Matosinhos becomes the first UN Resilience Hub in Portugal
The city joins the Province of Potenza (Italy) as the newest role models for the Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative
The German Taxpayers’ Foundation published their annual report on taxpayer money wasted on bizarre, inefficient projects
Today, the Bund der Steuerzahler (Taxpayers’ Federation) in Germany published their annual report on public projects that waste taxpayer money, also known as ‘Schwarzbuch’ (the Black Book). This is the 49th edition and it takes into account hundreds of federal, state and municipal projects, assessing expenses and waste into bizarre, unfinished and poorly thought out decision-making.
The main principle behind the Black Book, according to the President of the Taxpayers’ Federation, Reiner Holznagel, is that the government needs to operate with an even higher degree of caution when it comes to spending, as they are not spending their own money. Thus, the publication hopes to shine a light on some inefficient practices and projects, as well as offer some solid course-correction recommendations.
Here are some examples of money-wasting operations in Germany: A breaking-ground ceremony in Schleswig-Holstein, which was celebrated twice - 5,000 euros wasted. Another is the case with the test routes with marked bicycle protection strips in Lower Saxony, which were removed despite positive reception and successful tests - 763,000 euros for the dismantling alone.
In Stuttgart, for example, several staircases were painted in bright colours: one of them is decorated with a huge pretzel heart. Why? According to the Black Book Authors - because the city hopes that its citizens will use the ornate steps frequently and thus do something for their health. The city is spending 75,000 euros on this hope.
There is also the case of an overpass in North Rhine-Westphalia, built between 1976 and 1977. It was supposed to be part of Autobahn 56, but the federal government ultimately decided it did not need said autobahn. The overpass is still there though. And every year, road services check their operational viability and roadworthiness.
This year’s edition of the Black Book has a special section devoted to digitalisation, as the Taxpayers’ Foundation see Germany’s slow adoption of digital services as a heavy burden on citizens, wasting both time and money.
According to them, instead of creating a Ministry of Digitalisation, existing ministries should operate their own efforts coordinated through a central digital agency. At the same time, municipal, federal and state digital infrastructure should be disentangled, as offering everything in the same platform could prove sluggish to use. This bureaucratic sluggishness is currently the source of wasted money and time when citizens deal with the state.
Furthermore, the authors propose that policy should be amended so that all projects can be checked by a group of experts to determine their digital viability. They point out that ease of use should be at the forefront of all digitalisation efforts, though.
The facility called, Alovera Beach, will be located 40 kms from Madrid
The move is part of the city’s strategy to act against the local affordable-housing crisis by focusing on the development of student accommodation
Peace and quiet in Baroque surroundings
Tallinn and Linz will be among the European cities eager to show their innovative side
According to the Eurostat report, women are significantly more educated than men in the EU
The Irish Environment Protection Agency released an updated map of affected regions in the country
It involves strategically placed pictograms on the pedestrian crossings
Never too early to fall in love with soft mobility
100 trees will take the place of 100 parking spaces in this Belgian town
The facility called, Alovera Beach, will be located 40 kms from Madrid
According to the Eurostat report, women are significantly more educated than men in the EU
It involves strategically placed pictograms on the pedestrian crossings
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
An interview about AYR, one of the 2021 New European Bauhaus Prize winners
An interview with Nigel Jollands and Sue Goeransson from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
An interview with the President of the City of Athens Reception & Solidarity Centre
A talk with the Mayor of Malmö on the occasion of the city’s UN Resilience Hub status