Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
After months of arguing over EU recovery funds, the government agreed to co-finance the project through the national budget
Today, city authorities in Sofia announced that they will provide 195 million euros for the completion of the third metro line. The money will cover 53% of the project's cost and the city plans to secure the funds through a loan from the European Investment Bank.
The third and fourth stages of the metro's construction are set to be completed in 2026. The development will cover 12 kilometres and 9 stops, equipped with buffer parking spots and new trains. Construction is set to start in March of this year.
The cost of the whole project is just under 400 million euros and originally the remaining funds were supposed to come from the EU’s post-Covid recovery package. However, last year was quite bumpy for the Bulgarian executive branch, as the country went through 3 successive elections because national representatives were unable to form a government.
The first draft of the recovery plan submitted to the EU Commission was rejected. Now, as Bulgaria has had a new government since December, a new draft of the plan is set to reach EU authorities in the near future.
Most importantly for city authorities, though, is the fact that in the latest iteration of the plan, the funds for the third line of the metro were cut in half. Mayor Yordanka Fandakova repeatedly pleaded for support for the subway system in Parliament to no avail.
In June, then Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov argued that the cut was necessary to prevent a concentration of EU funds in the capital. Mayor Fandakova then said that the cut seemed unreasonable, as the city was set to receive around 0.5% of the total 6.5 billion relegated to Bulgaria by the recovery fund.
She explained that this was a small portion of funds, especially considering that the capital city provides 40% of the country’s tax revenue and is home to about a quarter of the Bulgarian population.
According to a recent statement by the city, Mayor Fandakova has met with current Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and Deputy Prime Minister Asen Vasilev to petition the government for the cut funds. During the meeting, however, Petkov and Vasilev said that they will cover the difference through the national budget instead.
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
The previous mayor was forced out of office following a no-confidence vote in the city council
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
It also set the standards for a better European parking card for people with disabilities
Everyone’s invited free of charge, but only after registration
Italian cities and regions continue experimenting with creative proposals to curb overtourism effects
It also set the standards for a better European parking card for people with disabilities
Italian cities and regions continue experimenting with creative proposals to curb overtourism effects
The building will then serve as the site for a new museum dedicated to Finnish-Russian relations
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