CCBE latest info

CCBEInfo   # 73 June 2018 juin 2018

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In this Issue    Migration – European Lawyers in Lesvos Migration – Rome conference on the Dublin system Spotlight on European Lawyers - Alexis Deswaef CCBE e-evidence roundtable event at the European Parliament Anti-Money Laundering: CCBE intervention in support of the Belgian Bars FATF revision of the risk-based approach guidance for professions (lawyers, accountants and trusts and company service providers) Future of the judicial training News in short Dans ce numéro    Migration : Les avocats européens à Lesbos Migration : Conférence à Rome sur le système de Dublin Lumière sur les avocats européens : Alexis Deswaef Table ronde e-evidence du CCBE au Parlement européen Lutte contre le blanchiment : intervention du CCBE en soutien aux barreaux belges Révision du GAFI des lignes directrices sur l’approche fondée sur les risques pour les professions (avocats, comptables, fiducies/trusts et prestataires de services aux sociétés) Avenir de la formation judiciaire En bref

Migration – European Lawyers in Lesvos   European Lawyers in Lesvos (ELIL) was launched by the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) and the German Bar Association (DAV) in June 2016 and was incorporated as an independent charitable, non-profit organisation in October 2017. The project was developed following the European Bar Presidents’ Conference in Vienna in February 2016 and has been supported financially by 37 separate European Bars and Law Societies.   Read more Migration : Les avocats européens à Lesbos   Le projet « Les avocats européens à Lesbos » est une initiative du Conseil des barreaux européens (CCBE) et du barreau allemand (DAV) en juin 2016 qui est devenue une organisation caritative sans but lucratif indépendante en octobre 2017. Ce projet a été élaboré à la suite de la Conférence des présidents des barreaux européens à Vienne en février 2016 et a bénéficié du soutien financier de 37 barreaux européens.   Lire la suite

Migration – Rome conference on the Dublin system   The CCBE First Vice-President, José de Freitas, and the Chair and Vice-Chair of the CCBE Migration committee, David Conlan Smyth and Noemi Alarcon Velasco, participated in a conference on migration organised by the Consiglio Nazionale Forense (CNF) on 21 June in Rome. The conference was dedicated to the reform of the Dublin system which defines which State has the obligation to evaluate the asylum claims presented by persons arriving in Europe.   Read more Migration : conférence à Rome sur le système de Dublin   Le premier vice-président du CCBE, José de Freitas, et le président et la vice-présidente du comité Migration du CCBE, David Conlan Smyth et Noemí Alarcón Velasco, ont participé à une conférence sur la migration organisée par le Consiglio Nazionale Forense (CNF) le 21 juin à Rome. La conférence était consacrée à la réforme du système de Dublin qui définit quel État a l’obligation d’évaluer les demandes d’asile présentées par les personnes arrivant en Europe.   Lire la suite

Spotlight on European lawyers - Alexis Deswaef       Read more Lumière sur les avocats européens : Alexis Deswaef     Lire la suite

CCBE e-evidence roundtable event at the European Parliament   On 28 June, the CCBE organised a roundtable discussion at the European Parliament (EP) on the Commission’s proposal for a regulation on European Production and Preservation Orders for electronic evidence in criminal matters.   Read more Table ronde e-evidence du CCBE au Parlement européen   Le CCBE a organisé 28 juin une table ronde au Parlement européen sur la proposition de règlement relatif aux injonctions européennes de production et de conservation de preuves électroniques en matière pénale.   Lire la suite

Anti-Money Laundering: CCBE intervention in support of the Belgian Bars   The CCBE is seeking to intervene before the Belgian Constitutional Court in support of the Belgian Bars against provisions of the national law implementing the 4th Anti-money laundering Directive in Belgium.   Read more Lutte contre le blanchiment: intervention du CCBE en soutien aux barreaux belges   Le CCBE cherche à intervenir devant la Cour constitutionnelle belge pour soutenir les barreaux belges contre les dispositions de la loi nationale mettant en œuvre la quatrième directive anti-blanchiment en Belgique.   Lire la suite

