To a large audience of planners from around the world, Janssens – a welleducated and experienced politician and a powerful player in complex Belgian politics – explained that strategic planning projects are the City’s key development motivators and triggers. He argued that it was important to focus on a vision because quality of life in an urban environment is often difficult to realize. Involvement of the private sector and different levels of government is essential. Further, it’s essential to create a community of interest between all the different players – thus, Antwerp’s logo: ‘The City that belongs to Everyone’. Janssens had taken a principled stand against gated communities.