2012
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The promotion of sustainable urban development and the creation of long lasting partnerships
11 Jan 2012The kick-off meeting in Sofia on 17-18 November marked an important moment for the URBAN-NEXUS project, shifting attention from the start-up phase towards the projects’ true content: the promotion of sustainable urban development and the creation of long lasting partnerships between key stakeholders.
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About the UN Climate Summit 2011 in Durban
11 Jan 2012Another climate summit has come to an end at which the hope of binding global action to combat climate change has not been fulfilled. Instead, this has once again been adjourned. With the document agreed (the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action), a road map has been drawn up that foresees a global treaty by 2020. This will mean almost 10 more years of the negotiation marathon with an uncertain outcome and no fixed global measures. Scientists have been warning of the ever smaller time window for effective measures to limit global warming to 2°C for years now. Extension of the Kyoto Protocol with binding aims is considered too weak. Some countries have already declared their unwillingness to support an extension of the Kyoto Protocol. Some of the outcomes of the climate summit are listed below.
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The need to further develop partnerships in maintaining peace and security
26 Jan 2012The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, on a visit to Geneva from 18 to 20 January 2012, emphasized the need to further develop partnerships between international organizations in maintaining peace and security and effectively tackling current and emerging threats.
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Call for proposals - The Dubai International Award (DIA) for Best Practices to improve the living environment
26 Jan 2012UN-Habitat and Dubai Municipality offer you an opportunity for global recognition through the Dubai International Award for Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment.
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Guimaraes is European Capital of Culture 2012
14 Feb 2012In 2012, Guimarães (Portugal) will be hosting a major gathering of creators and creations: music, cinema, photography, fine arts, architecture, literature, thought, theatre, dance, and street art. In Guimarães, the artistic products imagined and created by its residents will merge with those coming to the city from all over Europe. Over the course of one year, the city will be the promoter of Europe’s cultural diversity, revealing its creations and welcoming those from other countries.
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Share your experiences with EMI and win the book Smart City Dynamics!
14 Feb 2012EMI gives you the opportunity to win one of 3 copies of the book ‘Smart City Dynamics’ (€19,50). Read all insights and views of experts from, amongst others, the European Commission, IBM, Stockholm Sea Port and Sustainable Glasgow. In return we ask you to share information on a project in your city which you feel can be typified as a Smart City project.
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How social media can improve city life
23 Feb 2012During a conference in New York on February 15 2012, organized by UN-HABITAT and the MIT Center for Civic Media, academics, professionals, researchers and students teamed up to find innovative plans on how social media can improve city life. During several presentations and subsequent brainstorm sessions, the participants investigated possible social media solutions for urban challenges on numerous issues.
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Call for proposals | Community-led local development at OPEN DAYS 2012
23 Feb 2012Hosted by the Committee of the Regions and the European Commission's Regional Policy DG each year, the European Week of Regions and Cities, known as OPEN DAYS, is an opportunity for representatives from Europe’s cities and regions to gather together, share views and exchange best practice on regional and urban development.
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EMI has a new website
13 Mar 2012EMI has a new and improved website! Visit the EMI website and read about activities, interesting interviews with urban professionals and news on EU-policy. You can also participate in Ask-Your-Urban-Neighbour or write a blog for Talking Cityzen. Watch the EMI video to see who's who and what EMI does.
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EU Commissioner Malmström, former UK Home Secretary Clarke to participate in discussion on immigration and European identity
13 Mar 2012The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) Europe, a non-profit, independent research institute that aims to provide a better understanding of migration in Europe and promotes effective policymaking, was launched on February 27th, 2012. To celebrate the launch, MPI Europe hosted a panel discussion in Brussels titled “Rethinking European Identity in the Age of Immigration,” featuring EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström and former UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke.
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City of New York awarded Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2012
22 Mar 2012The Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2012 has been awarded to the Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg (2002 – present) and the Departments of Transportation, City Planning and Parks and Recreation for New York City’s remarkable transformation from one at risk in the post September 11 period, to one scaling new heights. Within a short span of time, the city has reinvented and rejuvenated itself to give residents and tourists renewed confidence and optimism for the city’s future.
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EMI and ICLEI launch survey on urban sustainability in cities
04 Apr 2012In order to gauge the sustainability priorities and views of European cities, EMI and ICLEI have jointly launched a digital questionnaire on urban sustainability. Cities are asked to fill out the questionnaire before the 23rd of April so that results can be used in further developing EMI’s Urban Sustainability Research Agenda. The main aim of this Agenda is to, together with cities, identify new, overarching research questions so that cities can become (increasingly) sustainable.
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Workshop summary - The Governance of Urban Shrinkage in Europe: Challenges and Prospects
19 Apr 2012On Monday, 26 March 2012, took place a Policy Informing Workshop of the EU 7 FP project Shrink Smart titled: The Governance of Urban Shrinkage in Europe: Challenges and Prospects. The workshop dealing with governance challenges in shrinking European cities and urban regions gathered some 40 participants including representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Eurocities network as well as urban researchers and planners from different European countries. During the workshop, the Shrink Smart project researchers presented key findings of their project and policy recommendations elaborated on base of these results. The presentations were completed by impulse statements from urban planners, representatives of the Eurocities network and the EC FP scientific coordination.
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5 Knowledge and Research Agenda's for EMI
19 Apr 2012EMI is developing a Knowledge & Research Agenda on Economic Vitality of European Metropolitan Regions. This agenda will address the main economic challenges of metropolitan regions and cities with the aim to strengthen European metropolitan areas by means of integrated, coordinated and overarching knowledge.
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Want to learn more about Creative Europe?
09 May 2012Want to learn more about Creative Europe? Listen to answers to some of the sector's questions in five short video interviews. Chris Torch from Intercult, Sweden, interviews Ann Branch, Head of the Culture Programme and Actions Unit, European Commission (DG Education and Culture) on the Commission's Creative Europe proposal.