Prague reveals design plans for the Vltava Philharmonic Hall
The Danish studio Bjarke Ingels Group won the international architectural competition
A lack of funds, however, does not mean local authorities will leave citizens on their own
The COVID-19 pandemic has left a huge gaping hole in many budgets – not only those of private individuals but of businesses, corporations and even entire cities and countries. In the case of Bratislava, the local government is estimating that its budget will be lighter by some 40 million euros – a significant loss that means that many projects and initiatives will have to be scrapped in order to save money.
What is clear, however, is that the Slovak capital’s local government will not leave its citizens on their own. Instead, it has decided that it will cut expenditures in non-priority areas that have less of a direct impact on the lives of locals.
What the municipality has decided to cut on includes grass cutting and the purchase of new vehicles. The annual refitting of the City Council’s car fleet will not take place this year in order to save up on money that will be better used elsewhere, according to authorities.
Instead, the government will make good on two of its most important priorities – namely the greening of the urban area and improvements to the local infrastructure. The mayor of the city, Matus Vallo, is eager to successfully complete his promise of planting 10,000 trees over the course of his mandate – that means that this year the city must plant an additional 2,000 trees in order to keep on schedule.
Furthermore, the local government will continue investing in road repairs and renovations as they are of the utmost importance to locals as they are instrumental in their daily lives. The city will also try to plug holes in the budgets of vital businesses across the urban area that have suffered due to the coronavirus outbreak.
A ray of hope for local authorities comes in the form of their belief that domestic tourism will skyrocket this year, which will allow the municipality to recuperate some of its lost revenue. With people across the world appearing less eager to travel long distances, in-country tourism will most likely rise to prominence all over Europe.
The REPowerEU 200 billion-euro plan calls for a gradual reduction of Russian fuel imports
The summer ticket will be valid on local and regional trains, buses, as well as on the U-Bahn and S-Bahn
The Danish studio Bjarke Ingels Group won the international architectural competition
Student teams will have 24 hours to come up with solutions for that issue
The city also added a new bathing area
The new Walking and Cycling Index shows that an overwhelming majority want to live in 20-minute neighbourhoods
The REPowerEU 200 billion-euro plan calls for a gradual reduction of Russian fuel imports
Close engagement initiatives with the business sector and residents were key to spreading the idea across the board
The new Walking and Cycling Index shows that an overwhelming majority want to live in 20-minute neighbourhoods
Student teams will have 24 hours to come up with solutions for that issue
The city also added a new bathing area
The installation of the sensors is part of its “Smart Museum” project
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