Aveiro (Portugal) – 17 October 2025 – The Assembly of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation Cities of Ceramics (AEuCC) has been held in Aveiro, a Portuguese city internationally renowned for its ceramics.

The Group, which brings together national organisations from Italy, Spain, France, Romania, Portugal, Germany and the Czech Republic, now represents over 150 European cities committed to the protection, enhancement and promotion of artistic and artisanal ceramics. The European group works to foster cooperation between territories, supporting and promoting ceramics as an element of cultural identity, economic development and shared heritage.

The Aveiro Assembly was an important opportunity for discussion and planning among representatives of the various member countries, who shared and developed common strategies and new prospects for collaboration and possible twinning arrangements. During the meeting, Michele Toniaccini, mayor of Deruta, one of the historic capitals of Italian ceramics, was elected by acclamation as the new president of the European Group.

The meeting was opened with institutional greetings from José Ribau Esteves, President of CMAveiro, and Luis Miguel Capão Filipe, outgoing President of the AEuCC and President of the AptCVC. As evidence of the vitality and cohesion of the European ceramics system, speeches were given by representatives of the European associations of ceramics cities, represented by Luis Miguel Capão Filipe, for the Portuguese Association (AptCVC), Juan Jesús Padilla, for the Spanish Association (AeCC), Guy Partage, for the French Association (AfCC) and Michele Toniaccini and Nadia Carboni for the Italian Association of Ceramic Cities (AiCC).

The meeting strengthened the bond between European ceramics cities, confirming their shared commitment to promoting artistic quality and innovation in the sector, with a view to shared cultural and territorial growth.