What happens when cities on opposite sides of the world start talking to each otherFood waste in Vicenza.Traffic congestion in Kuala Lumpur.Clean energy ambitions in Sofia.A blue economy taking shape in Tierra del Fuego.At first glance, these places have nothing in common. And yet, they’re dealing with the same questions:How do we move people better?How do we waste less?How do we protect our coasts?How do we build a future that actually works for our communities?That’s where the IURC Programme comes in.With EU support, city leaders from across Europe, Asia, Latin America and beyond are connecting — not to exchange speeches, but to share what works. What failed. What can be adapted. What can be done together.In Barcelona this November, more than 240 people from 130 cities spent three intense days doing exactly that: sitting together, comparing notes, shaping ideas that will turn into real pilot projects over the next two years.The results already speak for themselves:🚗 smarter parking in Indian cities🏫 climate-resilient schools in Chile🌊 floating infrastructure in Belize💧 water pollution solutions in BangkokWhat makes this powerful isn’t scale — it’s relevance.Cities don’t need perfect models. They need practical answers, learned from others facing the same reality.@IURC shows that when local problems are shared globally, solutions become stronger — and communities benefit.#Cities #LocalSolutions #GlobalCooperation #UrbanFuture
Looking for people who believe design, art and community can change the way we liveThe New European Bauhaus Prizes 2026 are taking shape — and they’re looking for experts who care about beautiful, sustainable and inclusive ways of living.This call isn’t just for academics or traditional design experts.It’s open to people who understand how creativity, community work, architecture, culture, circularity, or social innovation can make life better in our neighbourhoods.If your work touches on:🎨 design or architecture🌱 sustainability, circularity or nature-based solutions🏘️ community projects or inclusion🔧 crafts, materials or innovation💡 creative ways to rethink spaces…then your voice might be exactly what the New European Bauhaus prizes need.Being part of the expert panel means helping identify the projects that truly reconnect people, places and the planet — with EU support, of course.If you believe in solutions that feel good, do good, and look good, this call is worth a look.Deadline: 1 January 2026#NewEuropeanBauhaus #Creativity #Design #Sustainability #EUFunds
From Abandoned Tracks to On-Demand TransportIn many rural areas, buses have disappeared, trains no longer run, and people are left with no real mobility options. Old railway lines sit unused while villages gradually lose their connection to the rest of the region.MONOCAB OWL shows that it doesn’t have to be this way.Imagine a small, gyro-stabilised cabin gliding along old single-track railways — autonomous, on-demand, quiet.As flexible as a cab, as efficient as a train.And designed so rural communities are no longer left behind.This isn’t just about transport.It’s about access to services, opportunities, and the simple right to stay, work, and thrive where you live.A clever idea that puts rural regions back on track — literally and figuratively.#REGIOSTARS 2025 Winner — with #EUFunds support.
What EU support really looks like in Portugal’s regionsWhen you look closely at the projects supported across the North of Portugal, the Algarve and the Azores, a pattern appears: they all make everyday life easier, safer and more hopeful for local communities.In the North, renovated cultural spaces and innovation hubs are giving small towns a new sense of purpose. These places bring people together — students, entrepreneurs, families — and help local talent grow instead of leaving.In the Algarve, climate and water-management projects are making a direct difference for people who live with droughts and coastal risks. Reliable water systems and stronger coastlines mean more stability for families, farmers and small businesses.And in the Azores, investments in mobility, education and research are opening doors that didn’t exist before. Young people can train, learn, and plan their future without feeling they need to move away from their islands.Across all three regions, the added value is clear:EU support becomes meaningful when it strengthens the daily life of the people who call these places home.#EUinmyRegion #Portugal #Communities #PeopleFirst #EUFunds
Violence against women must end, now!This nonverbal Signal for Help is a way to discreetly communicate when you need help.But, of course, a hand sign isn’t enough.The EU is working to eradicate it through:🔹 Stronger support and protection for survivors, with more shelters, 24/7 helplines, and easier ways to report abuse safely🔹 Awareness and prevention campaigns focusing on consent, early intervention, and empowering bystanders to act safely🔹 EU-wide laws that criminalise forced marriage, cyber-abuse, and female genital mutilation🔹 Binding commitments to prevent violence, protect victims, and hold offenders accountable through the Istanbul ConventionFor a world where women can live free from fear 🧡
Ready, set, GROW 🥸 Movember is here!This month is all about raising awareness of men’s health, especially prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention. ❤️🩹Early detection saves lives! The EU is taking action:🎗️ Through its Beating Cancer Plan, improving access to cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and care🎗️ With the EU-funded PRAISE-U project, working to ensure early detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer💙 With a comprehensive approach to mental health, supporting wellbeing across all different areas of life.
🚋 Nantes roule vers l’avenir : une mobilité douce au service des habitantsEt si les transports du quotidien devenaient plus accessibles, plus verts et plus agréables ? C’est le pari de Nantes Métropole, soutenu par plus de 30 millions d’euros de fonds européens, pour moderniser en profondeur son réseau de transport :🔹 Modernisation de 3 lignes de tramway🔹 46 nouveaux tramways spacieux, confortables et lumineux🔹 Un nouveau pôle multimodal à la Babinière🔹 Extension de la ligne 1 jusqu’à La Chapelle-sur-Erdre🔹 +38 km de pistes cyclablesObjectif : réduire les émissions de CO₂, désengorger la ville et faciliter la vie de tous les usagers, qu’ils soient piétons, cyclistes, étudiants, parents ou personnes à mobilité réduite.C’est une transformation concrète, pensée pour les citoyens et pour la planète.Un exemple pour d'autres villes ailleurs ?#TransitionJuste #MobilitéDouce #politiquedeCohésion #Nantes #TransportsDurables #EUinmyRegion #TerritoiresEnTransition
Empowering young voices in Europe’s most remote regionsHow do you bring lasting change to some of the most remote parts of Europe?👉 By giving young people the tools, trust, and funding to lead.In the Northern Periphery and Arctic region, Cohesion Policy is supporting youth-led action through the “Our Voices” pilot initiative. From Finland to Iceland, young changemakers are taking the lead on climate, mental health, digitalisation, and local development.🧭 These projects prove that place-based policy works best when it’s people-powered — especially when the people are young, engaged, and ready to shape their region's future.📣 Discover how EU funding is turning ideas into action, even at the edge of Europe
📢 Big news for accessibility in Europe! The European Accessibility Act is now in force, making life easier for millions of people living with a disability or reduced mobility. What’s changing? ✔️ More accessible products and services across the EU ✔️ Easier access to transport, education, and job opportunities ✔️ Better prices through fairer competition ✔️ More jobs for accessibility experts Things like smartphones, computers, e-books, banking, transport, and online shopping must now follow common accessibility rules across the EU. Together, we’re shaping a Europe where inclusion is a standard, not an option!