What’s land recycling? Read about this German example
The city of Flensburg got a grant from the regional government of Schleswig-Holstein so that it would avoid building on new land
Government officials from the Barcelona City Council holding up the ECoD award, Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona
The Catalan capital will host events, spanning 2023 and 2024, to affirm the values that Europeans hold closest to their hearts
Today, the City of Barcelona was announced as the holder of the first-ever title of European Capital of Democracy (ECoD). Both the announcement and the award were given today at the Barcelona City Hall, with the news that the city will host events starting from September 2023 and continuing for one year until August 2024.
Barcelona impressed the jury (made up of 2,500 members from all Council of Europe member states) with different innovative projects. Among these is the Decidim platform, for citizen participation, developed in 2016 and which has been implemented in hundreds of cities around the world. Barcelona also presented the participatory process related to the Superilles as an urban transformation project that has counted on citizen participation to consult, deliberate and design the spaces.
The city also included participative budgets, the most participated process in the city, with more than 70,000 people registered to decide the fate of 30 million euros in investments in the districts; and deliberative citizen assemblies, such as the Youth Forum and the Climate Assembly.
The goals of Europe’s newest “capitalship” contest
Europeans have made it a modern tradition to shine the spotlight on different cities of their continent by promoting their good work in a specific sphere. The ECoD is thus the latest initiative in that regard, and it comes at an opportune and much-needed moment, what with the resurgence of war and propaganda in the Old Continent.
The main promoter of the initiative is The Innovation in Politics Institut GmbH, a European organization whose main objective is to promote democratic innovation and democratic strengthening in Europe and internationally. In addition, this initiative has the support of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, and European actors who seek to deepen democracy such as the Democratic Society, the German Marshall Foundation, and twenty other relevant actors.
On the occasion of the awarding of the status, Barcelona’s mayor Ada Colau issued the following statement: "In a global context where hate speech and authoritarianism are growing, cities must be the place to work together with citizens to strengthen democracy. We take this challenge as an opportunity to progress in democratic innovation, to cooperate with other cities and to ensure that the neighbours have an active role in public policies".
The goal is to preserve these traditional features in the urban landscape while finding new purpose for their existence
His name is Adrian-Dragoș Benea from Romania
Find out her vision for the next five years and what’s in store for the European Union
Gotland wants to be at the forefront of this emerging mobility technology
It’s all about preventing the habit of slowing down just for the radar
Landkreis Heilbronn will also enlist the help of sensors to identify incorrectly filled organic trash bins
Apparently, that makes it the most progressive city in that respect in all of Finland
Residents couldn’t handle the noise pollution anymore
The Old Continent gets ready for the largest festival of sports
Apparently, that makes it the most progressive city in that respect in all of Finland
The goal is to preserve these traditional features in the urban landscape while finding new purpose for their existence
Residents couldn’t handle the noise pollution anymore
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
An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself
An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö
A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital