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Team

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Development

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France / Development / Public Spaces

This bench stores water and irrigates plants while you rest

The innovative project received funding from the participatory budget in Lille, France

Jun 24, 2022 14:06
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Denmark / Copenhagen / Development / Social City

Social housing will form 40% of future urban development in Copenhagen

This was decided after an unprecedented agreement between the national and city governments

Jun 23, 2022 17:12

Economy and Finance

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Bulgaria / Economy and Finance

Three Seas Initiative acquires large share in Port of Burgas

This is the first investment in port infrastructure by the international forum’s development fund

Jun 21, 2022 10:33
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Lithuania / Vilnius / Economy and Finance

Vilnius honours local start-up unicorns with bus stop name

The symbolism belies the city’s vision to transform the Naujamiestis district into a globally-known tech industry centre

Jun 20, 2022 15:31

Politics and Reforms

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Czechia / Prague / Culture and Tourism / Politics and Reforms

Prague getting ready to become the “capital of Europe”

The Czech city is in active preparation for the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU which will start on 1 July and will last for six months

Jun 23, 2022 16:00
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Croatia / Politics and Reforms / Welfare and Health

Pula, Croatia: People on welfare will have to work for the city or lose their benefits

According to city officials, people will work up to 90 hours a month pay-free and for the ‘common good’

Jun 23, 2022 14:30

Innovation and Research

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Finland / Vantaa / Green City / Innovation and Research

Finnish air-fed protein could solve world hunger

The invention promises to be revolutionary as it can decouple food production from agriculture and its environmental impacts

Jun 27, 2022 15:50
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Spain / Innovation and Research / Mobility

Lleida Airport will serve as research centre for drone traffic management

Commercial unmanned aerial vehicles will far outnumber their crewed counterparts by the end of the decade and solutions are urgently needed

Jun 24, 2022 12:58

Digital transformation

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Croatia / Digital transformation

Croatian town covers banking fees for utilities in digitalization bid

The town of Makarska has recently launched a new mobile service, aiming to cut down on paper use and stimulate citizens to go contactless

Jun 27, 2022 16:00
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Italy / Rome / Culture and Tourism / Digital transformation

Rome VR Bus will carry tourists 2000 years back in time

Unique technology and design convert the vehicle into a mobile, multi-sensory cinematic hall

Jun 22, 2022 17:52

Energy efficiency

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Finland / Energy efficiency

Finland to establish a national hydrogen network

The country wants to become a leader in hydrogen production and export

Jun 27, 2022 14:41
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Belgium / Antwerp / Energy efficiency

Antwerp will offer citizens heat without emitting a single gram of CO2

City authorities just announced that they would develop a central heating grid that will use waste energy from industry and will cover half of the city by 2050

Jun 21, 2022 14:22

Mobility

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Germany / Munich / Culture and Tourism / Mobility

Lufthansa cancels further 2,200 flights

The cancellation hits in the middle of the travel season and is caused by serious labour shortages coupled with a sudden rise of Covid cases

Jun 24, 2022 13:33
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Spain / Innovation and Research / Mobility

Lleida Airport will serve as research centre for drone traffic management

Commercial unmanned aerial vehicles will far outnumber their crewed counterparts by the end of the decade and solutions are urgently needed

Jun 24, 2022 12:58

Public Spaces

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Lithuania / Vilnius / Culture and Tourism / Public Spaces

Vilnius’ bus stops host the city’s largest art gallery

The splendid initiative that turns advertising spaces into art canvases is back for its third edition

Jun 24, 2022 17:56
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France / Development / Public Spaces

This bench stores water and irrigates plants while you rest

The innovative project received funding from the participatory budget in Lille, France

Jun 24, 2022 14:06

Culture and Tourism

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Lithuania / Vilnius / Culture and Tourism / Public Spaces

Vilnius’ bus stops host the city’s largest art gallery

The splendid initiative that turns advertising spaces into art canvases is back for its third edition

Jun 24, 2022 17:56
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Germany / Munich / Culture and Tourism / Mobility

Lufthansa cancels further 2,200 flights

The cancellation hits in the middle of the travel season and is caused by serious labour shortages coupled with a sudden rise of Covid cases

Jun 24, 2022 13:33

Education and Sport

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Sweden / Education and Sport / Green City

Linköping gets a weather-sensitive air dome

The inflatable sports arena provides flexibility and cost effectiveness and is a good alternative to permanent construction

Jun 22, 2022 15:22
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Poland / Education and Sport

Dogs relieve school stress in Wroclaw

Children show a higher interest in going to class and spending more time in the library, if puppies are present

Jun 16, 2022 16:52

Welfare and Health

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Finland / Helsinki / Green City / Welfare and Health

How Helsinki’s air quality has improved over the past 30 years

Dust particle concentrations can still present a tough challenge to beat, though

Jun 24, 2022 15:55
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Spain / Green City / Welfare and Health

It’s official: Seville starts giving names to extreme heat waves

This makes the Andalusian city the first in the world to raise warnings about the harmful weather phenomenon

Jun 23, 2022 15:06
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Portugal / Matosinhos / Interviews

Luisa Salgueiro: Climate resilience work is never completed, it’s a continuously upgraded project

Jun 23, 2022 12:41
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Interviews

EBRD's aim is to support increased climate ambition within cities

May 18, 2022 13:33
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Greece / Athens / Interviews / Welfare and Health

Melina Daskalaki: Our mission is to promote the social reintegration of homeless individuals

May 16, 2022 11:04
Svilena Iotkovska
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Sweden / Interviews

Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh: Malmö Resilience Hub will have the potential to connect cities on the Baltic Sea

May 11, 2022 15:26
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Bulgaria / Blagoevgrad / Interviews / Politics and Reforms

Ilko Stoyanov: Municipalities face the brunt of global crises

Apr 28, 2022 10:43
Denis Balgaranov
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Portugal / Matosinhos / Interviews / New European Bauhaus

Catarina Selada on the first-ever platform that assigns credits for saved carbon emissions

Apr 26, 2022 13:25
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Croatia / Dubrovnik / Zagreb / Digital transformation / Interviews

Tanja Polegubic: The rise of digital nomads will reshape cities in 3 ways

Mar 23, 2022 11:13
Svilena Iotkovska
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Spain / Interviews / New European Bauhaus

A garden is a laboratory of coexistence, where humans and non-humans interact to create more diverse, rich and resilient environments

Feb 18, 2022 13:44
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Spain / Interviews

Inés Rey: We’ve been a 15-minute city even before the term became widely known

Feb 16, 2022 12:46
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Croatia / Jastrebarsko / Interviews

Zvonimir Novosel: Our main obligation is to serve our citizens and justify their trust

Feb 15, 2022 11:09
Svilena Iotkovska

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Brussels

Brussels
Philippe Close
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Philippe Close

Biography
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According to archaeological findings near the city center, the Brussels area is believed to have been inhabited for millenia. The settlement, which would later become Brussels, was located on an island on the River Senne in 580. The official founding of Brussels took place in 979. Because of its location along the banks of the River Senne, Brussels quickly became a fast-growing trade center with a focus on textiles. The city began to expand and the population to grow, which resulted in the drying of the swamp areas around it. After the construction of the first city wall, it soon became clear that the area would not be enough for the growing population. A second city wall was built, remnants of which can be seen today. During the Nine-Year War, which began in 1695, the city was almost fully destroyed as a result of the subsequent fire. This fire is the most destructive event in the history of Brussels. The Belgian Revolution of 1830 marked a new beginning in the development of the city. It became the capital of the Brabant province. The construction of many buildings and the demolition of part of the city wall began. The population grew more and the economy of the city began to develop rapidly as well. The Brussels-capital region was officially formed in 1989 after a change in the constitution. Today, the city hosts many international conferences and political and sporting events and maintains a rapidly growing economy.

