News

04.08.2008
Italian mayors introduce street prostitution fines
Padua on Friday, August 1st, became the second big Italian city to boost fines for clients who use street prostitutes in a bid to clean up its image and strike at rackets that force women out on the streets. Both Padua and Verona have now brought in ...read more

01.08.2008
2012 London Olympics: Waste not, want not
On August 1st, 2008, the Olympic Delivery Authority announced that sustainability will remain at the heart of the construction of the London 2012 Olympic Park, venues and infrastructure with a commitment to recover and reuse or recycle 90 per cent of...read more

31.07.2008
European Commission proposes 'Twinning Convenant' during 3rd European Development Days
Under the French Presidency of the European Union, the European Commission, in cooperation with the European Parliament, is organising the third European Development Days (EDD) in Strasbourg from 15 to 17 November 2008. The central theme of this majo...read more

30.07.2008
UK green housing policy must be more radical
The UK government should seek to provide greater environmental benefits, says Rynd Smith, Head of Policy and Practice of the Royal Town and Planning Institute, in British newspaper The Guardian.read more

30.07.2008
Magazine research unveils the most liveable cities in the world
The liveability of cities is an important issue nowadays. Urban professionals around the world all break their heads over the question of how to make their city a nice place to be - preferably even the best place to be. Many rankings exist to show wh...read more

22.07.2008
European Commission gives Golden Stars to 12 citizenship projects
The European Commission has selected 12 civic participation projects that encourage action and debate on EU issues at the grass-roots level. Later this year, these projects will be awarded the "Golden Stars of active European citizenship" in a prize ...read more

21.07.2008
Beijing Scrambles to Host 'Green Games'
Smog, dust particles, algae blooms: the high levels of pollution at Olympic venues has the sporting world worried. The Chinese authorities are working feverishly to address the problem -- closing factories, banning cars from the roads, and renewing p...read more

08.07.2008
Cohesion policy priorities for the French Presidency
The French Presidency, at the helm of the EU since 1 July, has spelled out its priorities in terms of cohesion policy. Efforts will be focused on preparing the groundwork for the period after 2013, and for the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, w...read more

07.07.2008
“Art can be much more than just adding colour somewhere”
Transvaal is a well-known urban renewal area in The Hague. At the moment, the neighbourhood is literally in the middle of a transformation period which will take fifteen years in total. Many houses have already been demolished and replaced by new con...read more

04.07.2008
World Mayor 2008 - the final shortlist
Public voting for World Mayor 2008 has now ended. Between January of this year and the end of June more than 200,000 people from around the world cast their votes for and commented on mayors who they thought worthy of the 2008 Award. The World Mayor ...read more

04.07.2008
EUROCITIES launches cities’ initiative on climate change
On 20 June, leading politicians from Europe’s major cities agreed on a common declaration to combat climate change at a meeting of EUROCITIES in Lyon. The main focus of activities will be on taking concrete actions within the cities engaging in this ...read more

01.07.2008
London's canal network: opportunity for viable and sustainable freight transport
During the industrial revolution, the canals of London were used extensively. However, in the previous century they became very empty. It wasn’t a change in English eating habits that extinguished the oldest of freight transport modes, but rather con...read more

26.06.2008
Climate change and the challenges for public health: engaging the regions
The European Regional Local Health Authorities and the Health (EUREGHA) and Environment Alliance (HEAL) in collaboration with Veneto Region and North West England organised a conference on "Climate change and the challenges for public health: engagin...read more

23.06.2008
Wanted: young urban professional beekeepers
Germany is running out of bees. But urban beekeeping may just be the solution. The country's aging beekeepers are looking to attract young city dwellers to the hobby.read more

19.06.2008
Poorest regions of Europe swiftly regain ground
Commissioner Danuta Hübner has unveiled the 5th progress report on economic and social cohesion. The first part presents an analysis of the results of the public consultation launched last year on the future of Regional Policy. Not only is the Cohesi...read more

19.06.2008
"In Spain housing has long been conceived as an investment rather than a right of citizens"
“In Spain housing has long been conceived as an investment rather than a right of citizens”, says José Luis Arroyo, responsible for housing at the Spanish Youth Council. Compared to other European countries, Spain has experienced one of the most prof...read more

17.06.2008
New Orleans re-built by residents - not by government or starchitects
New Orleanians have been able to revive their city without much government involvement or 'starchitect' influence. In August 2005 the city was severely hit by Hurricane Katrina, leaving the city in ruins and largely abandoned. Ever since, residents h...read more

17.06.2008
The most expensive cities in the world, Asia and Europe
Deciding on which is the world’s most expensive city is a little bit like choosing between the merits of various world heavy weight boxing champions. Until a few years ago the choice was between Tokyo and London. But in its 2007 ‘Worldwide cost of li...read more

16.06.2008
Boston Battles Foreclosures
As in other cities and towns in the United States, the first wave of the global lending crunch is hitting hard in poorer Boston neighborhoods. But Mayor Tom Menino is not waiting for Washington to swoop to the rescue. Instead, he is treating foreclos...read more

16.06.2008
Could you be a European e-Inclusion Champion?
The European Commission has established the e-Inclusion Awards to raise awareness, encourage participation and promote and recognise excellence and best practice in using ICT and digital technology to tackle social and digital exclusion across Europe...read more