FATF revision of the risk-based approach guidance for professions (lawyers, accountants and trusts and company service providers)   The work on the revision of the 2008 risk-based approach guidance for the legal profession is continuing.   Read more Révision du GAFI des lignes directrices sur l’approche fondée sur les risques pour les professions (avocats, comptables, fiducies/trusts et prestataires de services aux sociétés)   Les travaux sur la révision des lignes directrices sur l’approche fondée sur les risques de 2008 pour la profession d’avocat se poursuivent.   Lire la suite

Future of the judicial training   The experts of the CCBE actively participated in the Conference on “Fitting professionals for the 21st century Justice: How to answer training needs of justice practitioners” organised by the European Commission in Brussels on 18-19 June 2018.   Read more Avenir de la formation judiciaire   Les experts du CCBE ont participé activement à la conférence sur le thème des « professionnels compétents pour la justice du XXIe siècle : comment répondre aux besoins de formation des praticiens de la justice » organisée par la Commission européenne à Bruxelles les 18 et 19 juin 2018.   Lire la suite

Upcoming Events | Événements à venir

21-23/07/2018 - Three Bar Meeting – Fukuoka | Réunion des trois barreaux à Fukuoka  02/08/2018 - ABA Annual Meeting – Chicago | Réunion annuelle de l’ABA à Chicago 05-07/09/2018 - European Law Institute General Assembly – Riga | Assemblée générale de l’Institut européen du droit à Riga 05-07/09/2018 - Young Lawyers Contest - Trier | Concours des jeunes avocats à Trèves 14/09/2018 - CCBE Standing Committee – Brussels | Comité permanent du CCBE à Bruxelles CCBE Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe Conseil des barreaux européens Rue Joseph II, 40 / bte 8 1000 Brussels Belgium

CANADA latest

Prime Minister Trudeau to travel to Latvia

July 3, 2018
Ottawa, Ontario

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that he will travel to Latvia on July 9 and 10, 2018, before attending the NATO Summit in Belgium on July 11 and 12.

The visit will be an opportunity for the Prime Minister to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to the NATO Alliance and Euro-Atlantic security. It will also be a chance to deepen the strong ties between Canada and Latvia, as Latvia marks its centenary.

Prime Minister Trudeau will meet Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis and President Raimonds Vējonis in Riga. Together with Prime Minister Kučinskis, Prime Minister Trudeau will then visit the Canadian-led multinational NATO enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup Latvia to support the Canadian Armed Forces leading the battlegroup and witness firsthand the important work they are doing with partner countries.

The NATO enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup Latvia plays a key role in Canada’s efforts, together with Allies and partner countries, to maintain stability and security in Central and Eastern Europe. Canada’s leadership of the battlegroup is a significant contribution to security in the Baltic region, and represents Canada’s largest sustained military presence in Europe in over a decade.

During his visit, the Prime Minister will be accompanied by Minister Chrystia Freeland, Minister Harjit Sajjan, and General Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff.

Quote

“I look forward to meeting with Prime Minister Kučinskis and President Vējonis to reaffirm the strong bilateral relationship between Canada and Latvia, as well as Canada's solid commitment to NATO and the security of the Baltic region. The NATO enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup Latvia is an example of that, and I look forward to seeing in person the work Canadian Armed Forces members are doing with partner countries. Canada and Latvia also share close commercial ties thanks to the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. Together, we will explore ways to build on our relationship and create new economic opportunities for workers and businesses in both our countries.”
—The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick Facts

