Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
This would enrich even further the varied themed capitals competitions on the Old Continent
Lost in the more prominent celebrations of Europe Day and Victory Day, 9 May was also the European Day of Local Trade. In that context, there is an ongoing campaign by the Catalonian Government (Generalitat) to promote this sector of the economy, which forms the traditional spine of what we define as small and medium enterprises (SME).
More specifically, the Generalitat is lobbying for the creation of a European Capital of Local Retail annual competition, similar to other such titles, such as European Capital of Culture, or European Capital of Sports. The proposal is to have Barcelona declared the first such capital in 2024, and to kick off a new tradition.
The possibilities of Barcelona's candidacy hinge fundamentally on the enormous prominence of the commerce sector both in the city itself and in Catalonia as a whole. There are currently 92,552 retail establishments in the autonomous region, in a sector that represents almost 12% of the Catalan economy's GDP and contributes 14% of the total employment. Retail employees are majority female (close to 60%) working on indefinite contracts (the temporary ones do not exceed 20%).
The European Capital of Local Retail is an initiative of the Barcelona Commerce Foundation and the European association Vitrines d'Europe that the European Parliament approved last January.
At the same time, the promoters presented Barcelona's candidacy to be the first city on the continent to receive this recognition. Both proposals have the support of the Generalitat and the Barcelona City Council, among other institutions. It is expected that the European Parliament will decide which municipality assumes the European Capital of Local Trade in October.
Silesian is spoken by about half a million people in the south of the country
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
The building will then serve as the site for a new museum dedicated to Finnish-Russian relations
The tool helps identify undeclared swimming pools and garden sheds
It will serve as a virtual companion to the municipal network of libraries in the country
In addition, the federal government has launched the National Week of Action against Bicycle Theft to raise awareness of the issue and the new solution
The tests are also experimenting with a charging point that is easier to maintain
Reportedly, the aim of the local government is to curb violence and disorder among the youth
The city thinks that it’s time to update pet-related street cleanliness rules for the 21st century
Yes, you guessed it right, that also includes baguettes and cheeses
Reportedly, the aim of the local government is to curb violence and disorder among the youth
Silesian is spoken by about half a million people in the south of the country
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team