperation was determined by a declaration signed on the fiftieth anniversary of this relationship, which confirmed the mutual interest to continue cooperation primarily in culture and art, education, sports, monument preservation and urban transport.

In 1989, Bratislava established a formal relationship with Székesfehérvár, a Hungarian city of over 100,000 inhabitants.

A common coronation history

The relationship was developed relatively recently, being based upon the historical fact that Székesfehérvár (the Hungarian coronation city), much like Bratislava, was a place where monarchs were once crowned. It also hosts an annual festival commemorating the coronations of the past.

Bratislava's relationship with Kyiv was formally established in 1969, when representatives of both cities signed an agreement on cooperation and friendship in Kyiv which is still in force today.

Cooperation with Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, is currently dominated by mutual support in the form of exchange of experiences regarding urban issues and culture.