Blog

The European Urban Initiative article explores key initiatives for integrating the energy transition in affordable housing across European cities. In Ghent, Belgium, the ICCARUS project helps “captive owners”—homeowners unable to afford necessary energy-efficient renovations. Through financial support and technical guidance, ICCARUS offers up to €30,000 per household, with a revolving fund model that makes energy … Read more

Captures impactful scenes from the COP29 summit in Baku, alongside significant events worldwide. At COP29, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Nick Hague delivered a message from the International Space Station, highlighting the urgency for climate action. Held in Azerbaijan, a major oil and gas producer, COP29 faces unique challenges as it aims to keep global … Read more

Delivery workers, essential to our daily lives, face challenging conditions despite their critical role. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted their importance, yet many couriers still lack security, insurance, and fair wages. Many, particularly immigrant workers, operate without formal contracts, leaving them without social or legal protections. So.De: Social Delivery for a Fairer Future To address these … Read more

In 2023, Europeans traveled a record-breaking 429 billion kilometers by train, marking an 11% increase from 2022 and surpassing pre-Covid levels, according to Eurostat. France and Germany Lead the Way Almost half of all train journeys took place in France and Germany, with 101.3 and 101.4 billion kilometers traveled, respectively. These two countries remain Europe’s … Read more

Today marks the European Cultural Observatory event titled Reinventing City Centers: Drivers of Attractivity, featuring Esch-sur-Alzette, European Capital of Culture 2022. This event highlights the growing role of culture in revitalizing and enhancing the appeal of European city centers. On December 13, 2023, the French Ministry of Culture designated Bourges as the European Capital of … Read more

`As October draws to a close, Halloween brings with it a wave of eerie excitement and mystery. For those who want to skip the costumes and candy to dive into Europe’s rich and spooky folklore, there are adventures waiting that mix ancient legends, ghostly rituals, and haunting celebrations. From the dark forests of Germany to … Read more

New data from Eurostat reveals a troubling trend among Europe’s youth, with almost 15% of those aged 16 to 29 facing difficulties paying their rent over the past year. This figure highlights the growing financial pressure on young people across the European Union, exacerbated by rising living costs, particularly in countries like France, the Netherlands, … Read more

Bucharest became the center of European heritage preservation, as over 800 guests, joined by many more viewers online, gathered for the prestigious European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards ceremony. The event, a highlight of this year’s European Heritage Summit, celebrated 26 remarkable laureates from across Europe. Co-hosted by European Commissioner Iliana Ivanova, the ceremony revealed the … Read more

In a groundbreaking move for France, Talence, a suburb of Bordeaux, has become the first municipality in the country where local businesses accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment. As of this summer, 18 stores in Talence now offer the option to pay with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. This payment method is made possible by … Read more

The regional government of Madrid, led by Isabel Díaz Ayuso, has recently proposed an initiative to use the Madrid metro system for transporting goods at night. This idea, still under evaluation, aims to utilize the public transport network during low-traffic hours to optimize existing infrastructure and reduce street congestion. The project has sparked some controversy, … Read more