Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
The delayed adoption of the city’s budget allowed for authorities to take into account the effects of the coronavirus pandemic
As TheMayor.EU has reported on numerous occasions, the Latvian capital of Riga has had its fair share of political upheaval which in the end resulted in the suspension of the elected City Council and the inauguration of an interim administration. That in turn, led to chaos in terms of many procedures that are time-sensitive – such as the adoption of a municipal budget.
With a pandemic on their hands and with pressing deadlines, the appointed officials, to no one’s surprise, adopted the new Riga city budget with a delay - at the beginning of April. But due to the strange set of circumstances that they found themselves in, that provided them with an opportunity to quickly adapt their economic plans to the unravelling pandemic.
Acting fast, officials included a reserve fund worth 13.8 million euros meant to safeguard and reboot the Latvian capital’s local economy in the aftermath of COVID-19 and the state-imposed lockdown.
Nearly half of the reserve will most likely be spent by the end of the first half of the year – with the majority of funding going towards the bailout of the local public transport company “Rīgas satiksme” which incurred heavy losses during the lockdown. The combination of strict quarantine measures and the general discouragement of travel resulted in a sharp drop of sales of bus tickets which combined with additional hygienic requirements, in the end, resulted in the accumulation of over 2 million euros in losses by the company.
The fund has also been used to compensate the losses by the Riga Zoo, as well as to cover the expenses of the local Welfare Department and other social care institutions.
Officials believe that 6-7 million euros will remain in the fund for the second half of 2020 which will be used according to other needs – including for the preparation of a possible 2nd wave of COVID-19.
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
The building will then serve as the site for a new museum dedicated to Finnish-Russian relations
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
In addition, the federal government has launched the National Week of Action against Bicycle Theft to raise awareness of the issue and the new solution
The facility will replace the need to have water supplied by tankers from Valencia
Modern traffic lights do more than regulate the flow of vehicles at crossroads, they also collect enormous amounts of data
Experimenting with public transport provision in Germany is clearly in a state of creative fervour
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
It also set the standards for a better European parking card for people with disabilities
The benefit will last until the Dutch parliament adopts the transgender law
Experimenting with public transport provision in Germany is clearly in a state of creative fervour
It also set the standards for a better European parking card for people with disabilities
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
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team