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Belgium / Brussels / Culture and Tourism

Brussels sends actors in pyjamas to calm nightlife noise

They will roam the city streets looking for rowdy partygoers, asking them to sing a quiet lullaby

Jun 20, 2022 15:17
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Brussels / Culture and Tourism / Public Spaces

This year, the Flower Carpet will bloom again in Brussels

As it is the semicentennial anniversary of the event, the 2022 pattern will mimic the very first flower carpet from 1971

Jun 10, 2022 12:03
Denis Balgaranov
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Belgium / Brussels / Green City / Politics and Reforms

Etterbeek in Belgium wants to use citizen savings to fund its green policies

The scheme was proposed by Mayor Vincent De Wolf to help boost budgets after these were depleted during the pandemic

May 13, 2022 16:21
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Finland / Brussels / Helsinki / Culture and Tourism / Politics and Reforms

European cities are starting to recognize English as an official language

In increasingly multi-cultural environments, the 21st-century lingua franca is hard to ignore

Apr 27, 2022 17:40
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Belgium / Brussels / Politics and Reforms / Social City

Brussels offers increased funding to people occupying vacant housing

The funds aim to cushion the housing crisis gripping the city and provide vulnerable groups with some additional relief

Apr 05, 2022 16:52
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Brussels

In Brussels, poorer neighbourhoods have a lower air quality

A massive study into the air quality of the Belgian capital revealed large disparities between districts

Mar 21, 2022 15:19
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Brussels / Mobility

Brussels offers up to 900 euros to people willing to ditch their cars

The new and improved Bruxell’air mobility bonus will allow citizens an easier transition to sustainable mobility

Mar 09, 2022 16:34
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Brussels / New European Bauhaus

New European Bauhaus to celebrate creative ideas with a Festival

The multi-platform event will take place 9-12 June

Feb 21, 2022 16:22
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Belgium / Brussels / Politics and Reforms / Social City

Belgium turns attention to public spaces glorifying colonial past

One of the first proposals is to either remove or melt down Leopold II’s statue in Brussels

Feb 18, 2022 11:32
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Brussels / Digital transformation

Brussels Region launched employment platform for the public sector

The new platform will try to value experience and practical skills as much as relevant education

Feb 02, 2022 15:05
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Brussels / Education and Sport / Green City

Brussels gets permanent outdoor swimming pond

Brussels citizens will be able to go to the park for a swim, starting in 2024

Dec 08, 2021 13:43
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Brussels / Mobility / Politics and Reforms

Uber is banned in Brussels from Friday

The controversial court decision sends some 2,000 drivers to a spontaneous protest in the Belgian capital

Nov 25, 2021 13:35
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Brussels / Green City

Brussels makes climate leap forward into accepting zero-waste strategy

The move makes the Belgian capital the largest city in the European Union to join the European Zero Waste Charter

Nov 24, 2021 12:59
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Brussels / Culture and Tourism / Green City

‘Tree Week’ in Brussels will help the city gain 1,000 new trees during a city-wide campaign

Local authorities will hand out the plants to people who want to help make their city get greener

Nov 22, 2021 16:42
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Brussels / Mobility / Welfare and Health

Low Emissions Zone is making Brussels a healthier city

An assessment report on the effectiveness of Low Emission Zones between 2018 and 2020 found a sustained and significant reduction in emissions in the city

Oct 27, 2021 14:59
Denis Balgaranov
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Belgium / Amsterdam / Brussels / Hamburg / Paris / Mobility / Politics and Reforms

Belgium introduces tax for flights under 500 kilometres

The tax will affect passengers traveling to some of the biggest transit hubs in Europe, such as London and Frankfurt

Oct 14, 2021 11:35
Denis Balgaranov
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Belgium / Brussels / Green City

Donate old electronics and get trees – a new push to reforest Flanders

Odisee University of Applied Sciences is launching a campaign to collect old electronics that will go towards planting a new forest

Oct 08, 2021 16:09
Denis Balgaranov
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Belgium / Brussels / Culture and Tourism

Gallery: Two comic book legends in Brussels get 75th-anniversary mural and exhibition

The iconic duo of Blake and Mortimer is coming back to the streets of Brussels with a mural on the Comic Book Route

Sep 29, 2021 12:42
Denis Balgaranov
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Belgium / Brussels / Green City

Brussels finds life after trash for 900,000 cigarette butts

Cigarette butts take 15 years to decompose and can contaminate up to 500 litres of water with their heavy chemicals

Sep 23, 2021 16:36
Denis Balgaranov
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Brussels / Green City / Politics and Reforms

Slay the EU plastic waste dragon! – Rethink Plastic Alliance calling for waste trade ban

The European Union is consistently among the highest exporters of plastic waste across the world, shifting the burden of pollution to far away countries.

Sep 14, 2021 15:31
Denis Balgaranov
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Belgium / Brussels / Culture and Tourism / Welfare and Health

Psychiatrists in Brussels can now prescribe museum visits for mental health issues

Alderwoman for Culture, Tourism and Big events Delphine Houba launched the new programme in the hope to reverse some of the mental damage caused by the pandemic

Sep 09, 2021 14:39
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Brussels / Development / Social City

Brussels mayor unveils for-profit public apartments amid criticism for lack of social housing

According to the mayor, the new building represents a countermeasure to Brusselisation in the European Quarter

Sep 08, 2021 13:47
Denis Balgaranov
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Belgium / Finland / Germany / Ireland / Lithuania / Netherlands / Portugal / Spain / Braga / Brussels / Dublin / Vantaa / Vilnius / Innovation and Research

European Capital of Innovation Awards 2021 semi-finalists announced

16 cities from 10 countries have made it to the semi-final stage

Sep 02, 2021 16:26
Svilena Iotkovska
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Belgium / Brussels / Culture and Tourism

Brussels covered in flowers for the first time since the pandemic start

The 'Bruxelles en Fleurs' festival will create a floral journey in the heart of the Belgian capital

Aug 17, 2021 15:45
Denis Balgaranov
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Belgium / Brussels / Development

Brussels sex hotel to turn into student accommodation

The sex hotels have been a point of contempt for the locals for years but now they are going away

Aug 13, 2021 16:15
Denis Balgaranov
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Belgium / Brussels / Liège / Politics and Reforms / Welfare and Health

Belgium declares national day of mourning for the victims of the flood

The day of mourning comes right before the Belgian National Day commemorating the country’s independence

Jul 20, 2021 11:12
Denis Balgaranov
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Belgium / Brussels / Culture and Tourism / Mobility

Brussels Airport reports best month since the pandemic started

What are the top tourist destinations for Belgians at the tail end of the pandemic?

Jul 13, 2021 16:01
Denis Balgaranov
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Belgium / Luxembourg / Brussels / Luxembourg / Development / Mobility

EU Commission joins Luxembourg and Brussels in building faster rail link

The train ride between the two cities currently takes three hours – way longer than it used to back in the 1970s

Jul 09, 2021 17:56
Denis Balgaranov
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Belgium / Brussels / Development / Green City

Meet Van Praet - Brussels’ new sustainable swamp neighbourhood

The city is developing the Van Praet in a way that all amenities are a 10-minute walk аway

Jul 01, 2021 11:35
Denis Balgaranov
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Belgium / Brussels / Forest / Ixelles / Culture and Tourism

Brussels unveils strategy to become Art Nouveau capital

Also, a themed pass makes Art Nouveau sites more accessible

Jun 10, 2021 17:43
Aseniya Dimitrova

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