Valladolid to have Spain’s largest biomass-fed heating network
The promise is that it will save between 30% and 50% on users’ energy bills
Despite long negotiations, the new city coalition is on shaky ground after a disagreement on the expropriation referendum
Today, Franziska Giffey became the new mayor of Berlin in the new governing coalition between the SPD (Social Democratic Party), Greens and Die Linke (the Left). The new Senate of Berlin will also be sworn in today.
The SPD won the Berlin election, which took place at the same time as the national election in September, by a similarly narrow margin. Their candidate, Franziska Giffey is the first woman to hold the position of mayor of Berlin.
Earlier today, the three parties in the red-green-red (SPD-Greens- Die Linke) coalition signed the agreement in the State Library in the German capital’s Mitte district. The document will become the basis of the local government’s framework for the next five years.
After incumbent mayor Michael Müller steps down and the transfer of power is formalised, Mayor Giffey will represent the capital at the Conference of Minister-Presidents.
The conference is a meeting of federal-state leaders in Germany and its session will focus on figuring out new measures to curb the spread of the Omicron variant. After that, the new Berlin Senate will hold a constituent session.
Despite coalition negotiations starting in September, however, the governing alliance of Berlin is on shaky ground, as most recently members of Die Linke claimed they would refuse to vote for Giffey.
The most contentious point between the SPD and Die Linke is their opinions on the referendum to expropriate the properties of Berlin’s largest landlords, specifically those having more than 3,000 units.
Mayor Giffey has repeatedly stated that she is against expropriation, while many of Die Linke’s constituents and party members want to uphold the results of the referendum. Currently, the coalition agreement between the three parties recognises the referendum, as well as the fact that affordable housing will be a major issue for the next five years.
Furthermore, the agreement states that the new administration should create a commission to determine whether expropriation would even be legal in Berlin.
The bill, however, still has to be approved by Parliament to become a law
As the EU Commission is about to vote on REPowerEU, a bill to fund alternative natural gas suppliers, Breakthrough Energy claims that the bloc needs more battery storage capacity
The promise is that it will save between 30% and 50% on users’ energy bills
It will offer people with physical, cognitive and sensory disabilities a calming environment
Innovating Pilsen will take place during the first week of June
The project is the first of its kind in Lithuania
‘Wien Gusto’, as the brand is called, will source its produce from the nearly 2,000 hectares of farm land owned by the city
It should reduce noise and air pollution in the heart of the city
In this way, it will reduce the levels of noise and pollution
It will offer people with physical, cognitive and sensory disabilities a calming environment
The bill, however, still has to be approved by Parliament to become a law
Local authorities explained that his policy hopes to sensitize people to not smoke in front of children and thus break the cycle of passing on the habit
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