Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) The European Commission has announced five New European Bauhaus (NEB) projects aimed at making the EU more inclusive and sustainable.
The Commission pointed out in a statement on Wednesday that the projects will create beautiful, sustainable and inclusive spaces as well as increase involvement of citizens in the green push on the local level.
“I cannot wait to see these New European Bauhaus projects come to life,” EC President Ursula von der Leyen stressed and added “they will show how the future can look and bring the European Green Deal to our daily lives and living spaces.”
She pointed out that the announced projects should form the foundation of a network of NEB projects in Europe and beyond.
The Commission noted that the five NEB projects will receive roughly 5 million euro each to implement in 11 EU member states plus Norway and Turkey.
The EU member states in question are Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.
The five projects will be focused on cultural heritage, renovation of buildings, circular economy, education, smart cities, arts and more.
Foundation for future projects
The Commission stressed that the projects should produce innovative solutions and ideas in two years, which will help the EU to direct new NEB actions.
The body pointed out that the projects will have diverse effects in the areas where they will be implemented, stressing that similar activities and results can be replicated in other parts of Europe and beyond.
EU’s missions have a lot in common with the NEB, the Commission noted, as both are focused on addressing environmental and health challenges through innovation, research and cooperation with citizens.
It reminded that the NEB is to become a hub of education, technology, science, culture and art, creating new ideas, products and more.
One of the five projects, the Eyes, Hearts, Hands Urban Revolution (EHHUR), will help parts of cities to transform and address “socio-economic and cultural challenges such as social segregation, energy poverty and degradation of depopulated historical centres,” the EC pointed out.
The Designing the Irresistible Circular Society (DESIRE) project is aimed at tackling loss of biodiversity and climate change in cities, with the Commission stressing that it will focus on inclusivity and circular economy.
