Networks and cities' news

#Vratsa4CSR: solving social problems through the collaboration with businesses

CITIES4CSR is the first project that the Municipality of Vratsa implements under URBACT Programme. The participation of the Vratsa in the CITIES4CSR project will help the city in the process of creating its own CSR strategy and a comprehensive integrated action plan that is consistent with local development objectives, which are related to the development of the business environment and improve the investment climate in order to overcome the regional differences in the socio-economic development.

ALT/BAU - At the end of a long journey

We look back on two and a half years of intensive work in the URBACT ALT/BAU transfer network. What have we achieved together? We proudly present our results: 

Hidden pearls on the Black Sea - Constanta's Transfer Story

Constanța was founded by Greek settlers documented in 657 BC. The city is the oldest continuously inhabited place in Romania. The historic district is located on a peninsula in the Black Sea and has about 90 ha. Traces of the turbulent history and the different populations can be seen everywhere.  Many houses have their unique personality. But the historic district with its buildings is also severely marked by decay. Participation in the ALT/BAU network represented an enormous opportunity for the municipality to do something for the hidden gem. Diana Lepadatu reports on her personal transfer story.

Health & Cities

In 1948, the World Health Organisation (WHO) defined health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". 

Bilbao As Fabrik Project video

Euronews showcases in this video Bilbao As Fabrik as an example of service-based technology for an improved industrial sector.

How Saint-Germain-en-Laye increased the city centre quality by testing new pedestrian areas

Saint-Germain-en-Laye is home to 46,200 inhabitants and belongs to the urban areas of Paris located about 20 km west of the Paris centre. The city is a strong educational centre with international schools for the diverse nationalities living in the Paris agglomeration. Saint-Germain-en-Laye has a strong city centre – called the hypercentre – with more than 500 retailers and service providers, presenting thus an attractive position for its residents and people of the surrounding areas to come to Saint-Germain-en-Laye for shopping and leisure and recreation activities.

One of the objectives of the city is to advance pedestrianisation of the city centre as well as its soft connections to major transport hubs, specifically the light rail RER service attached to the north of the city centre. At the time of the COVID19 pandemic lockdowns, Saint-Germain-en-Laye recognised both the need to provide people with safe outdoor space to move around as well as the opportunity to accelerate pedestrianisation objectives by applying pilots in the city centre.