• This is the first bilateral visit by a Canadian Prime Minister to Latvia.
• Canada is home to a very active 28,000-strong Latvian-Canadian community.
• Canada enjoys excellent relations with Latvia. Canada was the first G7 country to recognize the restoration of Latvia's independence in 1991, and one of the first countries to ratify Latvia's accession to NATO in 2004.
• Since 2014, Canada has actively worked alongside NATO Allies to maintain security and stability in Central and Eastern Europe. Measures include training, exercises, and other operational tasks.
• Canada leads the multinational NATO enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup Latvia, serves as the Framework Nation, and contributes approximately 450 troops to the deployment as part of Operation REASSURANCE.
• Canada is proud to serve alongside Latvia with our NATO Allies in the battlegroup: Albania, Czechia, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.
• Operation REASSURANCE is the Canadian Armed Forces’ support to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe. As part of this operation, Canada has established its largest sustained military presence in Europe in over a decade by leading a multinational NATO battle group in Latvia.

Associated Links

• Operation REASSURANCE
• Canada in NATO

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with President-elect López Obrador of Mexico

July 2, 2018
Ottawa Ontario

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke today with Andrés Manuel López Obrador to congratulate him on his election as the next President of Mexico. 

The Prime Minister underscored the close friendship and dynamic partnership between Canada and Mexico, based on shared values, common goals, and strong people-to-people ties. The Prime Minister and the President-elect look forward to cooperating on an agenda to create good jobs for people in both countries.

They discussed the mutually beneficial economic and trading relationship between the two countries, and their shared priority of updating the North American Free Trade Agreement for the betterment of their peoples.

The Prime Minister and President-elect emphasized their desire to work closely together on issues that matter to both countries such as creating economic growth that works for all, advancing the rights of Indigenous peoples, and shaping a better future for Canadians and Mexicans alike.  

Statement by the Prime Minister on the results of the Mexican presidential election

July 1, 2018
Ottawa, Ontario

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the results of the Mexican presidential election:

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I congratulate Andrés Manuel López Obrador on his election as the next President of Mexico.

“Canada and Mexico are close friends and longtime partners. We share common goals, strong people to people ties, and a mutually beneficial trading relationship that is the envy of the world – reflected in our joint effort to update the North American Free Trade Agreement for the 21^st century.

“Canada is proud of its close links with Mexico, and we will continue to collaborate on issues that matter to citizens from one end of North America to the other.

“I look forward to working closely with President-elect López Obrador, his administration and the Mexican Congress to build on the vibrant partnership between our two countries, create economic growth that works for everyone, and advance human rights and equality. Together, we can deepen our strong relationship, and shape a better future for Mexicans and Canadians alike.”

Statement by the Prime Minister on Canada Day

July 1, 2018
Ottawa, Ontario

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Canada Day:

“Happy Canada Day!

“No matter where we are, today, as Canadians, we celebrate Canada and the people who have built the country we love.

“We’re 37 million – strong in our differences, proud of our diversity, and united by our dreams. From one generation to the next, Canadians have brought our country’s promise to life, with hard work, bold vision, and determination. They’ve grown the strong middle class at the heart of our success – and today, Canada’s workers are the backbone of our country.

“Canada’s workers build the roads and bridges that get us to work on time and back home again. They put food on the table for families from coast to coast to coast. Some are young people starting their career, or newcomers bringing fresh talent to the workforce.

“From Ontario steel to Quebec aluminum, from agriculture and the energy sector in the Prairies and the North, to forestry in British Columbia and fisheries in the Atlantic, Canadians get the job done – and build our communities along the way.

“We know we can count on Canadians. We stand with each other, and we will always stand up for each other. Canada’s success has always come from its people – lifting each other up, one community at a time.

“Today, we celebrate how much we’ve accomplished together – and set our sights on the future. Together, we will continue to put our values into practice, and make Canada’s promise a reality. We will continue to advance reconciliation, and make sure the rights of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples are recognized and implemented, based on respect, cooperation, and partnership. Together, we will keep building a country where every Canadian – no matter where they’re from, what religion they practice, or whom they love – has a real and fair chance to succeed.

