Prague reveals design plans for the Vltava Philharmonic Hall
The Danish studio Bjarke Ingels Group won the international architectural competition
The future of the Latvian capital’s local government has been in doubt since a state of emergency was declared last year
In September 2019, the Latvian Competition Council ruled against the contract signed between local authorities in Riga and a consortium that was scheduled to take over waste management in the capital for the next 20 years.
What followed was chaos of unseen proportions by local authorities. The central government was forced to declare a state of emergency and began contemplating the dissolution of the Riga City Council.
Debates in the national parliament reached their peak in December when the legislative body approved on its first reading a decision for the dismissal of the local government of Riga. Parliamentarians, however, also approved a law change that included the possibility for the next City Council to serve out a longer-term so that its expiration coincides with the next municipal elections.
The latter change was temporarily suspended by the president at the request of MPs, however. According to the Latvian constitution, such a move is set to be followed by the collection of signatures for the carrying out of a referendum on whether the draft proposal should be finally signed into law.
If the required number of signatures is not collected, the draft proposal automatically becomes law – that number is equal to 1/10 of the total electorate.
The awareness-raising campaign is beginning today – 16 January. Citizens of Riga are being asked to sign the petition for the carrying out of a referendum. Signatures will be collected by 13 February and signing will be allowed only in person at specific points and venues across the city.
In accordance with these developments, MPs have decided to delay their decision on the dismissal of the Riga City Council. The Latvian parliament will wait for the signatures to be collected and will then vote on the 2nd reading of the dissolution bill in mid-February.
The local community welcomed Ukrainians fleeing war with outstanding support
Belgium will now join a small club of countries empowering youth political participation – Austria, Greece and Malta
The REPowerEU 200 billion-euro plan calls for a gradual reduction of Russian fuel imports
The Smart City Alliance has been quietly building functional tools for both citizens and authorities since 2016
Part of an ongoing trend among these institutions to increase convenience for users
Student teams will have 24 hours to come up with solutions for that issue
The Smart City Alliance has been quietly building functional tools for both citizens and authorities since 2016
The cities met last week in Katowice to draft a plan on how to facilitate cycling between their territories
The REPowerEU 200 billion-euro plan calls for a gradual reduction of Russian fuel imports
It is renewing and introducing direct flight connections to attract visitors from the US, Middle East and Europe
The Catalonian capital’s society and the trajectory of its attitudes have been studied since 1998
The Finnish capital will hold ‘Entrepreneur Day for Women’ next month
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