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What we do

Team

Partners

Contacts

Development

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Luxembourg / Luxembourg / Development / Public Spaces

Luxembourg is looking for urban farmers

A new pilot project in the capital will try out multi-faceted farming in a built-up setting as a source of food and environmental awareness

Feb 2, 2023 17:07
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Denmark / Germany / Development / Mobility

World’s longest underwater rail-road tunnel to connect Germany and Denmark

The work is already underway from both sides and completion is expected at the end of the decade

Feb 1, 2023 17:58

Economy and Finance

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Denmark / Economy and Finance / Green City

Danish deposit-return system for bottles and cans is now 100% circular

The solution which has been progressing to that end for the past several years proves that there can be a circular business model

Jan 31, 2023 17:47
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Germany / Berlin / Economy and Finance / Green City

Berlin to issue sustainability bonds worth 750 million euros

This move will open green and social public projects to wider investments

Jan 30, 2023 13:19

Politics and Reforms

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Netherlands / Amsterdam / Culture and Tourism / Politics and Reforms

Free tickets for Amsterdam art venues in February

The city has launched a 'buy 1 get 1 for free' scheme to lure people back to the local cultural scene

Feb 1, 2023 17:28
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Greece / Athens / Politics and Reforms / Welfare and Health

Attica Region to invest 1.5 million euros in Roma start-ups

The initiative focuses on building an integration policy from the perspective of small businesses within the community

Feb 1, 2023 16:03

Innovation and Research

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France / Germany / Italy / Digital transformation / Innovation and Research

EU funds AI and Robotics in agriculture in Germany, France and Italy

The Agri-Tech centre in Osnabrück has a lab, workshop and test field all rolled into one

Feb 2, 2023 13:03
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Bulgaria / Sofia / Green City / Innovation and Research

Sofia launches drones against air pollution

The flying machines will help pinpoint polluted districts much more accurately

Feb 1, 2023 13:23

Digital transformation

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Spain / Barcelona / Digital transformation / Welfare and Health

Barcelona has a digital map of its health and care centres

Search for health, search for well-being - in any sense and category of these terms

Feb 2, 2023 17:37
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France / Germany / Italy / Digital transformation / Innovation and Research

EU funds AI and Robotics in agriculture in Germany, France and Italy

The Agri-Tech centre in Osnabrück has a lab, workshop and test field all rolled into one

Feb 2, 2023 13:03

Energy efficiency

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Portugal / Development / Energy efficiency

2025: Europe’s largest solar farm will operate in Portugal

It will supply electricity to a population twice the city of Porto

Feb 1, 2023 13:22
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Czechia / Energy efficiency / Innovation and Research

Robots make the beer come faster – Pilsen’s new take on tradition

Plzeňský Prazdroj’s new brewery warehouse launched an automated rail system capable of storing more beer and loading it onto trucks much more efficiently

Jan 30, 2023 16:09

Mobility

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Denmark / Germany / Development / Mobility

World’s longest underwater rail-road tunnel to connect Germany and Denmark

The work is already underway from both sides and completion is expected at the end of the decade

Feb 1, 2023 17:58
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Belgium / Mobility / Public Spaces

This mediaeval gem in Ghent will become public bike parking lot

Local authorities say that this is a good way to preserve the 15th-century market building while providing a public service

Jan 31, 2023 17:13

Public Spaces

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Luxembourg / Luxembourg / Development / Public Spaces

Luxembourg is looking for urban farmers

A new pilot project in the capital will try out multi-faceted farming in a built-up setting as a source of food and environmental awareness

Feb 2, 2023 17:07
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France / Paris / Culture and Tourism / Public Spaces

For Valentine’s Day, you can use Paris info boards as love letters

Let your amorous intentions be known throughout the French capital, because if not there, where else?

Feb 2, 2023 16:13

Culture and Tourism

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France / Paris / Culture and Tourism / Public Spaces

For Valentine’s Day, you can use Paris info boards as love letters

Let your amorous intentions be known throughout the French capital, because if not there, where else?

Feb 2, 2023 16:13
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Netherlands / Amsterdam / Culture and Tourism / Politics and Reforms

Free tickets for Amsterdam art venues in February

The city has launched a 'buy 1 get 1 for free' scheme to lure people back to the local cultural scene

Feb 1, 2023 17:28

Education and Sport

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Denmark / Aalborg / Education and Sport / Welfare and Health

Aalborg school first to try a 4-day week in Denmark

No more blue Mondays in this educational institution

Feb 2, 2023 13:30
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Belgium / Development / Education and Sport

Belgium will host Europe’s biggest sportainment park

The facility will be located in Hasselt and is set to welcome its first visitors this spring

Jan 25, 2023 17:39

Welfare and Health

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Spain / Barcelona / Digital transformation / Welfare and Health

Barcelona has a digital map of its health and care centres

Search for health, search for well-being - in any sense and category of these terms

Feb 2, 2023 17:37
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Denmark / Aalborg / Education and Sport / Welfare and Health

Aalborg school first to try a 4-day week in Denmark

No more blue Mondays in this educational institution

Feb 2, 2023 13:30
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Bulgaria / Interviews / Read Twice

Veni Markovski: It's about time the media stopped inviting “experts” who spread false info

Nov 28, 2022 11:30
Denis Balgaranov
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Netherlands / Utrecht / Green City / Interviews

Sharon Dijksma: Without cities, it will be impossible to tackle global warming

Nov 21, 2022 13:41
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Interviews / Politics and Reforms

Vasco Cordeiro: The European project is at stake when solidarity is at stake

Aug 1, 2022 11:34
Denis Balgaranov
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Interviews

Cities Mission has made citizen engagement and participatory processes an important part of its functioning

Jul 14, 2022 14:57
ICLEI Europe
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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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Latvia
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Riga

Riga
Mārtiņš Staķis
Mayor

Mārtiņš Staķis

Biography
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Thanks to its strategic location, Riga has always been an important trading hub, especially with partners such as Scandinavia and other northern European countries - it even served as a connection to Byzantium. As a Viking center for trade with other nations, the main exports of the settlement were fish, other animal products and works of bone and wood. Christianity played a pivotal role in the development of the city. Although the religion arrived sometime in the 9th century, it wasn't until the incursion of the crusaders when locals were forced to adopt Europe's mainstream religion. In the 13th century Riga had a short-lived tenure as member of the Hanseatic League but fell victim to the territorial ambitions of large empires in northern and eastern Europe. The city changed hands regularly as it was a coveted prize due to its economic power and strategic location. In different periods of its history, Riga has been a part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Swedish Empire, the German Empire, the Russian Empire and the USSR. The city was proclaimed capital of the newly independent country of Latvia in 1991, after freeing itself from the Soviet Union. 

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Latvia / Riga / Mobility

Riga asks Latvian parliament to grant cities more control over e-scooters

It’s the latest European capital that wants to do something about the rampant and chaotic use of the two-wheelers in its public spaces

Feb 03, 2023 17:48
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Digital transformation / Education and Sport

Riga uses Minecraft to involve young people in urban planning

The videogame makes the complex discipline more approachable and appealing

Jan 06, 2023 09:40
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Economy and Finance

Riga invites foreign companies for a workcation

The Latvian capital turned on the charm to attract curious and adventurous business investors

Jan 04, 2023 17:50
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Politics and Reforms / Public Spaces

Riga is now completely free of Soviet regime monuments

The promotion of democracy couldn’t have been possible without the lustration of public spaces

Dec 08, 2022 16:41
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Culture and Tourism / Economy and Finance

Riga introduces a tourist fee in 2023

The Latvian capital joins a growing rank of European cities that have turned to taxing the visitors’ impact

Nov 04, 2022 16:59
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Energy efficiency

Electricity-producing households can already supply 10% of total consumption in Latvia

The number of microgenerator households in the Baltic nation has reached 10,000

Oct 20, 2022 17:37
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Green City

Riga will host Latvia’s first public greenery composting site

All those leaves, grass, branches and flowers will turn into organic fertilizer as Nature intended

Oct 12, 2022 13:28
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Politics and Reforms

Riga will host Russia’s main opposition TV channel

Meanwhile, Latvia banned the broadcasting of all other Russian tv stations on its territory

Jun 07, 2022 13:22
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Digital transformation / Welfare and Health

Riga adds a drone to its summer lifeguard services

The city also added a new bathing area

May 20, 2022 17:41
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Culture and Tourism / Economy and Finance

Riga encourages the creation of private museums

For the first time there, financial backing is forthcoming

May 17, 2022 15:13
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Energy efficiency

Riga heating company asks residents to reduce energy consumption

Decreasing dependence on Russian-supplied gas will take time, but there are already plans for transition to renewables

Mar 18, 2022 15:31
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Digital transformation / Green City

Riga to control illegal waste dumping in its forests with modern video system

The Latvian capital has the most forested territory among large cities of Europe

Feb 17, 2022 17:26
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Digital transformation

Riga to boost digital transformation with a special administrative body

Riga Digital Agency is expected to start working on 1 April

Feb 04, 2022 17:42
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Digital transformation / Mobility

No more cash payments on Riga city buses

This, among other things, will allow drivers to better focus on their main task at hand

Dec 31, 2021 16:16
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Estonia / Latvia / Riga / Tallinn / Culture and Tourism

Public Christmas tree: Which city did it first?

Supposedly, the answer lies somewhere in the Baltics and two capitals are vying for the honour

Dec 06, 2021 15:46
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Green City

Riga applies to become a Zero Waste City

An insight into the process from a municipal point of view

Nov 22, 2021 15:53
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Innovation and Research / Mobility

Riga becomes testing ground for mobility experimentation

This month, residents get to experience prototypes developed from bright ideas

Nov 15, 2021 17:48
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Politics and Reforms

Latvia’s parliament votes to suspend non-vaccinated MPs

The antivax-minded lawmakers will not be able to attend sessions or vote

Nov 12, 2021 17:25
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Welfare and Health

Riga equips buses with lights to indicate safe occupancy levels

The city is also changing bus timetables due to many drivers falling ill with Covid-19

Nov 04, 2021 16:39
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Welfare and Health

Riga to take a stance against gambling

It is not such an easy decision when considering economic benefits against social harm

Oct 15, 2021 14:34
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Jelgava / Liepāja / Riga / Culture and Tourism / Welfare and Health

Latvia opens winter swimming season today

The activity is now considered part of the national folk sports heritage

Oct 01, 2021 12:45
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Politics and Reforms / Public Spaces

Riga might get a ‘night mayor’ in the near future

The city government is busy brainstorming how to organize life in the dark hours of the day

Sep 24, 2021 15:48
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Estonia / Latvia / Lithuania / Riga / Tallinn / Vilnius / Mobility

Baltic states run first connecting train in decades

Despite ballooning cost, Lithuania hopes that Rail Baltica will be completed on schedule by 2026

Sep 22, 2021 11:42
Plamen Petrov
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Latvia / Riga / Culture and Tourism / Economy and Finance

Riga postpones tourism tax

The new fee will be introduced one year later than planned, as a nod to local hospitality industry

Sep 17, 2021 16:30
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Culture and Tourism / Digital transformation

Strictly for dog lovers, Riga project tells stories

The idea is to brighten up the daily walk with your pet and make you reflect on modern life’s issues

Aug 17, 2021 17:34
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Development / Politics and Reforms

Riga will host the autumn conference of European large metropolises (METREX)

The organizers have chosen to concentrate on the topic of spatial strategies as the event’s focus

Aug 12, 2021 16:41
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Culture and Tourism

Riga gets to host the Hanseatic Days for its 820th birthday

The Hanseatic League was revived in 1980 as ‘new Hanse’ and it aims to foster links between historical League cities today

Jul 30, 2021 14:51
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Economy and Finance / Public Spaces

Riga responds to doubts on traffic poles maintenance

Small but important parts of street furnishing

Jul 26, 2021 12:45
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Energy efficiency

Riga to promote waste sorting as a support to local landfill

Having a modern facility is not enough if the people are not aware of the difference they can make

Jul 09, 2021 14:46
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Latvia / Riga / Green City

Riga bets on large trees for its greening plans

The first seedlings were planted on 27 May by an Italian landscaping company

May 28, 2021 13:25
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

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