City center news

LATVIA – Gulbene’s Eco-Friendly Container Nursery Unveiled

A new environmental attraction in Gulbene, Latvia, features a container nursery for observing young pine trees. Developed by Carbon Less Future Ltd and supported by the local municipality, this innovative design is patented by the EU Patent Office. Entrepreneur Aigars Jačuks explains that the initiative promotes green thinking, offering companies equipment for natural resource restoration … Read more

EUROPE – Urban Design and Mobility, Insights from Berlin and other European cities on sustainable transportation

Dr. Peter Berrill’s study, featured in Transportation Research Part D, investigates the relationship between urban design and mobility habits in Berlin and 18 additional European cities. The findings demonstrate that proximity to city centers significantly reduces car ownership and the use of cars for travel, with a notable exponential drop in car ownership observed 6 … Read more

EUROPE – The EU’s NetZeroCities boosts support for 25 cities aiming for climate neutrality by 2030

The EU’s NetZeroCities platform has announced further support for 25 cities striving to become climate neutral by 2030. These cities are part of the EU Cities Mission and will collectively receive over 14 million Euros through the Horizon Europe program to become ‘Pilot Cities’. This initiative will enable them to test innovative decarbonisation strategies across … Read more

ESTONIA – Revitalisation of the city center is in order

Tallinn’s Deputy Mayor, Madle Lippus, advocates for revitalizing the city center to prevent its decline, emphasizing the need for infrastructure projects. Key focuses include improving access to the city center and addressing the shortage of kindergartens. Plans include extending the tram line and creating a bicycle-sharing system. While challenges persist, such as slow progress on … Read more

SPAIN – Valencia the green capital

Valencia, known for its sunshine, has been named Europe’s Green Capital, praised for its 5 million square meters of green space and the accessibility of nature to its residents. Winning the title comes with a 600,000 euro grant and valuable marketing benefits. Paola Llobet, Valencia’s councillor for tourism and innovation, sees it as recognition of … Read more

ROMANIA – Bucharest, the « rising star » of capitals

Bucharest, Romania, is gaining popularity among tourists, earning the nickname “new Berlin” due to its beautiful architecture and vibrant city center. With a bustling nightlife and affordable options, it’s becoming a top choice for city breaks. The city’s thriving cafe culture, with its array of specialty coffee shops, adds to its charm. The Old Town, … Read more

FRANCE – First webinar for the European Observatory for Downtown management

The European Observatory for City Center, launched by Centre-Ville en Mouvement in February 2024 at the European Parliament, held its first online conference on April 3rd, focusing on governance and financing models for downtowns and commercial arteries, with examples from Canada and Italy. Discussions highlighted practices such as Commercial Development Corporations (CDCs) in Canada, which … Read more

SLOVENIA – Revitalization for Ptuj’s City Center

In this town in eastern Slovenia, after years of renovations to the city center financed by national, local, and European funds, culture has been restored as the central element of urban policy. The municipality aims to further revitalize the historical district by proposing additional cultural spaces and intergenerational meetings, resulting in a diverse lineup of … Read more

CZECH REPUBLIC – A no-traffic city center for a quieter city

Inside the Czech capital, authorities have made the decision to limit the automobile traffic for all vehicles (except for residents, taxis, and all other vehicles that possess an authorization). Prague’s first district will then be closed for access between 10pm and 6am. The goal? Reduce noise pollution which has been affecting the city center’s residents … Read more

ITALY – A car-free city center for Milan

Milan, the capital of fashion, is at a crossroad concerning pollution. As we are facing more and more issues having to do with climate change, a decision has to be made to reduce emissions. The mayor is choosing to target private traffic within the confines of the city center in order to reduce the pollution … Read more


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*This event is not organized by the French Government. However we have been allowed by the French Government to use the emblem of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union.