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
In a true spirit of solidarity, the title was divided among 5 municipalities
This year, Portugal is not only presiding the Council of the European Union, but it is also taking the leading role in the Monitoring Committee of the Luxembourg Declaration. For the non-initiated, this means that a city from its territory gets the honour to be declared the European Capital of Social Economy.
In a true display of solidarity showmanship, which would be exactly in the spirit of what social economy stands for, the prestigious status was shared among 5 cities – Sintra, Braga, Cascais, Coimbra and Torres Vedras, all of which signed a Letter of Commitment to the initiative on 29 March at the Queluz National Palace in the municipality of Sintra.
The social economy sector in society is sometimes known as the third sector, or in other words, this is where private initiative and entrepreneurship aim to complement and add value to areas which the public sector has neglected or has not been able to cover. The goal of the sector is to do that without a profit-generating motive. This is the realm of non-profit organizations, associations, foundations, professional collectives and volunteers.
“In Sintra, the social economy sector stands out thanks to the number and diversity of organizations, with 1,207 entities, representing 2% of the national total distributed across different segments, such as culture, social services, religious organizations, education, health and environmental protection,” stated Basílio Horta, the mayor of the symbolic host city of Sintra.
This municipality, for instance, has developed specific financing programmes, such as Financial Support for Non-Profit Institutions (PAFI), as well as emergency funds aimed to provide a much-needed shoulder to this sector during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Social Economy Capitals take it upon themselves to promote the ambitions and visions of the Luxembourg Declaration (which counts with 18 signatory countries) for smarter, sustainable and inclusive development, social cohesion, full employment, better governance and eradication of poverty.
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