“Canada, this is our challenge – and I know we’re up to it. Today, let’s do what we do best as Canadians: look to the future, and roll up our sleeves. Together, we will keep building a country that makes us all proud.

“On behalf of our family, Sophie and I wish everyone a very happy Canada Day.”

Green Project invitation to Athens Photo Festival 2018

SAILING TO INNER HABITATS A Green Project invitation to Athens Photo Festival 2018  Εγκαίνια/Opening: Παρασκευή 6 Ιουλίου 2018, ώρα 20:00, Ίδρυμα Μιχάλης Κακογιάννης, Πειραιώς 206, Ταύρος Friday 6 July 2018, 20:00 hours, Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, 206, Pireos Str., Tavros, Athens, Greece Διάρκεια/Duration: 6 Ιουλίου μέχρι 6 Αυγούστου 2018 6 July to 6 August 2018 _____________________________________________________________ Η έκθεση φωτογραφίας της μη κερδοσκοπικής οργάνωσης Green Project (www.green-project.org) με τίτλο “Sailing to inner habitats” έχει επιλεγεί να παρουσιαστεί στο πλαίσιο του Athens Photo Festival 2018. Η Green Project πραγματοποίησε τον Σεπτέμβριο 2017, στο πλαίσιο των Green Photo Cruises στο Ιόνιο, ένα καινοτόμο φωτογραφικό ταξίδι με ιστιοπλοϊκό σε απομονωμένα θαλάσσια οικοσυστήματα και απομακρυσμένους υγροβιότοπους. Επτά Έλληνες καλλιτέχνες επιδιώκουν να αποτυπώσουν φωτογραφικά την εν πλω εμπειρία τους. Πειραματίζονται ατενίζοντας την ξηρά από τη θάλασσα, αντί για το αντίθετο, όπως συνήθως συμβαίνει. Πως μας βλέπει η θάλασσα; Η φωτογραφία σαν αυτοκριτική σε αναζήτηση του αντικατοπτρισμού μας στο περιβάλλον. Εμείς είμαστε η θάλασσα και η θάλασσα είμαστε εμείς. Ένα ταξίδι μέσα μας, πλέοντας παρέα με ρινοδέλφινα (delphinus rhinoceros) ανοιχτά της Λευκάδας, έξω από το Δέλτα του ποταμού Αχέρωντα, πέρα από τους Παξούς και τους Αντίπαξους, στο αρχιπέλαγος του Μεγανησίου, της Ατόκου και του Καλάμου, στους υδροβιότοπους στο Κιόνι της Ιθάκης, στις φωκότρυπες των monachus-monachus στον Καστό, ανάμεσα σε χελώνες caretta-caretta στην Ζάκυνθο, μέχρι τις αποικίες της posidonia oceanica στα ερημικά Στροφάδια. Συμμετέχουν οι φωτογράφοι: Σάντυ Βεργίτση, Νικόλας Ζαχαρόπουλος, Βαλέρια Καλτεζιώτη, Δανάη Σταύρου, Στέφανος Σταύρος, Γιάννης Τζώρτζης και Κατερίνα Χαρτερού. Επιμελητής της έκθεσης είναι ο Γιάννης Τζώρτζης, Μέλος της Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain. Η πρωτοβουλία “Green Photo Cruises” υλοποιήθηκε σε συνεργασία με το Εθνικό Θαλάσσιο Πάρκο της Ζακύνθου και την EYsailing, από το κατάστρωμα του ιστιοπλοϊκού Λητώ με κυβερνήτες τον Πάνο Κονιαβίτη και τον Ηλία Κάντζο, βασισμένη σε μία ιδέα της Χριστιάνας Καζάκου. Η ανωτέρω δράση της Green Project τελεί υπό την αιγίδα της Ελληνικής Εθνικής Επιτροπής για την UNESCO, του Μουσείου Γουλανδρή Φυσικής Ιστορίας και του Ιδρύματος Μιχάλης Κακογιάννης. Χορηγoί επικοινωνίας έχουν αναλάβει η εφημερίδα Ναυτεμπορική και η ιστοσελίδα www.naftemproriki.gr. Επόμενος προορισμός: "Green Project in Australia: Renewables, Biospheres and Aborigines", τον ερχόμενο Αύγουστο 2018. Ελάτε μαζί μας! https://www.photofestival.gr/portfolio/michael-cacoyannis-foundation-sailing-to-inner-habitats-gr ______________________________________________________________

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION -EUROGROUP latest

PRESS European Council      3/7/2018  Report by President Donald Tusk to the European Parliament on June European Council meetings The last European Council took place in a deteriorating geopolitical context. This is why I appealed to the leaders that the EU must get its act together. For me, this means increasing military cooperation, preparing for worst-case scenarios in terms of trade, and – above all – looking for unity in every aspect of European cooperation, including migration and Euro area reform. We managed to make progress on all these issues, but there is no hiding that the road ahead of us is still long and for sure not easy. We started with a discussion among the leaders and NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, with the aim of deepening the cooperation between the EU and NATO. The leaders agreed that the EU must take greater responsibility for its own security, first and foremost because it is in our own interest as Europeans. In order to bolster our common defence, the EU will enhance investment, capability development and operational readiness. Let me mention here the issue of foreign threats to our democracies. The European Council called on the High Representative and the Commission to present, by December, concrete proposals for a coordinated EU response to this challenge, specifically to Russia disinformation attempts, which is currently handled by a very small strategic communications team at the EEAS. This is particularly important in light of the signals about Russia's role in Brexit. As regards migration, I put forward the following three proposals: disembarkation platforms outside Europe, a dedicated budgetary tool in the next MFF to combat illegal migration, as well as boosting EU support for the Libyan Coast Guard. They were univocally supported by the leaders. We also agreed to support the Maltese authorities, by sending a message to all vessels, including those of NGOs, operating in the Mediterranean. The message is clear: respect the law and do not obstruct the operations of the Libyan Coast Guard. Additionally, the leaders accepted the Franco-Italian proposal of controlled centres on EU territory. It is up to the governments to decide whether they want to create such centres. However, any obligations related to the functioning of these centres, including relocation and resettlement, will be taken on a voluntary basis. Last but not least, we agreed to launch the next tranche of financing for Turkey, and to transfer 500 million euros of development money to the EU Trust Fund for Africa. The leaders confirmed their will to take our cooperation with Africa to a new level. This means not only increased public funding, but also a new framework enabling private investments to grow. It is the best proof of our intentions, despite unfounded claims that Europe wants to abandon Africa. It is impossible to stop the flow of illegal migrants without close cooperation with African countries. That is why we will use all possible tools, from defence and development to visa and other cooperation, to make it happen. Moving on to the Euro Summit. Last October, in this chamber, I said the following: 'I will do everything in my power to take the first very concrete steps, by June. If we don't reach agreement by June, I will say precisely why it wasn't possible, and who is responsible.' Today I can say that the leaders did indeed take the first decisions. This means agreement on further steps to complete the Banking Union and to strengthen the ESM. In particular, we agreed that the ESM will be providing the common backstop to the single resolution fund. As a consequence, our Banking Union will become much stronger. Some of you may say that this is too little, too late. And you would be right, in a sense. But the fact is that after some years of standstill, we are effectively re-launching the process of deepening of the EMU. To make sure that the progress continues, I will organise another Euro Summit in December. The leaders also adopted conclusions advancing EU cooperation on digital matters and innovation, as well as trade. In the context of growing trade tensions, the European Council underlined the importance of preserving and deepening the rules- based multilateral system. The Commission was invited to propose a comprehensive approach to improve, together with like-minded partners, the functioning of the WTO in crucial areas. The leaders also called for the adoption of the proposal on the screening of foreign direct investments, which is crucially important for the security of our economies, and citizens. It goes without saying that the Commission has the full support of the European Council when it comes to the trade dispute with the US. I am sure Jean-Claude will elaborate on that. A final point on Brexit. The 27 leaders shared one concern. Whilst progress was made in a number of areas, some key aspects still need to be agreed. Since there is much work ahead with less and less time, I was very honest in my assessment, including when I spoke to Prime Minister May last week. The sooner we get a precise UK proposal on the Irish border, the better the chance to finalise the Brexit negotiations this year. Put simply, we cannot make progress unless a solid backstop is presented by the UK and accepted by our Irish friends. We are now looking forward to the White Paper from the UK, and we very much hope that it will bring the necessary clarity, realism, and impetus to these negotiations. Thank you. Eurogroup      2/7/2018  Eurogroup statement on the updated draft budgetary plan of Germany for 2018 The Eurogroup welcomes Germany's submission of an updated Draft Budgetary Plan (DBP) for 2018, as requested in its statement of 4 December 2017, and the Commission Opinion issued on 27 June 2018.  We agree with the Commission Opinion that the draft budget of Germany is compliant with the requirements of the preventive arm of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP).  The Eurogroup notes that Member States having outperformed their medium term budgetary objectives could use their favourable budgetary situation to prioritise investments to boost potential growth while preserving the long-term sustainability of public finances.  We will continue to monitor euro area Member States' fiscal and economic policies, as well as the budgetary situation of the euro area as a whole.

EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL-Ezine No. 27 – July 2018

Ezine No. 27 – July 2018

 

In this issue

• Lisbon wins the 2020 European Green Capital Award!
• Cornellà de Llobregat and Horst aan de Maas are joint winners of the 2019 European Green Leaf Award!
• New awards' competition cycles open
• European Commission calls for experts to join the Expert Panel
• What’s happening in Nijmegen?
• What’s happening in Leuven and Växjö?
• Spotlight on previous winners: Ljubljana
• GDPR notice

 

 

 

Lisbon wins the 2020 European Green Capital Award - Parabéns!

Congratulations to the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, who will be the European Green Capital in 2020! Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, announced Lisbon as the winner at a spectacular and suspenseful awards ceremony in Nijmegen on 21 June. For the first time in the history of the awards, Lisbon received a financial incentive of €350,000 to help kick-start the European Green Capital environmental programme for their laureate year.

Lisbon mayor Fernando Medina and the city delegation receiving their award from Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Lisbon was shortlisted to the final stage of the competition along with Ghent (Belgium) and Lahti (Finland), from 13 cities across Europe. The finalists then presented their city to an international Jury in Nijmegen to show their overall commitment to sustainable urban development, their capacity to act as a role model to other cities, and their strategy for communicating and engaging with their citizens.

Lisbon, European Green Capital for 2020

Lisbon performed strongly across all the environmental indicators, particularly with regard to sustainable urban mobility (transport), green growth & eco innovation, climate change adaptation and waste. It was Lisbon’s commitment to sustainability despite the economic crisis that really impressed the Jury, clearly demonstrating that environmental sustainability and economic growth go hand in hand.  It was felt that the city of Lisbon will be a strong ambassador and role model, capable of inspiring other cities to start their own journey towards becoming more fit for life.  

 

Cornellà de Llobregat and Horst aan de Maas are joint winners of the 2019 European Green Leaf Award!

There were two winners of the European Green Leaf Award for 2019: Cornellà de Llobregat in Spain and Horst aan de Maas in the Netherlands. Both cities received €75,000 to support their environmental programmes for the year.

Cornellà de Llobregat and Horst aan de Maas receiving their award with Karmenu Vella

Cornellà de Llobregat and Horst aan de Maas presented in the final stage along with Gabrovo in Bulgaria and Mechelen in Belgium. The finalists were shortlisted from 15 cities across Europe.

Cornellà de Llobregat, with its commitment to transforming the city into a sustainable high-density metropolitan area, was recognised as a role model for other compact urban areas. The Jury was particularly impressed by the city’s traffic calming measures and promotion of sustainable transport modes, as well as its focus on water management.

Horst aan de Maas was commended for its enthusiasm and well-planned inclusive urban strategy. The Jury was particularly impressed by the high level of citizen engagement in a range of environmental activities and programmes related to climate change, sustainable urban mobility, water, and air quality.

 

Competition for 2021 European Green Capital & 2020 European Green Leaf Awards now open!

Does your city have what it takes to be the next European Green Capital or European Green Leaf Award winner? The European Commission has launched the competition for the prestigious title of 2021 European Green Capital and 2020 European Green Leaf.

Being a European Green Capital or a European Green Leaf brings many benefits including a greater focus on environmental projects, international media coverage, increased tourism and foreign investment, boosting the local economy and helping to create employment. EGCA and EGLA winners and shortlisted cities also gain access to the exclusive European Green Capital Network and European Green Leaf Network, respectively, providing them with support and a platform for sharing knowledge and best practice. In addition, previous applicants have said that the application process in itself proved beneficial in evaluating their progress and plans and benchmarking themselves against their peers.

Applying for the Awards

Register via the portal to check if your city is eligible for the EGCA 2021 or EGLA 2020. Applications must be submitted by 18 October 2018 at 16.00 (CEST / GMT +2). ​

 

 

Call for Experts

Would you like to be part of the evaluation process for the European Green Capital and European Green Leaf Awards? The European Commission is seeking three new experts to join the Expert Panel. Experts are required for the following three environmental indicators:

• Energy Performance
• Noise
• Sustainable Land Use

The primary role of the expert is to assess applicant cities on their performance in an environmental indicator area. This usually takes place from November to March. As part of the evaluation, experts prepare technical comments to go into the Technical Assessment Reports. Feedback from the experts is not only pivotal part of the competition process; it also provides cities with valuable advice and guidance on how they can improve their approach in each environmental indicator and topic area.

For more details about the role or how to apply, visit the Expert Panel page. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 31 July 2018.

 

What’s happening in Nijmegen, European Green Capital 2018?

European Green Capital Week

June was a busy month for Nijmegen, who hosted their European Green Capital Week. As part of the celebration, Nijmegen organised a range of events and activities around the city, including an open air concert, excursions to see examples of urban sustainability in practice, and of course, the eagerly anticipated 2020 European Green Capital and 2019 European Green Leaf Awards Ceremony.

Excursion to Nijmegen’s De Stadswaard (Riverpark)

Click on the image below to watch the video of the European Green Capital Week in Nijmegen.

Four Day Marches

Another exciting event is taking place in Nijmegen this month; from 17 – 20 July 2018 the city will host the 102nd annual Four Day Marches (De Vierdaagse). As the name suggests, event participants must walk for 30-55km per day (depending on age) for four days to promote good health, sports and exercise. The first ever march took place in 1909 and had just over 300 participants. It has now become an international event, this year expected to attract around 50,000 participants from all over the world. Click on the link below for the official De Vierdaagse video.  

Nijmegen Green Challenges

During its year as the European Green Capital, Nijmegen is setting monthly environment challenges for its residents, businesses and institutions, with each challenge focusing on a different environmental topic. June was all about green energy, encouraging businesses to switch to renewable energy providers and residents to participate in community solar energy projects. For July, the focus is on care and exercise. Nijmegen will be challenging its citizens to ditch the car and cycle to work at least two days a week. Challenge yourself: check out the website for all past and upcoming challenges!

Read more about Nijmegen in the European Green Capital 2018 brochure in Englishand Dutch.

 

 

 

What’s happening in Leuven and Växjö, European Green Leaf winners for 2018?

 

Leuven Food Strategy

Leuven 2030 – a network of citizens, businesses, schools, and public authorities - has developed a strategy to make the food and agricultural system in Leuven more sustainable. The food strategy was a collaborative effort between a wide range of stakeholders including food producers, traders, caterers and residents, and focuses on all aspects of the food chain, from production and processing to distribution and consumption.

 

Leuven's food strategy will bring food producers and consumers closer together. Photos by Tim Buelens.

The strategy aims to bring food producers and consumers closer together, for instance, through using local and seasonal catering in schools, universities and businesses. Leuven also aims to promote urban farming and encourage citizens to grow their own food. Leuven is focusing on food as it is a vital part of life, and how we manage our food production and consumption has a profound impact on our environment as well as our health, cultural heritage and local economy. Promoting a local and sustainable food system ensures that we can meet the needs of our citizens while having minimal impacts on our environment.

Car-free Sunday in Leuven

On Sunday 26 August Leuven centre will be car free! Instead of being filled with cars, the city’s squares and streets will be transformed into sports fields, markets, music venues, dancefloors and much more! Leuven introduced an ambitious circulation plan in 2016 to restrict car use in the centre and promote cycling as means of transport. Thanks to the plan, cycling has increased by 30%, motorised traffic decreased by 10%, and citizens can now enjoy 30ha of pedestrianised zones around the city.  

Read more about Leuven in the European Green Leaf 2018 brochure in English and Dutch.

Cycling through nature in Växjö!

To mark this year’s World Biodiversity Day in May, Växjö held a 24-hour bike ride to explore the city’s wildlife. Cyclists stopped at locations such as the Kronoberg Castle ruin, the Kronoberg Nature Reserve, and Linnaeus Park, to see what different animal and plant species could be spotted. Växjö is home to 27 Natura 2000 sites, with many of its protected areas located less than 5km from the city centre. With so much wildlife surrounding the city, what better place to go for a biodiversity bike ride! For news and upcoming events in Växjö, visit the Environment and Sustainability Facebook page.

Carbon reductions in Växjö! 

The municipality of Växjö reduced its carbon emissions by 790 tonnes between 2016 and 2017, a 17% decrease in just one year! This puts Växjö on the right path towards its goal of being fossil fuel free by 2030.

One of the biggest contributors to the carbon reduction was by switching to biodiesel for the municipality’s vehicles and construction work. Växjö is now looking at its district heating system to see where further emissions reductions can be achieved. Växjö made the commitment to become a fossil fuel free city as far back as 1996 and was one of the first municipalities in Europe to sign the Covenant of Mayors, one of the largest climate change and energy initiatives in the world.  View the full news story on the Växjö Kommun website. 

Read more about Växjö in the European Green Leaf 2018 brochure in English and Swedish.

 

Spotlight on Previous Winners

Ljubljana: fighting plastic waste

Ljubljana, winner of the European Green Capital Award for 2016, has taken an innovative step towards transitioning to a circular economy! Meet BERT, a vending machine that dispenses daily essentials such as shampoo, oil, vinegar and bio detergents.

 

What makes BERT stand out from other vending machines is that it does not use packaging. Rather, customers can use their own containers to collect the products, greatly reducing the amount of plastic accumulated from a shopping trip!  

The scourge of plastic waste has gained a lot of attention recently, and rightly so; every year Europeans generate an astounding 25 million tonnes of plastic waste, with only 30% getting recycled. Packaging, such as water bottles and food containers, are the biggest single source of this waste. In 2018, the European Commission launched its Plastics Strategy to tackle the growing problem of plastic waste. The Strategy aims to make all plastic packaging in the EU recyclable by 2030, to reduce single-use plastics and also restrict the use of microplastics (the tiny fragments that come from broken down plastic). With European Green Capitals such as Ljubljana introducing innovative solutions such as BERT, we are one step closer to tackling plastic waste and moving towards a truly circular economy.