THEN and NOW: How our cities changed—and changed together
Balbriggan: Then, its industrial land felt like an undefined future. Now, it has a clear, confident vision for a green employment district tied to skills, active travel, and regeneration.
Villena: Then, the dry port idea was promising but lacked strategic coherence and political support to move forward. Now, Villena has a clearer, more broadly endorsed logistics and sustainability vision, strengthened during EcoCore, and recognized during its successful ERDF funding application, which has given the project new credibility and momentum at various governance levels.
Tuusula: Then, the Focus industrial zone was an exciting idea without a well-defined green or circular direction. Now, it has become a thoughtfully planned, future-ready industrial district, complete with detailed circular zoning guidelines, climate-risk assessments, and a sustainability playbook that informs all development choices.
Santo Tirso: Then, rising energy costs threatened industrial competitiveness. Now, the city is creating renewable energy communities that will reduce emissions and stabilize costs for businesses and public services.
Pärnu: Then, Pärnu’s green transition efforts were active but scattered across departments and sectors. Now, the city holds a multi-level, multi-sector annual event that brings municipal leaders, businesses, and regional actors together in one strategic space. This has strengthened collaborative thinking, aligned priorities, and sped up coordinated planning for the green transition.
Ormož: Then, industrial mobility was largely car-based. Now, a cycling test action has opened new pathways for greener mobility and livelier business areas.
Alba Iulia: Then, congestion felt like an unavoidable part of daily life. Now, political leaders openly promote behaviour change and sustainable mobility as part of the city’s industrial strategy.
Ķekava: Then, the city’s role in the green transition seemed unclear. Now, it stands confidently as a bicycle-friendly, tourism-oriented municipality engaged with local businesses.
Dubrovnik: Then, the city was largely shaped by tourism pressures. Now, industrial and entrepreneurial spaces like TUP are being reimagined as areas for green business and innovation.
Each city’s transformation is distinct, but all of them reflect something they observed, learned, or felt in another partner city.
A patchwork of ideas: how inspiration travelled across the network EcoCore’s success wasn’t just about meetings or reports. It was about the flow of ideas, courage, and curiosity.
A small mobility test in Ormož influenced thinking in Ķekava and Alba Iulia. A multi-level stakeholder meeting in Pärnu acted as a turning point for Villena’s political drive. Tuusula’s zoning principles inspired ambitions as far away as Portugal and Spain. Balbriggan’s skills strategy reframed discussions in several cities. Dubrovnik’s vision for regeneration reminded partners that industrial spaces can also be cultural, creative, and community hubs.
A journey made of moments:
Ask any partner what they will remember most, and they won’t mention documents first. They will recount moments.
In Malmö, they first realized their common ground. In Balbriggan, rain-soaked beginnings provided surprising clarity. In Tuusula, Santo Tirso, Pärnu, Ķekava, Ormož, Villena, and Alba Iulia, test actions, field visits, challenge clinics, and shared meals built trust. Finally, in Dubrovnik, sunsets over the Adriatic made it clear that these nine cities had grown into something beyond a network.
During that last meeting, partners were asked to describe EcoCore in one word. The responses formed a word cloud that reflected a joyful, chaotic burst of humanity: Learning. Friends. Cooperation. Fun. Amazing. Inspirational. Unforgettable. Laughing. New friends. Sharing and learning. Happiness. People. Cuisine. Best time.
It reads less like the end of a project and more like the memories of a group that traveled far together—geographically, professionally, and emotionally.
The EcoCore Podcast: our story, in our voices
To capture everything they experienced and learned, the partners chose a final output that felt as human as the journey itself: The EcoCore Podcast—“Green Transition in Small Cities.”
It is not a manual. It is not a guide. Instead, it is a conversation—genuine, imperfect, and hopeful—that any small city in Europe can listen to and think: If they could do this, why not us?
This is the network’s invitation to others: come learn with us, question with us, imagine with us. Because green transitions become stronger when shared.
Looking ahead: toward Nicosia, with new confidence
As the partners get ready for the URBACT City Festival in Nicosia, they do so not as separate cities but as a community—ready to share stories of implementation, celebrate progress, and continue inspiring each other. They will arrive with action plans, indeed. But more importantly, they bring momentum, confidence, and friendship.
The true legacy of EcoCore is not only greener industrial zones, better mobility, or stronger skills strategies. It is the firmly held belief that small cities are not small in their potential. They are agile. They are creative. They are brave. And together, they are unstoppable.
The autumn sunsets in Dubrovnik closed one chapter. The spring sunrise in Nicosia will open another.
EcoCore’s story, woven through nine cities, dozens of ideas, hundreds of people, and one unforgettable journey, will continue to grow wherever small cities choose to dream a little bigger.
