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One-third of homes on the islands this year were sold to nationals of other countries, many of whom are non-residents
This was one of the more creative and unusual ideas set to take shape as a result of the second participatory budget initiative in the city
The local authorities are taking the bold step as a way to declutter the urban streets from delivery traffic
The law also requires restaurants to display their staff tip-sharing policy so that customers can understand it
The EDMO hubs work to connect fact-checkers, academia and the media, as well as boost local media literacy
Ireland is currently going through a major rental housing crisis
The Estonian city is preparing for its upcoming European Green Capital year in style
The birds will be specially trained to scare off pigeons from their favourite places in the city’s parks
Users can now get an overview of the state of the output in the country and receive a warning to reduce consumption and avoid power cuts
The city will launch an urban walk with a digital visual guide
Users can now get an overview of the state of the output in the country and receive a warning to reduce consumption and avoid power cuts
Plants feed on CO2 and plenty of it is produced at the local Tekniska verken energy company, so there’s a circular win-win solution
Pre-bookings are already available for the luxury train rides across the bel paese
The pioneering green move would make the country the first in Europe to do so
Until now, there have been specially designated bathing areas but from next summer, one would be able to see the city as one giant swimming pool
The city inaugurated twelve of these spots to encourage people to still feel at home while on the street
Pre-bookings are already available for the luxury train rides across the bel paese
The city will launch an urban walk with a digital visual guide
The Estonian capital was praised for its unique sport urban planning design
Faux or fact? Now, it’s up to you to shine the light on the truth
Ireland is currently going through a major rental housing crisis
It will aid them in collecting data about the incidents that can be used in court
The winners to the prestigious distinction will receive one million euros for environmental initiatives
Today, 18 February, the European Commission announced the 30 applicants to this year’s call to become the next European Green Capital and European Green Leaf titleholder. In total, 16 cities from 12 countries have applied to be the European Green Capital 2023 (EGCA 2023), while 14 cities from eight countries have entered the European Green Leaf 2022 (EGLA 2022) contest aimed at smaller cities and towns (20 000 to 99 999 inhabitants).
The official winners will be known later this year and will together receive a total of one million euros from the Commission, to implement new and to uptake existing environmental sustainability initiatives.
The new cycle of European Green City awards has just completed its first important stage, namely – the completion of the applications and the announcement of the European cities and towns that dare to take bold environmental steps and justify them.
In particular, the 16 cities that will be competing for the higher distinction of EGCA are: Belgrade (Serbia), Cagliari, Dublin, Gaziantep and Izmir (Turkey), Gdańsk, Rzeszów, Krakow, Warsaw, Helsingborg, Košice, Logroño, Skopje (Republic of North Macedonia), Sofia, Tallinn, and Zagreb (locate them in the map above).
The cities competing for the distinction among smaller urban settlements – the Green Leaf - are as follows: Arcos de Valdevez, Bistriţa, Elsinore, Frascati, Gavà, Haskovo, Las Rozas de Madrid, Oliveira do Hospital, Petrinja, Pleven, Sisak, Treviso, Valongo and Winterswijk (see map in the gallery above).
Once applied, the city’s pledges will be assessed by independent experts who will shortlist the finalists. When it comes to the Green Capital awards, the assessment is based on 12 environmental indicators, while The Green Leaf award takes 6 topic areas into account.
Accordingly, the finalists will have to present an action plan on how they intend to fulfil the European Green Capital year, including projects or actions they intend to put in place to enhance the city's environmental sustainability, and to present a communications strategy.
Finally, the winners will be announced later this year in Lahti, Finland, which currently holds the Green Capital title.
According to the rules of the contest, there can be only one Green capital and up to two Green Leaf winners. The first will receive a financial stimulus of 600 000 euros and the latter – 200 000 euros each. The money is meant to help the applicants achieve the commitments made during the application process.
“More and more cities in Europe are choosing to go green. This is even more encouraging in the context of the European Green Deal roll out and recovery from the pandemic. European Green Capital and Green Leaf cities show that even in the most difficult circumstances, cities can become fit for life. This means more car-free zones, more public spaces for outdoor leisure activities, cycling paths and pedestrian zones, but also new, innovative urban solutions,” Virginijus Sinkevičius, EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, was quoted saying on the Commission’s website. This is also where you can learn more about previous winners and details about the assessment procedure.
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The sixth European Digital Citizens seminar brought together the best practices from Varna, Hamburg, Genoa, Marseille, Cluj-Napoca and Rotterdam on how to tackle the digital divide present in the countryside
The local authorities are taking the bold step as a way to declutter the urban streets from delivery traffic
One-third of homes on the islands this year were sold to nationals of other countries, many of whom are non-residents
The contest that measures the creative achievements of European cities also had a more human dimension, with recognition going to 6 women innovators
The sixth European Digital Citizens seminar brought together the best practices from Varna, Hamburg, Genoa, Marseille, Cluj-Napoca and Rotterdam on how to tackle the digital divide present in the countryside
Users can now get an overview of the state of the output in the country and receive a warning to reduce consumption and avoid power cuts
Until now, there have been specially designated bathing areas but from next summer, one would be able to see the city as one giant swimming pool
Pre-bookings are already available for the luxury train rides across the bel paese
The city inaugurated twelve of these spots to encourage people to still feel at home while on the street
Until now, there have been specially designated bathing areas but from next summer, one would be able to see the city as one giant swimming pool
Pre-bookings are already available for the luxury train rides across the bel paese
The Estonian capital was praised for its unique sport urban planning design
This initiative seeks to integrate the values of the New European Bauhaus into the European Commission’s 100 Cities Mission
These will be spread across 11 EU countries and will serve to support the EU Missions
The European Commission has accepted to develop the idea
Veni Markovski’s take on dealing with disinformation in the European Union's poorest country – Bulgaria
A conversation with the mayor of Utrecht on the occasion of her mission to COP27
A conversation with the President of the European Committee of the Regions, about energy, climate change and the underrated importance of cohesion policy
