Networks and cities' news

Former military areas as hubs for urban innovation

The development of a series of Integrated Action Plans (IAPs) for the reuse of the former military assets, but also in the development of real innovative solutions, to encourage the use of this particular type of heritage are the main focuses of the MAPS project. At the same time, MAPS involves diverse stakeholders in the design and in the implementation of the IAPs through actions such as Open days, sport events (for professionals and amateurs), awareness raising at city level of the military heritage, involvement of the local schools to strengthen the ongoing project in the city.

Rediscovering former military sites through public events

The Strategic and Responsible Public Procurement Policy of Pamplona Recognized as Good Practice by the European Commission

The Executive Agency of the European Commission for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) has recently published the guide Making Socially Responsible Public Procurement Work: 71 Good Practices Cases, which includes the case study called Strategy for Socially Responsible Public Procurement at Pamplona City Council. In this way, Pamplona's responsible public procurement policy is recognized at European level as a good practice to be replicated.

BluAct - Starting Up the Blue Economy

BluAct network initiated its works during Spring of 2018, and has been awarded with the EEPA 2018 “Promoting the Entrepreneurial Spirit” award. Phase 2 of the project initiated recently with main event the transnational kick-off meeting that took place in Piraeus between 26-28 of February 2019.

Find the courage to start implementing innovative solutions for our own city! A story from Salerno, Italy.

The suggestion I can give to the other European cities from this experience is: being in contact with cities that have already made successful experiences is important to become more confident in our potential and to find the courage to start implementing innovative solutions for our own city.

Report from visit to Lomza!

On June 16-18 Sara Jervfors (Head of the Diet Unit in Södertälje) from the Lead Partner and Helena Nordlund, Lead Expert visited Lomza for a bilateral meeting aiming at continuing the Diet for a Green Planet practice transfer, elaborating a general work plan for the production of the Diet for a Green Planet Handbook and to take the first step in the Diet Policy transfer and planning Lomza's participation in the international Diet Policy conference in September in Mollet del Vallès.

France’s ÉcoQuartier label, an initiative to support communities for sustainable city planning

The concept of “écoquartier” - the term is a contraction of the two French words “quartier” and “écologique” (ecological neighbourhood) - was inspired by Northern European countries experiences of eco-districts.

By creating a Label, delivered in four stages and according to urban sustainable development criteria, the French State wanted to push the approach one step further. The approach was successful in France, now also opened to other neighbourhoods and cities throughout the world.

Eco-districts: historical background of the concept and first projects in Europe