News
What 43 European cities are deciding and building, and the EU news that matters to them. Every article is built from official sources, each claim matched automatically against the source text before publication; items an editor has read name them.
RSS feed- Helsinki Helsinki's new building regulations cap plot coverage and require bird-safe construction Helsinki's new building regulations took effect on 5 November 2026, capping built coverage on detached and semi-detached house plots at 35% unless the local plan says otherwise and making bird-safe construction a requirement.
- Madrid Madrid approves 1.755 million euros in grants for theatres and cinemas Madrid's Governing Board has authorised 1,755,000 euros in competitive grants for theatres and cinemas, with 1,210,950 euros for performing arts venues and 544,050 euros for cinemas, covering activities carried out between 1 January and 31 December 2027.
- Madrid Madrid proposes a 6,901 million euro budget for 2027, with housing up 10% Madrid's governing board has initially approved a 2027 budget of 6,901 million euros, 4.9% more than in 2026, with the Housing Policy department up 10% to 248 million euros and EMVS Madrid handling close to 9,000 homes.
- Rennes Rennes triples La Janais industrial zone to 160 hectares for new firms Rennes Métropole has decided to extend the La Janais development zone from 53 to 160 hectares, with 450,000 m² of floor space from 2030-2031, mostly for industry, and has let the Excelcar platform sublet space in Building 78.
- Vienna Vienna starts second construction phase of council housing at Wienerfeld West Vienna has begun the second construction phase of the Wienerfeld West council estate in Favoriten, adding 40 timber-built council flats, a commercial unit and an underground car park by 2028, on the way to around 300 new flats.
- Vienna Vienna's first year of freedom of information cost around 2.2 million euros Vienna has published its review of the first year under the freedom of information act, reporting 30,279 working hours and about 2.2 million euros in costs, with around 250 officers in city departments handling requests.
- Bonn Bonn now accepts building permit applications only in digital form Bonn's building regulation office now accepts building applications only in digital form, with each case handled in a virtual project room on the ITeBau platform, where all documents must be uploaded within three weeks of the invitation.
- Helsinki Helsinki approves 2026–2029 action plan to prevent substance use and gambling harms Helsinki's Culture and Leisure Committee approved a 2026–2029 Action Plan for Substance Use Prevention on 3 November 2026, covering alcohol, drugs, tobacco, nicotine, gambling and online gaming, with seven focus areas and training for sports clubs and coaches.
- Vienna Vienna launches free online calculator to check legality of rent increases Vienna's MieterHilfe has launched a free, anonymous online calculator that lets tenants check whether rent increases are lawful under the federal rent brake, which caps regulated-sector rises at one per cent in 2026 and two per cent in 2027.
- Barcelona Barcelona to pilot AI traffic light management at city intersections in 2027 Barcelona has selected Kapsch and Acisa to pilot AI-based traffic light management at city intersections, each receiving 100,000 euros for a pilot of at least four months that the city treats as phase 0 of wider AI deployment.
- Helsinki Helsinki's Arabia circular economy hub ends after building network of over 100 operators Helsinki has ended its two-year Arabia Circular Hub Helsinki project, which ran the ARKI 135 hub, held 30 public events and two business programmes, and built a network of more than 100 operators that now feeds the city's circular construction cluster.
- Madrid Madrid starts earlier winter shelter campaign with 472 nightly places for homeless people Madrid has opened its 2026-2027 Cold Campaign for homeless people with 472 stable places a day, running for 165 nights from 2 November to 15 April under a new contract worth 3 million euros a year.
- Stockholm Stockholm makes Kista a research testbed for transforming office districts Stockholm and ArkDes, part of Moderna Museet, are starting a practice-based research project that uses Kista as a testbed, with teams chosen through an open call studying how office buildings and underused sites can be reused.
- Turin Turin approves €700,000 plan to digitise electricity at Piazza Benefica market Turin's city government has approved a €700 thousand executive project for market maintenance focused on Piazza Benefica, preparing electrical panels and cabling for QR-code-based, per-stall metering of electricity, with works due from March to September 2027.
- Zurich Zurich to redesign Enge harbour promenade as green lakeside public space Zurich will start redesigning the Enge harbour promenade in January 2027, moving 127 parking spaces to a car park opposite and raising the number of trees to 140, with works due to finish in stages by spring 2030.
- Barcelona Barcelona puts second phase of Diagonal tram connection works out to tender Barcelona and the Metropolitan Transport Authority have put the second phase of the Diagonal tram link, between Verdaguer and Francesc Macià, out to tender in five lots, with 120 million euros of City Council investment and service expected in 2031.
- Barcelona Barcelona reorganises interurban bus stops on Meridiana with two new interchanges A new layout of interurban bus stops around Avinguda Meridiana in Barcelona started on 2 November, with two interchange areas at Sagrera-Meridiana and Clot linking buses to metro and Rodalies; around 650 outbound departures pass Sagrera on weekdays.
- Barcelona Barcelona's Ciutat Vella launches nine mobile recycling points in two neighbourhoods Barcelona's Ciutat Vella district started nine mobile recycling points on 2 November in the Gòtic and in Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera, part of a cleaning plan whose pilot cut abandoned rubbish bags by 30% to 42%.
- Rotterdam Rotterdam lets fast cyclists use the road on Middellandstraat until March 2027 Rotterdam has started a trial on the 1st and 2nd Middellandstraat in Delfshaven that lets cycle path users riding faster than 20 km/h choose the carriageway instead, running until the end of March 2027 on a street already limited to 30 km/h.
- Stockholm Stockholm opens first parts of Årstafältet park after years of construction Stockholm is opening the first parts of the Årstafältet park in early November, including three large stormwater ponds, bridges, jetties and a bird tower, with an opening event at the ponds on 6 November from 15.00 to 18.00.
- Tampere Tampere adopts first digital vision for education from nursery to upper secondary Tampere has adopted its first Digital vision for Education and Upbringing, which sets the direction for digital development until 2035 and will define the digital skills taught at each stage from early childhood education to upper secondary or vocational education.
- Tampere Tampere's renovated Puutarhakatu gains wider two-way cycle path and renewed underground networks Tampere is completing the renovation of Puutarhakatu, begun in March 2025, which replaced ageing water and sewerage pipes and added a wider two-way cycle path on the northern side, while piloting a roadworks committee of residents, entrepreneurs and street users.
- Turin Turin's new master plan wins unanimous backing from regional co-planning conference Turin's new General Regulatory Plan won a unanimous favourable vote from the co-planning conference with the Piedmont Region, the Metropolitan City and the heritage superintendency, the first plan revision under regional law 5/2026, which halved the conference to sixty days.
- Vienna Vienna chronic pain therapy centre treats around 800 new patients in first year Vienna's chronic pain therapy centre (TCS) in the Rabenhof, run by the Herz-Jesu Krankenhaus, took on around 800 new patients and carried out around 8,000 treatments in its first year, with funding agreed until autumn 2027.
- Rome Rome opens first smog-absorbing school street in Municipio XI Rome has opened the first school street in Municipio XI, closing via Gaetano Astolfi outside the Vaccari primary school and repaving it with photocatalytic materials across about 2,800 square metres, estimated to remove nitrogen oxides like 200-250 urban trees.
- Madrid Madrid's EMT board approves draft 2027 budget including 65 electric buses EMT Madrid's board approved a draft 2027 budget of 937.86 million euros plus 167.2 million euros of investment, led by 65 electric buses for 34.3 million euros that will bring the zero-emission fleet to almost 600 vehicles.
- Nantes Nantes builds six solar canopies over the Beaujoire stadium car park Six solar canopies are rising on the Beaujoire stadium's S3 car park in Nantes, three by the SAS Nantes Métropole Énergies and three by citizen-backed CoWatt, to produce 1.1 GWh a year after grid connection in January.
- Rome Rome approves €2.2 million renovation of Ostia's Casa della Cultura Rome has approved a €2.2 million feasibility project to renovate the Casa della Cultura in Ostia, in the former San Fiorenzo market, with outdoor works starting in the first quarter of 2027 and the site merged with Parco Gianni Rodari.
- Rotterdam Rotterdam opens charging hub for 24 electric refuse lorries at once Rotterdam opened a charging square at Kleinpolderplein on 30 October where 24 electric refuse lorries can charge at once. The project went ahead because the city had requested a heavier grid connection years earlier, before grid congestion created waiting lists.
- Tampere Tampere approves Tampere For All programme for community spaces and equality Tampere's City Board approved the Tampere For All development programme on 30 March 2026, with 1.9 million euros for 2026 and work running until the end of 2029, to build a citywide network of low-threshold community spaces.
- Vienna Vienna opens around 1,000 extra winter places for homeless people until April 2027 Vienna's Fonds Soziales Wien started its 2026/27 winter package on 28 October, adding around 1,000 places for homeless single people and couples, places for 38 families and 255 warming-room places until 28 April 2027.
- Vienna Vienna starts works on its first low-traffic neighbourhood in Meidling Vienna has started works on its first Low Traffic Grätzl around Wolfganggasse in Meidling, turning part of the street into a pedestrian zone and blocking through traffic with diagonal filters, while offering each district 50,000 euros for one such area by 2030.
- Helsinki Helsinki puts around 3,000 immigrants through year-long integration training annually Helsinki Employment Services puts around 3,000 jobseekers a year through roughly year-long integration training in Finnish or Swedish, and nearly nine in ten participants with a higher education degree reach at least language level B1.1.
- Reykjavík Reykjavík rebuilds Naustin as a shared street opening in December Reykjavík will reopen Naustin, between Hafnarstræti and Tryggvagata, as a shared street in December 2026 after a joint rebuild with Veitur that renewed pipes, added dual drainage and snow melting, and laid a knitting-pattern surface.
- Tampere Tampere introduces a recruitment subsidy for hiring long-term unemployed residents from 2027 Tampere will introduce a recruitment subsidy of up to 6,000 euros per hire from 2027 for companies employing long-term unemployed residents for at least 12 months, with up to one million euros set aside to help 200 job seekers into work.
- Eindhoven ASML to give Rijksmuseum Eindhoven 5 million euros a year for 20 years Eindhoven and ASML have signed a Letter of Intent under which the company intends to give the planned Rijksmuseum Eindhoven 5 million euros a year for 20 years from its opening, expected between 2032 and 2034.
- Valongo Valongo reopens enlarged Sobrado family health unit with four new clinical rooms Valongo inaugurated the renovated USF São João de Sobrado family health unit on 28 October 2026, after works costing 470 thousand euros fully financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan that added a wing with four clinical rooms.
- Zurich Zurich lends 10.5 million francs to cut rents for young trainees Zurich's city council has granted the youth housing foundation JUWO interest-free loans of 10.5 million francs, cutting rents by about 11 per cent for 163 places for people in training under 30 at two estates.
- Antwerp Antwerp launches gender equality action plan with free support for youth workers Antwerp has launched a gender equality action plan offering youth workers free webinars, training, workshops and coaching with partners such as Sensoa and Pimento; youth associations can apply until 9 November, and a free exhibition runs until 16 November.
- Berlin Berlin reports 69,000 solar installations as its solar obligation law is evaluated Berlin's Senate approved its annual report on the solar obligation law on 27 October 2026, showing about 69,000 photovoltaic systems with roughly 583 MWp as of 6 October, while the law is evaluated three years after taking effect.
- Cities European Commission presents Climate Resilience Framework and proposed Climate Resilience Law The European Commission has presented an EU Framework for Climate Resilience and a proposed Climate Resilience Law, with support for local authorities, a single national strategic plan per Member State and new online tools for assessing climate risks.
- Helsinki Helsinki moves 2026–2029 migration and integration programme into implementation Helsinki has moved its 2026–2029 Development Programme for Migration and Integration into implementation, aiming to attract, settle and retain international talent as its roughly 150,000 residents of foreign origin are forecast to grow by almost 100,000 by 2045.
- Nantes Nantes Métropole opens a metropolitan second-hand resource centre in Rezé Nantes Métropole opened a metropolitan second-hand resource centre at 7 rue Suzanne-Noël in Rezé on 26 September 2026, run by Envie 44, with a 1,000 m² shop and a target of 600 tonnes of objects collected a year.
- Utrecht Utrecht started building a record 4,195 homes in 2025, mostly affordable Utrecht started construction on 4,195 homes in 2025, more than in previous years and about 70 per cent of them affordable, which the city credits to a project-by-project approach that an independent evaluation judged effective and relatively efficient.
- Cluj-Napoca Cluj-Napoca gives 15 schools 25,000 lei each for pupil-chosen projects Cluj-Napoca has extended its Com'ON School participatory budgeting programme to 15 schools, where more than 2,700 pupils will propose projects and vote online on 26 November, with each school receiving 25,000 lei, or 375,000 lei in total.
- Malmö Malmö opens its first LSS residence designed for older people with disabilities Malmö's disability support administration opens its first LSS residence aimed specifically at older people with disabilities at Tycho Brahegatan 52 in Limhamn on 30 October, with a full-time nurse on site and new working methods to be tested.
- Tampere Tampere signs five-year technology and innovation agreement with Austin, Texas Tampere and Austin, Texas, have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding covering semiconductors, startups, defence and dual-use technologies, advanced manufacturing and physical AI, with annual objectives and progress monitoring meant to help Tampere companies enter the US market.
- Barcelona Barcelona initially approves rules for 400-euro electric bicycle purchase subsidies Barcelona's Government Commission has initially approved rules for grants of 400 euros for pedal-assisted electric bicycles and 800 euros for cargo bikes, capped at 40% of the price, with the rules expected to take effect on 1 December 2026.
- Helsinki Helsinki turns paved Karamzininranta into park square, diverting cyclists to Mannerheimintie Helsinki has moved cyclists around Töölönlahti to the one-way cycle tracks on Mannerheimintie from 21 October while it turns paved Karamzininranta, beside Finlandia Hall, into a park-like square with five planting beds, due for completion in July 2027.
- Leeuwarden Leeuwarden opens Energiehuis in Bilgaard for home energy and insulation advice Leeuwarden opened the Energiehuis Leeuwarden on 20 October at Bilgaardpassage 56A, where residents can get advice on saving energy, insulation, home sustainability and subsidies, Wednesday to Friday from 10.00 to 16.00.
- Barcelona Barcelona hands over 11 affordable rental flats for young people in Eixample Barcelona has handed over keys to 11 affordable rental flats for people under 35 at Carrer de la Diputació, 354, in a building bought in 2024 through pre-emption rights, with monthly rents between 350.39 and 459 euros.
- Cluj-Napoca Cluj-Napoca signs Transport Programme funding contract to continue its first metro line Cluj-Napoca has signed contract no. 166/2026 to continue Metro Line I under the Transport Programme 2021-2027, with up to 1,819,644,861.13 lei in non-reimbursable funding and 8.8 km of line due by the end of 2029.
- Madrid Madrid and regional government commit €51.2 million to primary social care for 2027-2030 Madrid City Council and the Community of Madrid will sign a 2027-2030 primary social care agreement worth €51.2 million, with €12.8 million a year for the 40 social services centres, child protection, family support, a Roma plan and mental health.
- Madrid Madrid approves ONCE complex replotting in Chamartín, gaining green space and housing plot Madrid's Governing Board approved the replotting of a 9,943 m² part of the ONCE complex in Chamartín, giving the city 2,959 m² for public use, including 2,010 m² of green space, plus a 721 m² residential plot.
- Madrid Madrid extends regulated parking to Opañel and San Isidro in Carabanchel Madrid will extend regulated parking to Carabanchel's Opañel and San Isidro neighbourhoods from 3 November, adding 3,161 spaces, 94% of them for residents, and bringing the city total to more than 183,000 regulated spaces in thirteen districts.
- Rome Rome updates its heritage map, adding 677 historic villas and 72 modern works Rome's city assembly has approved the second phase of the Carta per la qualità revision, adding 677 historic villas, 13 urban fabrics and 72 modern works to the heritage map, while removing 466 special-type buildings and 30 industrial archaeology elements.
- Bonn Bonn installs city-wide network of 65 sensors to measure heat Bonn is installing a network of 65 climate sensors that record air temperature and humidity in real time; 36 are already running, and 55 are being placed at cool public places such as green spaces.
- Bordeaux Bordeaux gets two districts into national housing acceleration programme, with 3,500 homes planned The French government has selected Bordeaux's La Jallère and Euratlantique districts for its Territoires engagés pour le logement programme, which plans at least 3,500 new homes there, including at least 1,700 social homes, on a 2027 horizon.
- Budapest Budapest starts building a protected two-way cycle path on Szent Gellért rakpart Budapest started building a barrier-protected two-way cycle path on Szent Gellért rakpart on 19 October, moving cyclists from a shared pavement onto a little-used parking lane along about 260 metres opposite the Rudas Baths, with completion expected in mid-November.
- Madrid Madrid to tender over 700 rent-to-buy affordable homes in Los Berrocales Madrid City Council will tender eight municipal plots in Los Berrocales, Vicálvaro, for more than 700 affordable rental homes that tenants can buy after seven years, with a typical three-bedroom flat renting for around 949.5 euros a month.
- Malmö Malmö pilot helps ten families grow more of their own vegetables Malmö's Hemodlarna pilot, run by Botildenborg for the city in 2026, helped ten households grow more vegetables at home; all ten became self-sufficient in at least one vegetable, and more than 150 families had applied.
- Nacka Nacka commissions its first battery storage for emergency power at Sigfridsborg school Nacka commissioned its first battery storage in September at Sigfridsborg school and sports hall, an emergency support point; the solar-charged 700 kWh system can power the site for 4 to 48 hours in an outage and earns revenue otherwise.
- Reykjavík Reykjavík starts Borgarlína works at Hlemmtorg, leaving square to public transport only Reykjavík is starting a construction phase at Hlemmtorg that builds a CityLine (Borgarlína) route and stop and leaves public transport as the only motorized traffic through the square, with completion expected by the end of 2027.
- Barcelona Barcelona opens €10.5 million in grants for home renovation and building accessibility Barcelona has opened two grant calls worth €10.5 million: €6 million for energy-efficiency and adaptation works inside homes, with up to €6,000 per applicant, and €4.5 million for lifts and barrier removal in residential buildings.
- Copenhagen Copenhagen starts collecting nappy waste for recycling Copenhagen began collecting used nappies for recycling on 19 October 2026, starting with apartment buildings with at least six young children and municipal day-care centres, and expects to collect 5,000 tonnes once the scheme is fully implemented in 2029.
- Cities EU LIFE programme awards over €390 million to 135 climate and environment projects The Commission has granted more than €390 million to 135 LIFE projects, including heating plans for Bucharest and Budapest, Romanian nature projects in the Carpathians, and a City Facility whose next call for municipalities opens on 26 October.
- AI policy European Commission publishes first harmonised standard supporting the AI Act in Official Journal EN 18286:2026 gives providers of high-risk AI a presumption of conformity with the Act’s quality management rules; high-risk rules for areas such as education, employment and public services now apply from 2 December 2027.
- Helsinki Helsinki proposes renting street parking spaces to operators for 275 new charging points Helsinki has proposed renting street parking spaces to charging operators under a 'Helsinki Model', with a first phase of 61 stations and 275 charging points, adding to 441 existing street points, and applications opening in December.
- Rome Rome council backs bid to buy the 14-hectare Tre Fontane site Rome's Capitoline Assembly has declared the 14-hectare Tre Fontane estate of public and strategic interest, allowing the city to bid for land provisionally sold at auction for 2.48 million euros, with improved offers due by 26 October 2026.
- Turin Turin approves €861,000 of energy upgrades on three municipal buildings Turin's city executive has approved €861 thousand of energy upgrades on three municipal buildings, expected to avoid 129 tonnes of CO2 a year, as part of the EfficienTO plan funded with €110 million from Iren Smart Solutions.
- Turin Turin approves phased plan for Ponte Mosca urban campus in the Aurora district Turin's city executive approved an amended planning agreement for the Ponte Mosca area in Aurora, letting TSH Turin Propco build a 23,535-square-metre urban campus in three phases and pay €528,539 for public works with no deduction from planning fees.
- Turin Turin reopens historic Boncompagni school after €9.5 million renovation Turin has completed the €9.5 million PNRR-funded renovation of Boncompagni primary school at via Vidua 1, a building first constructed in 1880-1882, with works split into three lots covering structure, facades, windows, doors and floors for its 175 pupils.
- Valongo Valongo hosts FLY! 2026, a European forum on youth participation Valongo hosted FLY! 2026, a European forum on youth participation promoted by ALDA and co-organised with the municipality, on 15 and 16 October, with debates on the revision of the EU Youth Strategy and the future of Erasmus+.
- Vienna Vienna tightens short-term rental rules with a mandatory register and higher fines Vienna's housing committee has backed stricter short-term rental rules, including a mandatory provider register from 1 January 2027, fines of up to 50,000 euros per violation and a requirement that converted buildings keep at least 80% of floor space as housing.
- Zurich Zurich pays half the cost of e-cargo bikes for businesses Zurich has launched «CarGoVelo für Züri», a programme that pays half the purchase cost of an electric cargo bike for companies and organisations, with a total budget of 390,000 francs available for a maximum of three years.
- Amsterdam Amsterdam wins EU LIFE support to turn green waste into biochar The European Commission listed the city's LIFE NATURECDR project among its new LIFE awards, with carbon credits tested as a funding source for urban greening.
- Bonn Bonn receives around €980,000 in federal funding to renovate Endenicher Park Bonn has received around €980,000 from the federal government to renovate the sports areas of Endenicher Park, a €2.2 million project that adds a basketball and 3x3 streetball court and a calisthenics area, with works planned to start in 2027.
- Vienna Vienna commissions Europe's most powerful rainwater pump of its type on the Donauinsel Vienna's sewer utility Wien Kanal has commissioned a 15,000-litre-per-second rainwater pump at the Donauinsel pumping station, an €18 million project that raised peak capacity from 45,000 to 60,000 litres per second for Floridsdorf and Donaustadt.
- Zurich Zurich expands mobile recycling centre to 33 sites and retires disposal tram Zurich is retiring its disposal tram after more than 85 years, with a last stop in Hirzenbach on 20 October 2026, as its mobile recycling centre expands to 33 locations by early 2027, adding 22 sites the tram never reached.
- Vienna Vienna adopts plan for green spaces and a roof park at Erdberg under the Tangente Vienna's urban development commission adopted a guiding plan on 13 October for the Erdberg office area at the Tangente, including an ARWAG high-rise with a publicly accessible 5,000-square-metre roof park, whose design will come from a 2027 architectural competition.
- Barcelona Barcelona awards design contract for the Felip II market renovation in Sant Andreu Barcelona's Municipal Markets Institute awarded Taller Sau SLP a contract worth more than 159,000 euros to design and supervise the renovation of the Felip II market in Sant Andreu, with works due to start at the end of 2027.
- Vienna EU-funded LIFE VienNATURA restores a 90-hectare former railway yard in Vienna Vienna has begun renaturing the former Breitenlee railway yard, an area of about 90 hectares under Natura 2000 protection, through the EU-funded LIFE VienNATURA project, replacing invasive species such as goldenrod and tree of heaven with oaks.
- Amsterdam Amsterdam home-rental overnight stays in 2025 were 59% below 2019 Amsterdam's statistics office reports that overnight stays in private homes and rooms booked via online platforms fell 4% in 2025 to just over one million, 59% below 2019, while hotels and hostels recorded 22.2 million nights.
- Barcelona Barcelona buys an eight-home building on Carrer d’Espalter in the Raval using pre-emption Barcelona has approved buying the eight-home building at Carrer d’Espalter 6 in the Raval through its right of pre-emption, paying 1.3 million euros, or 2 million euros including planned refurbishment, at 3,408.80 euros per square metre.
- Bonn Bonn agreement with the federal government due to be signed on 17 December 2026 The supplementary agreement to the Berlin/Bonn Act, negotiated by Bonn, three districts and two states with the federal government, is due to be signed on 17 December 2026 and includes a Foreign Office-led strategy to expand Bonn as a UN location.
- Bonn Bonn becomes home to European office of forestry research centre CIFOR The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), active in over 60 countries, has opened its European Secretariat in Bonn, which will link German and European science, policy and development cooperation with CIFOR networks in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
- Cluj-Napoca Cluj-Napoca hosts URBACT URBAN ECHO partners to plan the regeneration of Iris Cluj-Napoca hosted the third transnational meeting of the URBACT IV network URBAN ECHO from 13 to 15 October 2026, with six cities taking part, as it works to adapt Ghent's neighbourhood regeneration approach to the Iris neighbourhood.
- Eindhoven Eindhoven opens 19 temporary studios for formerly homeless residents in De Zuidwester Eindhoven opened the converted Zuidwester building on Cyclamenstraat on 14 October, offering 19 studios as a temporary home for formerly homeless residents, who usually stay one to two years with support from Springplank040, plus a resident-run neighbourhood room.
- Marseille Euroméditerranée appoints UAPS as urban adviser for its next six years in Marseille EPA Euroméditerranée has given the UAPS group and its partners a six-year urban adviser mission, under a 2025-2040 framework protocol that targets 10,000 additional homes and 250,000 m² of offices by 2040.
- Reykjavík Reykjavík utility Veitur begins drilling for hot water near Laugardalur Utility Veitur began drilling for hot water at the junction of Kringlumýrarbraut and Suðurlandsbraut in Reykjavík on 16 October 2026, aiming to secure supply for a growing community in an area where nine boreholes already operate.
- Rome Rome reopens the eighteenth-century Teatro Valle after sixteen years and full restoration Rome reopened the eighteenth-century Teatro Valle on 16 October after a restoration begun in March 2023 that cost more than 11 million euros, handing it to the Fondazione Teatro di Roma as a centre for contemporary playwriting.
- Rotterdam Rotterdam limits free public transport to low-income pensioners from 2027 Rotterdam will end free public transport for all state pension recipients on 1 January 2027 and replace it, possibly from 1 March 2027, with free travel for about 20,000 pensioners earning up to 110% of the social minimum.
- Yerevan Yerevan reopens kindergarten No. 156 after energy-efficiency renovation Kindergarten No. 156 in Yerevan's Kanaker-Zeytun district has reopened after renovation under the first phase of the city's energy-efficiency programme, which has rebuilt or renovated 15 kindergartens.
- Bucharest Bucharest opens its draft cultural strategy to feedback from cultural organisations Bucharest has launched strategiaculturala.pmb.ro, where cultural organisations can comment on the city's 2027–2036 cultural strategy while it is drafted by AEUB and Insula 42; a first version is due by the end of November and the final document next year.
- Helsinki Helsinki completes Kaisaniemi Park renovation more than a year ahead of schedule Helsinki will complete the renovation of Kaisaniemi Park on Monday, 19 October, more than a year ahead of schedule, adding a new central playground and a dog park, while water basin repairs continue until summer 2027.
- Helsinki Helsinki expands AI documentation assistant pilot to more health and social services Helsinki is extending its pilot of an AI-based documentation assistant from physiotherapy and occupational therapy to units in student health services, dental care and social services in October, with client consent required and no client data stored or used for training.
- Paris Paris opens a Campus de la Résilience to prepare residents for crises Paris has opened a Campus de la Résilience of more than 400 m² in the 15th arrondissement, created with the fire brigade and Protection Civile, to prepare residents, schools and officials for climate, health, domestic and technological risks.
- Rotterdam Rotterdam awards Boijmans Van Beuningen renovation contract, reopening expected late 2030 Rotterdam has awarded the renovation of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen to Dura Vermeer, J.P. van Eesteren and Koninklijke Kuijpers after three months of talks on higher costs; work starts at the end of October and reopening is expected at the end of 2030.
- Tampere Tampere's Nysse public transport begins switching to account-based travel cards Tampere's Nysse public transport has started moving to account-based travel cards that store ticket data in a back-end system. New cards are already account-based, existing cards will be converted automatically, and Nella.fi purchases now reach cards immediately instead of after two hours.
- Paris Paris announces €200 million cycling plan for 2027-2032 Paris has set out a €200 million cycling plan for 2027-2032 that adds 140 km of cycle tracks and 220 km of contraflow lanes and makes 420 more junctions safer, 56 of them in the first year.
- Rome Rome opens first four rest points for delivery riders at public libraries Rome has opened the first four of ten planned SOS Rider rest points for delivery workers at public libraries in Municipalities IX, VIII, IV and II, with the remaining six due to be installed by December 2026.
- Berlin Berlin Senate approves implementation plan for Blankenburger Süden district of 8,600 homes Berlin's Senate on 13 October 2026 approved the implementation concept for the Blankenburger Süden quarter in Pankow, planned for around 8,600 homes and 35 hectares of commercial space, with an M2 tram extension as a precondition.
- Rennes Rennes opens new Baud-Chardonnet bus depot with rooftop solar and district heating Rennes Métropole has inaugurated its new Baud-Chardonnet bus depot, relocated at a cost of over 40 million euros including tax, where 1,366 m² of rooftop solar panels produce 300 MWh a year, 80% of it used on site.
- Lille Lille metropolis adopts three strategic orientations to guide its 2026-2032 mandate The Métropole européenne de Lille adopted a framework deliberation setting three strategic orientations for its 2026-2032 mandate, covering productive jobs, quality of life and environmental transitions, and will create a strategic coordination committee for planning policies.
- Lille Lille metropolis backs first nine woodland projects under one million trees plan The Métropole Européenne de Lille has selected nine communes for the first projects of its one million trees scheme, adding 1.5 hectares of woodland, about 250 trees and 3,500 shrubs, with €44,529 of metropolitan support.
- Lille Lille metropolis wins nearly €64 million EU grant to renew metro and buses The European Metropolis of Lille has been awarded nearly €64 million by the European Commission for its Rolling E-Mob programme, which, with a €425 million European Investment Bank loan, forms a €489 million package to renew metro trains and buses.
- Rennes Rennes completes underground storm basin to cut sewage discharges into the Vilaine Rennes Métropole is completing a 5.3-million-euro underground buffer basin in Saint-Hélier that stores 1,750 cubic metres of storm water and is expected to cut discharges into the Vilaine by more than 90%.
- Almere Almere 2027 budget adds money for safety and culture, sets up €36m reserve Almere's executive has presented its 2027 programme budget, adding a recurring €1.8 million for safety and €2 million for culture from 2027, cutting other budgets, and proposing a new reserve filled with an expected €36 million from land sales.
- Amsterdam Amsterdam statisticians forecast 1.08 million residents by 2050 Amsterdam's research and statistics office O&S has published a report forecasting that the city will grow to about 1.08 million residents by 2050, with ageing certain, births falling and migration uncertain; it was presented on 8 October 2026.
- Turin Turin joins EU social-economy procurement project meeting in Iași Turin took part on 7 and 8 October 2026 in the third interregional meeting of the EU project PROSECO in Iași, Romania, where partners reviewed three semesters of work on using public procurement to support the social economy.
- Copenhagen Copenhagen moves to cut waiting times for local development plans Copenhagen's Climate, Environment and Technical Committee on 5 October 2026 delegated final adoption of simple local plans to officials, saving about 11 weeks per case, and approved a trial in which developers draft three local plans.
- Lyon Lyon's first natural swimming site at Confluence confirmed for summer 2027 The Métropole de Lyon has confirmed the city's plan for a natural swimming site at the Confluence dock, targeting a summer 2027 opening for a roughly 1,500 m² daytime area capped at 300 people.
- Nacka Nacka joins ICORN and will host a persecuted artist, writer or journalist Nacka has joined the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) and will host one persecuted artist, journalist or writer at a time, offering housing for two years, financial support and practical help in everyday life.
- Rotterdam Rotterdam opens winter shelter for homeless people every day, not only in frost Rotterdam will keep its winter shelter for homeless people in Overschie open every day from 1 November to 1 April, with 220 places and longer hours from 16.00 to 11.00, instead of opening only near freezing.
- Zurich Zurich buys 64 flats in Seebach for 78.22 million francs Zurich's city council has decided to buy a site in Seebach with 12 apartment buildings and 64 flats for 78.22 million francs, a step towards making one third of the city's rental flats non-profit by 2050.
- Copenhagen Copenhagen approves six new resident-led city-life streets Copenhagen's Climate, Environment and Technical Committee has approved six resident-proposed city-life streets in Christianshavn, Nørrebro, Østerbro and Vesterbro, chosen in a third round that drew 33 ideas, with work expected to start in spring 2027.
- Eindhoven Eindhoven hackathon looks for ways to make better use of the full electricity grid Eindhoven held the Recharge Eindhoven Hackathon, where 12 teams spent two days on grid congestion problems; team De Vonk won first prize from a €8,500 pool with Same Grid - More Homes, which makes better use of existing grid capacity.
- Solna Four-party Solnakoalitionen to lead Solna for the 2026-2030 term Solna's governing coalition of the Social Democrats, Left Party, Centre Party and Green Party has agreed to lead the city for 2026-2030, based on a governing programme of 90 political points focused on schools, safety, sustainability and sound finances.
- Ghent Ghent opens new bike-share permits and aims to double trips by 2030 Ghent will open new bike-share permits from November, licensing two operators from next year with up to 1,250 bikes each, as it aims to double shared-bike trips from about 1.25 million last year to 2.5 million by 2030.
- Almere Almere reserves land at Esplanade for around 1,250 student homes Almere, Stichting DUWO and Woningstichting GoedeStede have signed an agreement reserving land at Campus Almere Centrum on the Esplanade for about 1,250 student homes, with construction of a first phase of around 600 homes planned for late 2028.
- Oulu Oulu residents pick 12 projects for the city’s €500,000 participatory budget Oulu residents chose 12 of 94 proposals for the city's €500,000 participatory budget for 2027, with 5,119 people voting and recess equipment for 67 schools, costing €90,000, topping the poll with 1,236 votes.
- Stavanger Stavanger's planned theatre and museum building receives gift of up to NOK 200 million Sparebankstiftelsen SR-Bank has granted up to NOK 200 million to Stavanger's planned joint building for Rogaland Teater and Stavanger museum, giving NOK 150 million now and NOK 50 million once other private donors contribute NOK 200 million.
- Stockholm Stockholm hands new Slussen bus terminal inside Katarinaberget to Region Stockholm Stockholm has handed the new Slussen bus terminal, built inside the Katarinaberget rock over eight years with 330,000 cubic metres of rock removed, to Region Stockholm, which will now prepare it for bus services; no start date has been set.
- Marseille First stone laid for Théodora, a 35,000 m² training and AI campus in northern Marseille The first stone has been laid for Théodora, a 35,000 m² campus for training, digital skills, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship facing the Gèze transport hub in northern Marseille, where Euroméditerranée plans a tree-lined boulevard, a new square and a stream park.
- Ghent Ghent sets aside €4.46 million for a social mobility budget against transport poverty From 1 May 2027, Ghent will give low-income households a social mobility budget for car sharing, bike sharing, bikes and commuting, with €4.46 million reserved until 2031 and about 11,000 households expected to qualify.
- Oulu Oulu reaches the semi-finals of the European Capital of Innovation Awards 2027 Oulu is one of six semi-finalists in the European Rising Innovative City 2027 category of the European Capital of Innovation Awards, competing for a €500,000 prize to be awarded in Grenoble on 3 December 2026.
- Bergen Bergen planning agency delivers Bybanen plan proposal for Kaigaten-Sandviken section Bergen's Planning and Building Agency is handing its plan proposal for the Kaigaten-Sandviken stretch of the Bybanen light rail line to Åsane to the city council's urban development department, which will prepare it for first political consideration.
- Ghent Design Museum Gent reopens after four years with a new wing and a city-wide festival Design Museum Gent reopens on Saturday 3 October after four years of renovation and a new wing, with free entry on 3 and 4 October and more than 120 Design Fest Gent activities across Ghent until 11 October.
- Eindhoven Grid congestion: only 2,156 of more than 13,000 planned Eindhoven homes get capacity Grid operator Enexis has given provisional transport capacity to 13 Eindhoven housing projects with 2,156 homes, while 59 projects with 10,845 homes join a waiting list, meaning about 17% of the more than 13,000 registered homes get capacity.
- Budapest Permit plans ready for the renewal of Budapest’s Nagykörút boulevard Budapest has completed permit plans for renewing the Nagykörút between Nyugati tér and Boráros tér, with physically protected cycle lanes, sponge-city drainage and at least three new trees planted for every tree replaced on health grounds.
- Rotterdam Rotterdam 2027 budget plans 3,500 new homes, mostly affordable Rotterdam's executive has presented its 2027 budget, the first of its term, planning 3,500 mostly affordable homes in 2027 towards at least 15,000 by 2030, with the city council due to decide on 10 and 12 November.
- Paris Paris speeds up heat adaptation with €400 million for schools After the heatwaves of summer 2026, Paris announced on 29 September a heat adaptation plan, including €400 million over the mandate for schools and the aim of one cooled room in every crèche, school and collège by summer 2027.
- Lahti Pre-study backs a new city-centre university campus at Ranta-Kartano in Lahti A pre-study commissioned by the City of Lahti, LUT University and LAB University of Applied Sciences recommends continuing work on a new higher education campus at Ranta-Kartano and setting up a joint development company, with construction possibly starting in the early 2030s.
- Zurich Zurich reaches a third of its street greening target after one year Zurich's first annual report on its voter-mandated street space targets shows that 33.3 percent of the greening target and 8.3 percent of the walking, cycling and public transport target were reached between May 2025 and April 2026.
- Rennes Rennes completes Plaisance district with 360 homes beside the River Ille Rennes has completed the 5-hectare Plaisance district beside the River Ille, with 360 homes including 82 social rental units run by Espacil Habitat, after a 15 million euro project fully funded by the city as its own developer.
- Ghent Ghent and Ghent University extend their fossil-free city partnership Ghent and Ghent University have extended their Gent Fossielvrij partnership for three years, with a possible three-year extension, to keep testing solutions for a fossil-free Ghent by 2050, starting with heat pump noise and apartment heating.
- Malmö Malmö to buy Västra Hamnen property for electricity and energy skills centre Malmö's city council decided on 24 September to buy the Jungmannen 1 property in Västra Hamnen, which will become a skills centre for electricity and energy offering upper secondary, adult, higher vocational and in-work training designed with the energy sector.
- Nacka Nacka and partners call for close scrutiny of new metro cost forecast Region Stockholm reported a sharp rise in Stockholm metro extension costs; Nacka, Järfälla, Solna, the City of Stockholm and the state say the increase exceeds the agreed budget and needs thorough scrutiny, while the Nacka line now expects to open in 2032.
- Stavanger Stavanger issues Norway's first automated building permit for chimney rehabilitation Stavanger has become the first Norwegian municipality to process certain building applications automatically, issuing its first chimney rehabilitation permit 50 seconds after submission, and its building department has proposed halving the fee for automatically processed applications.
- Eindhoven Eindhoven opens the Energiehuis, a walk-in centre for home energy advice On 24 September the City of Eindhoven and its partners officially opened the Energiehuis in the WoensXL shopping centre, where residents can walk in without an appointment for independent advice on saving energy and making their homes more sustainable.
- Malmö Malmö approves building permit for 175 rental flats at Norra Ellstorp Malmö's urban planning committee has granted a building permit for 175 rental flats in the Körsbärsträdet block at Norra Ellstorp, in two buildings of up to 12 storeys, with mostly smaller flats and solar panels planned on the roofs.
- Malmö Malmö plans around 600 homes and a 1.3-hectare park in southern Hyllie Malmö's urban planning committee has sent a detailed plan for southern Hyllie out for consultation, allowing about 580 flats, around twenty terraced houses, a preschool for 140 children, a home for older people and a 1.3-hectare park.
- Marseille Marseille sets out support for its 60,000 students, including 600 new residence places Marseille has set out its support for more than 60,000 students at the start of the 2026 academic year, including co-financing new residences at Saint-Charles and Château-Gombert that will add 600 places and over 500 free psychological consultations a year.
- Rennes Rennes to build second central kitchen for 9,500 daily meals by 2029 Rennes will build a second central kitchen in the south of the city for 9,500 meals, a 26 million euro project fully funded by the city and due in the third quarter of 2029, ending disposable plastic containers in collective catering.
- Cluj-Napoca EU URBREATH project brings a revitalised riverside green space to a Cluj-Napoca estate Cluj-Napoca opened a revitalised green space on the Someș bank on Strada Nădășel on 19 September 2026, one of the URBREATH project sites, with new trees, recyclable street furniture and a children's show attended by more than 100 children.
- Utrecht Utrecht offers home energy advice for 50 euros to owners of poorly insulated homes From 1 October, Utrecht will offer owners of poorly insulated homes and small private landlords a professional home energy advice visit for 50 euros, free for households such as U-pas holders, aiming to help at least 2,000 homeowners.
- Utrecht Utrecht to add around 650 bike spaces at Vaartsche Rijn station Utrecht and ProRail will expand the bicycle parking at Vaartsche Rijn station on the Oosterkade by around 650 spaces, removing 44 of 224 car parking places, with works expected from the second half of 2028 and completion in 2029.
- Copenhagen Copenhagen revives its expert group on air pollution Copenhagen is re-establishing an expert group on air pollution, with DKK 4.6 million set aside in the city budget for 2027 to 2030 and up to 13 members advising on how to cut residents' exposure.
- Aarhus Aarhus 2027 budget funds dementia care and cushions health reform costs Aarhus City Council parties have signed the 2027 budget, which sets aside DKK 12.5 million a year for dementia care and has the wider municipality cover half of a DKK 109 million annual health reform loss for Health and Care.
- Stockholm Gothenburg and Lund join Stockholm's library streaming service Biblioteket Play Lund's public libraries and Gothenburg City Library are joining Biblioteket Play, the free streaming service Stockholm City Library launched in 2022, which needs no library card, login or registration and already includes the libraries of Malmö and Örebro.
- Utrecht Utrecht opens pre-school to two-year-olds and makes it free in Kanaleneiland From 1 January 2027 Utrecht will open pre-school to children from the moment they turn two instead of two and a half, and make it free in Kanaleneiland, joining Overvecht, while U-pas holders already pay nothing citywide.
- Oulu Oulu joins launch of EU-funded BRIDGE network of Arctic towns and cities The European Commission has launched BRIDGE, an EU-funded network of 21 Arctic towns and cities led by the Arctic Mayors' Forum, with Oulu's City Board chair and head of international affairs attending the launch at the EU Arctic Forum 2026 in Brussels.
- Cluj-Napoca Cluj-Napoca starts building a new Garibaldi bridge over the Someș Cluj-Napoca is starting construction of a new four-lane Garibaldi bridge over the Someșul Mic, closing the old bridge to cars from 14 September 2026 while a temporary bridge, opened on 12 August, keeps Grigorescu connected.
- Utrecht Utrecht plans 12-kilometre canal-side park, to be complete by 2035 Utrecht is building Rondje Stadseiland, a park along the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal and Merwedekanaal that will form a 12-kilometre walking and cycling loop by 2035; residents can comment on the plans and propose a new name until 2 October.
- Copenhagen Copenhagen consults residents on whether Langebro bridge should keep opening Copenhagen has opened a six-week public consultation on whether Langebro should keep opening for ships, with renovation estimated at more than DKK 400 million for an opening bridge and more than DKK 200 million for a fixed one.
- Nacka Nacka's AI pilot cuts school energy costs by more than expected Nacka's AI pilot in three large schools has, after nine months, delivered savings close to twice the hoped-for 10–15% a year, cutting running costs by nearly 600,000 kronor annually with a payback time of just over a year.
- Nacka Fisksätra report shows rising safety, falling crime and more residents in work Nacka's 2026 progress report for the Framgång Fisksätra programme shows rising safety, falling crime and more residents in work, which the municipality links to new services for children and adults and to a programme made permanent in 2025.
- Le Havre Le Havre launches plan to adapt its schools to extreme heat Le Havre completed summer works in 25 schools costing €7.3 million and launched a plan to adapt school buildings to heatwaves, starting with pilot sites.
- Barcelona TMB puts Barcelona's first fully electric neighbourhood minibus into service TMB has put Barcelona's first fully electric neighbourhood minibus into service on line 185 between Canyelles and Vall d'Hebron, the first of 5 Yutong minibuses in a 23-bus tender with a base budget of €19,239,000 including VAT.
- Tampere Tampere co-hosts UN forum on AI and the citiverse with ITU and UN-Habitat Tampere will co-host the UN Forum on AI and Citiverse with ITU and UN-Habitat at Tampere Hall on 9–10 September 2026, followed on 10–11 September by the first meeting of a new ITU-T focus group on AI for smart sustainable cities.
- Ghent Six private developers answer the first call of Ghent's affordable housing pact Six private partners answered the first call of Ghent's Woonpact, which closed on 1 September 2026, with proposals for 400 to 500 homes, of which 160 to 200 would be social or budget rentals.
- Lahti EU co-funded International Work Lahti project reaches nearly 200 job placements The EU co-funded International Work Lahti project had achieved nearly 200 job placements for foreign-language job seekers by the end of August 2026, and an evaluation estimates 3.93 euros of social value per euro invested.
- Bucharest Bucharest launches tender for 100 trolleybuses and prepares one for 79 trams Bucharest City Hall has launched a tender for 100 articulated trolleybuses with at least 20 km of battery range, estimated at 492,787,450 lei excluding VAT, and is preparing a second tender for 79 trams worth 1,699,919,059 lei.
- Cluj-Napoca First section of Cluj-Napoca's metropolitan ring road completed with bus and bike lanes Cluj-Napoca has completed section I of its metropolitan ring road towards Florești, widening it from four to six lanes and adding 3.5 km of bus and bike lanes in a €23 million investment, 85% EU-funded.
- Oulu Oulu signs cooperation agreement with ABO Energy on a hydrogen plant Oulu and ABO Energy Suomi have signed a cooperation agreement for a hydrogen project in the Pyyryväinen green transition zone, where electrolysis capacity could reach up to 600 MW in two to three phases on up to 41 hectares.
- Cluj-Napoca Cluj-Napoca completes the high school and sports hall of the Borhanci education hub Cluj-Napoca City Hall has finished the high school and sports hall of the Borhanci education hub, an €8.4 million investment of which €6.45 million came from EU funds through Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
- Paris Paris bathing sites welcome 216,000 swimmers in summer 2026 Paris recorded 216,000 swimmers at its public bathing sites in summer 2026, its second season, with the three free Seine sites drawing 120,000 bathers, 20% more than in 2025, and a new season announced for 2027.
- Bucharest Bucharest approves over €520 million of water and sewer investment with Apa Nova Bucharest's local councillors voted on 28 August for a water and sewer investment plan worth more than €520 million over 11 years, with €300 million brought by operator Apa Nova, including rehabilitation of collectors over 80 years old.
- Bucharest Bucharest General Council adopts the city's Integrated Urban Development Strategy Bucharest's General Council adopted the city's Integrated Urban Development Strategy (SIDU) on 28 August, setting investment priorities, project lists and regeneration guides, and providing the basis on which the capital can access non-reimbursable European funding.
- Tampere Tampere completes renovation of the Tullikamari Cultural Centre Tampere has completed the extensive renovation of the Tullikamari Cultural Centre, with more than 500 professionals involved; the building passes to its users on 1 September 2026 and reopens with the 45th Tampere Jazz Happening from 29 October.
- Bucharest Bucharest prepares an international design competition for the Magheru boulevard Bucharest City Hall is preparing an international design competition, organised with the Romanian Order of Architects, to redesign the Bălcescu–Magheru–Piața Romană axis, starting with a historical study that will set the design brief and its general principles.
- Lahti Lahti's downtown bus stop pilot gets real-time displays after a smooth start Lahti has installed a shared departure display by Trio's main entrance and stop-specific screens on Vesijärvenkatu for its downtown bus stop pilot, which began on 10 August and has run smoothly, with no significant congestion reported.
- Nacka Nacka adopts a plan for boating, waterfront access and commuter boats Nacka's nature and traffic committee has adopted a plan for boating and coastal life, with proposals in three areas, boating, public transport by water and access to the water, including more berths, bathing places and commuter-boat traffic.
- Solna Solna fourth in Kommunvelometern cycling review, first among mid-sized municipalities Solna ranked fourth overall in Cykelfrämjandet's Kommunvelometern review and first among mid-sized municipalities, its best result in seven entries, while cycling's share of trips, about 13%, remains below the city's 20% target for 2030.
- Bonn Bonn student residence with 115 subsidised places gets €12.71 million in state housing aid Studierendenwerk Bonn lays the foundation stone on 26 August 2026 for an eight-storey timber-concrete hybrid student residence at Pariser Straße, creating 115 publicly subsidised places on a former car park deck with €12.71 million in state housing funding.
- Lahti Lahti plans a second large data centre in the Kujala industrial area Lahti says a new data centre designed by ecogrid.energy Oy is planned on a Peab-owned site in the Kujala industrial area, with construction scheduled from the first half of 2027, completion in 2028 and more than 3,000 person-years of construction work.
- Uppsala Uppsala completes Lyrikparken in Ulleråker and unveils AR artwork Elegy Uppsala will officially open the completed Lyrikparken next to the old water tower in Ulleråker on Saturday 29 August, together with Elegy, an artwork by Dodda Maggý that combines physical design, sound and augmented reality.
- Bergen Bergen bans rental e-scooters near schools, kindergartens and playgrounds with 150 zones Bergen has introduced around 150 no-ride zones for rental e-scooters at municipal schools, kindergartens and playgrounds, where scooter motors gradually switch off, following a city council decision taken by a large majority in June.
- Le Havre Le Havre begins clearing 312,000 m³ of waste from Dollemard's former cliff dumps After a year of preparation, Le Havre has started the active phase of clearing the former Dollemard landfills, with 312,000 m³ of waste spread along 700 metres of coastline and €37.3m committed.
- Budapest Budapest wins USD 50,000 from Bloomberg Philanthropies for youth-led climate projects Budapest has secured USD 50 thousand, about HUF 15.5 million, from Bloomberg Philanthropies for a Youth Climate Action Fund that will support at least eight climate micro-projects led by people aged 18 to 24.
- Solna Solna and Peab sign framework agreement to restart Nya Ulriksdal Solna and Peab have signed a framework agreement to restart the stalled Nya Ulriksdal district, allowing land sales for 140,000 square metres of residential building rights worth at least SEK 2 billion to the city at today's land values.
- Aarhus Aarhus invests 8.9 million kroner in upgrading four community houses Aarhus is spending 8.9 million kroner, set aside in Budget 2024 as its co-financing of the F:LOK project, to rebuild four community houses in Møllestien, Vejlby, Ankersgade and Harlev between 2026 and the end of 2027.
- Valongo Valongo opens Praça da Democracia, a new public square in the town centre Valongo inaugurated the Praça da Democracia, a new public square in its town centre near schools, shops and services, on 6 August 2026, presenting it as a new urban centre designed for meeting and staying rather than passing through.
- Almere Almere introduces a vacancy tax on homes left empty for a year Almere will levy a vacancy tax from 2027 on owners of homes empty for one year or longer on 1 January 2027, starting at €2,000 per year and rising from 2028; about 400 homes were vacant at the start of 2026.
- Barcelona Barcelona's World Capital of Architecture year reaches over 100,000 people in five months Barcelona's year as World Capital of Architecture held 910 activities in 295 venues between February and June, with 80,000 participants and, counting the UIA World Congress, more than 100,000 people reached; Barcelona hands the title to Beijing on 13 December.
- Budapest Budapest relaunches its MOL Bubi public bike system with e-bikes and a new operator Budapest relaunched its MOL Bubi public bike system on 3 August with operator Inurba Mobility, a new app and e-bikes; BKK plans 3,300 bikes after the start-up phase, rising to about 5,000 by 2027.
- Budapest Budapest City Hall Park wins heritage permits, opening the way to detailed design Budapest's City Hall Park and Open City Hall plans have received heritage permits, so detailed construction plans can be prepared by early next year for a sponge-city park with 7,730 m² of planned green space.
- Valongo Valongo hosts second meeting of the URBACT PARKS network on urban green spaces Valongo hosted the second transnational meeting of the URBACT-funded PARKS network on 25 and 26 June, showing partners from Perugia, Sofia, Veszprém, Arteixo, Chernivtsi and County Monaghan its community gardens, street-tree and urban micro-forest projects.
- Barcelona Barcelona and the ATM agree terms to join the city's two tram networks along the Diagonal Barcelona City Council and the ATM approved the agreement for the 2.2 km Diagonal tram link between Verdaguer and Francesc Macià, the last step before tendering after the summer; the city will invest €99 million excluding VAT over 40 months of works.
- Tampere Tampere's Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tram extension passes the halfway mark Phase 1 of Tampere's Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tram extension passed the halfway mark at the end of June, with over 50% of design and construction done, 2.7 of 7.1 track-kilometres installed and passenger service due in August 2028.
- Uppsala Uppsala orders tramway construction phase as project moves from planning to building Uppsala has ordered phase 2 of its tramway contract from NYAB-Azvi AB, moving the 17-kilometre, 22-stop project from planning to detailed design and construction, with stage 1 possibly completed by 2032.
- Leeuwarden Leeuwarden coalition agreement for 2026–2030 puts housing and neighbourhoods first On 10 June, Leeuwarden's PRO, D66, VVD and CDA group leaders presented the 2026–2030 coalition agreement 'Ruimte voor de toekomst', which prioritises liveable neighbourhoods and villages, affordable homes and equal opportunities, along with the proposed aldermen and their portfolios.
- Lyon Lyon picks operator for ecological transition hub in former fine-arts school Lyon has designated the Pali Pali group, working with partners including Greenpeace, to run an ecological transition venue in the former École des Beaux-Arts, a building of nearly 6,000 m² under a €15 million rehabilitation, with works planned for 2027.
- Uppsala Uppsala tramway gets until 2032 to receive state co-financing Sweden's Transport Administration has moved the end date of Uppsala's urban environment agreement from 2029 to 2032, so state co-financing for the city's tramway can still be paid out if court processes over permits delay the project.
- Almere Almere launches city pass for residents on social assistance, citywide later Almere starts the first phase of its Stadspas at the end of June for residents on municipal social assistance, offering a free library subscription and discounts at venues such as Kinepolis and Walibi, with a pass for all residents later this year.
- Solna First detailed plan for northern Hagastaden goes on public review in Solna Solna has put the first detailed plan for northern Hagastaden out for public review from 22 June to 14 August 2026; the plan provides for about 1,200 homes, a preschool with about 140 places and a new district park.
- Marseille Marseille opens 2026 call for projects against gender inequality in sport Marseille has opened a 2026 call for projects to reduce gender inequality in sport, with applications accepted from 18 June to 27 July 2026, after the City supported 18 projects under the scheme in 2025.
- Lyon Record 17,517 responses to Lyon consultation on car-free rue Grenette Lyon's month-long online consultation on rue Grenette drew a record 17,517 respondents, and 72.3% of them favour keeping the Presqu'île street, a public-transport lane used by nearly 90,000 people a day, free of car traffic.
- Stavanger Stavanger leads joint procurement of new patient record system for Rogaland Stavanger has completed a joint procurement of a new electronic patient record system from Aidn AS for all Rogaland municipalities and five in Søre Sunnmøre, with Stavanger switching over this summer and six more municipalities following from autumn 2026.
- Barcelona Barcelona hands over 64 public rental homes in Trinitat Nova Barcelona has handed over 64 public rental homes in Trinitat Nova, Nou Barris: 20 social and 44 affordable rentals. The city says this brings public homes delivered during the current term to 2,201.
- Bergen Bergen and Øygarden agree deals to move cargo port from Dokken to Ågotnes Bergen and Øygarden have agreed the deals to move Bergen's cargo port from Dokken and Jekteviken to a new regional port at Ågotnes, which is meant to take over from 1 January 2028, subject to board and political approval.
- Lahti Evaluation of Lahti's participatory budgeting asks for a stronger link to decisions An evaluation of Lahti's participatory budgeting model OSBU for 2020–2025 finds it has become an established form of participation but remains weakly linked to wider decisions and strategic planning; the City Council has decided it will continue every two years.
- Oulu Oulu wins Eurocities Award 2026 for its sustainability education model Oulu won the gold award in the Eurocities Awards 2026 for its Sustainable Future Learning Stream, a sustainability education model launched in 2019 and adapted by seven partner municipalities, ahead of Paris, Istanbul, Rotterdam and Manchester.
- Tampere Tampere's regional emissions fell 9% in 2024, with transport now the largest source Tampere's regional greenhouse gas emissions fell to 590.2 kilotons of CO2e in 2024, a 9 percent drop excluding industry driven mainly by electric district heating, while road transport became the largest source at 36 percent.
- Eindhoven Eindhoven signs development agreement for the 700-home Schellenskwartier Eindhoven has signed a development agreement with Woonbedrijf, B-Right, RMJ Vastgoed and PPHE Hotel Group for the Schellenskwartier, where about 700 homes and related facilities are expected to be built step by step between 2027 and 2035.
- Oulu Oulu approves a city centre vision to guide development until 2040 Oulu's Urban and Environmental Committee approved the Oulu City Centre Vision 2026–2040 on 2 June 2026 as an advisory plan, based on a final report and six annex reports, with a progress report due by the end of the council term in 2028.
- Valongo Serras do Porto Natura 2030 brings €1.7 million for nature restoration around Valongo Serras do Porto Natura 2030, a nature restoration and climate adaptation project worth more than €1.7 million, was presented in Paredes and covers about six thousand hectares in Gondomar, Paredes and Valongo, with NORTE 2030 funding above €1.5 million.
- Valongo Valongo hosts the closing meeting of the EU GreenMove mobility project Valongo hosted the final meeting of GreenMove, a CERV-funded European project with 17 partners from 16 countries that began in 2024, focusing on sustainable and inclusive mobility and the empowerment of women in mountain regions.
- Bonn North Rhine-Westphalia commits €113 million to University of Bonn physics buildings North Rhine-Westphalia has committed €113 million from its infrastructure plan to modernise and renew the University of Bonn's Physics Institute, covering around 4,100 m² of usable space, with completion of the buildings currently planned for 2033.
- Lyon Lyon is the only French city to reach the top "4 vélos" cycling label Lyon has received the top "4 vélos" level of the "Ville à vélo du Tour de France" label, the only French city at that level among the 25 cities recognised this year, with 81 points in the assessment.
- Marseille Marseille records 12,444 observations in the 2026 City Nature Challenge Marseille recorded 12,444 observations in the 2026 City Nature Challenge, held from 24 to 27 April, beating its target of 10,000 and ranking 52nd of 754 territories, its first time in the global top 100.
- Solna Solna approves the detailed plan for the four-track Mälarbanan railway Solna's building committee has approved the detailed plan for widening the Mälarbanan railway from two to four tracks between Huvudsta and Duvbo, with about 1,400 new homes and a new commuter rail station in Huvudsta.
- Solna Solna's greenhouse gas emissions fell 3.1% in 2024 as national emissions rose Solna's emissions fell by 3.1 percent in 2024, according to SMHI's national emissions database, while emissions rose by an average of 7.9 percent across Swedish municipalities and by 7.5 percent in Stockholm County.
- Bergen Bergen bans rental e-scooters on Torgallmenningen and Festplassen from 18 May Bergen is banning the riding and parking of rental e-scooters on Torgallmenningen and Festplassen from 18 May 2026, using a digital zone that cuts motor power on entry and removing two parking areas at the squares.
- Budapest Budapest completes a stormwater strategy to keep rainwater in the city The Municipality of Budapest has completed a stormwater management strategy to retain, store and reuse rainwater where it falls, aiming for a more liveable, resilient and climate-adaptive city by 2035, with a review every three years.
- Tampere Tampere publishes draft plan for the centre of the new Hiedanranta district Tampere has opened the draft local detailed plan for Hiedanranta centre I to public viewing until 28 May 2026, proposing seven large blocks with about 155,000 m² of housing for more than 3,000 residents and two parking facilities with around 600 spaces.
- Lyon Lyon starts €3.15 million renovation of the Villa Gillet literary centre Lyon has begun a €3.15 million renovation of the Villa Gillet literary centre in the Parc de la Cerisaie, with works started in spring 2026 and delivery planned for the end of 2027, including writers' residences in the converted attic.