The Milan Urban Food Policy Pact is pleased to announce an important leadership update within the Eurocities Working Group on Food (WG Food).

Milan will continue in its role as Chair of the WG Food, ensuring continuity, strategic direction, and strong coordination among Pact cities. At the same time, we warmly welcome Vantaa as the new Vice-Chair of the Working Group.
Congratulations to both cities for taking on these important leadership roles and for their continued commitment to advancing sustainable and inclusive urban food systems worldwide.

As Vice-Chair, Vantaa brings significant expertise and innovation, particularly in the field of food waste reduction. The city was recently honoured as one of the winners during the MPA 2025 for its outstanding initiative: “Shared Table: How Vantaa Turns Surplus Food into Social Impact.”
Through this initiative, Vantaa has demonstrated how surplus food can be redirected to create social value, strengthening community resilience while reducing environmental impact. In a recent interview, Mayor Pekka Timonen highlighted the city’s integrated approach to tackling food waste and promoting social inclusion — a model that continues to inspire cities across the Pact network.

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Warsaw, and in particular to Natalia Boitot, who has served as WG Food Vice-Chair until now. Her dedication, energy, and expertise have been invaluable to the Working Group’s progress. While stepping down from the Vice-Chair position, Warsaw remains a key partner within the network, and we look forward to continued collaboration in advancing our shared goals.

With Milan and Vantaa leading, the WG Food is well positioned to further strengthen cooperation among cities and accelerate action toward sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems.