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The Commission handed over the title of European Green Capital from Hamburg to Vitoria-Gasteiz today.

EU Environment Commissioner, Janez Potocnik; President of the Committee of the Regions, Mercedes Bresso; State Secretary for Environment, Ministry for Urban Development and Environment, Holger Lange; and Mayor of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Javier Maroto Aranzabal, all took part in the ceremony which was held in the European Parliament during the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions.

Commissioner Potocnik said: “Hamburg has been an exemplary European Green Capital, especially impressive with its Green Train of Ideas tour spreading the important message about sustainable urban development across 18 European cities. I wish Vitoria-Gasteiz well in its endeavours during its year as European Green Capital 2012. I look forward to seeing and hearing about their initiatives throughout the year so that other European cities can learn from their example and be motivated to improve water consumption, urban planning and green insfrastructure, for example, as well as the many other elements that make a city green and fit for life.”

President Bresso said: "Citizens want Europe to bring concrete benefits to their daily life. The European Green Capitals are leading the way in this regard, with green public transport, energy efficient public buildings and many more examples of outstanding local projects often co-funded from the EU cohesion budget that go far beyond targets set by EU directives. Building on the achievements of Stockholm in 2010, Hamburg in 2011 and, we hope, Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2012, the CoR is ready to work together with the European Commission to establish a community that will allow the experience of the European Green Capitals to be more widely shared".

The European Green Capital Award recognises and rewards cities that are at the forefront of environmentally-friendly urban living and which can act as role-models to inspire other cities. Europe needs this kind of inspiration as cities strive to overcome increasingly persistent environmental problems.

Vitoria-Gasteiz, capital of the Basque country in northern Spain, is the third European city to gain the prestigious title of European Green Capital since the initiative was launched in 2010, following in the footsteps of Stockholm and Hamburg.

Vitoria-Gasteiz, a medium-sized city

The medieval city of Vitoria-Gasteiz dates back to 1181. It is the capital of the historical territory of Alava, and home to 76% of its population and most of its industries and services. Vitoria-Gasteiz is a medium-sized city: the municipality comprises the urban area, with a population of 235 445, plus 64 small, rural hamlets in the surrounding countryside.

Vitoria-Gasteiz is one of Europe’s greenest cities, in more than one sense. Vitoria-Gasteiz is the living result of over 30 years of commitment to sustainability. With its good practices in urban planning, green spaces, recycling, mobility and water consumption, the city has become an example for Europe. It has over 10 million square metres of parks and green spaces, and its flagship Green Belt project has attracted international recognition. Its green credentials are all the more remarkable in a city that has experienced major population growth over recent decades. Rigorous strategic urban planning, strong citizen involvement, and the balanced management of the environment have enabled the city to harmonise with the natural landscape, forging its cultural identity and making it a model for urban sustainability. What makes it an ideal European role model is that it represents the average, medium-sized city in which 84% of Europeans live.

Green facts and figures

· All residents have access to public open and green space within 300m
· 613 hectares of Green Belt
· 479m2 of forest per capita (covering one-third of the municipal area)
· 210 organic farming plots
· 130 000 trees in city streets
· Two tram lines and 90km of bicycle lanes
· Half of all journeys are made on foot
· 1st Environmental Action Plan adopted in 2002

The European Green Capital Award

Europe is very much an urban society now, with four out of five citizens living in towns and cities. Many of the environmental challenges facing our society originate in urban areas, but these urban areas also bring together the commitment and innovation needed to resolve the problems. The European Green Capital Award recognises and rewards local efforts to improve the environment, the economy and the quality of life of growing urban populations. The EGCA is given each year to a city, not necessarily a capital, which is leading the way in environmentally friendly urban living and which can act as a role-model for other cities. In addition to inspiring other cities, this increased profile serves to enhance the winning city’s reputation and attractiveness as a destination for people to visit, work and live in.

Vitoria-Gasteiz will be European Green Capital in 2012 and the title will pass to Nantes in 2013. The competition to find the 2014 European Green Capital is currently underway with 18 cities contending for the title. The 2014 winner will be announced in June 2012 following an assessment of entries by an international jury supported by a panel of experts in different environmental fields, including a Member of the Committee of the Regions.