The annual Eurocities Awards celebrate exceptional achievements by cities and individuals who are working to improve the quality of life for their residents and address Europe’s most pressing challenges.
This year, we are excited to announce the inspiring individuals and innovative city initiatives shortlisted for the Eurocities Awards 2025, to be revealed at the Eurocities conference in Braga on 5 June.
For 2025, the Eurocities Awards have been re-imagined to showcase not only outstanding urban projects but also the people driving transformative change in our cities.
The newly introduced City Heroes award recognises politicians and city officials for their exceptional leadership or initiatives, whether at the local or European level.
As in previous years, the Inspiring City Initiative award highlights cities that are setting the standard in creating equitable opportunities, fostering inclusivity, and investing in long-term prosperity for all their residents. Cities demonstrate their innovative approaches to financial innovation, skills development, multi-level collaboration or community engagement.
Take a look at the awards shortlist below.
City Heroes award
The individuals shortlisted are:
Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca in Romania
Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca since 2004 and former Prime Minister of Romania, has transformed Cluj into a European model for sustainable urban development, participatory governance and innovation. His ‘Eco, not Ego’ philosophy prioritises green mobility, smart urban planning and inclusive public spaces, setting a European benchmark for balancing urban growth with environmental responsibility.
Beyond his local work, Boc has advocated for cities in Europe through the European Committee of the Regions, influencing EU policies on digital transformation, economic resilience and social inclusion. His leadership has earned Cluj multiple recognitions, including the European Capital of Innovation Award finalist in 2020 and the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities.
Ihor Terekhov, Mayor of Kharkiv in Ukraine
Ihor Terekhov has led his city through extraordinary challenges, ensuring its resilience and growth despite the daily threat of Russian shelling. Kharkiv, with a population of 1.3 million, continues to thrive, offering uninterrupted heat, water, electricity, and essential services like healthcare and education.
Mayor Terekhov created the only underground schools in Ukraine to safeguard children’s education during the conflict. He also provided free public transportation for all residents and visitors, ensuring accessibility and support for the city’s population. Despite being 40 km from the Russian border, Kharkiv has not only survived but continues to develop on the international stage. Terekhov has inspired new approaches to city management, reinforcing the city’s role as a resilient hub for residents.
Markku Markkula, President of Finland’s Helsinki-Uusimaa Region and Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions
Markku Markkula, a long-time member of the Espoo City Council and former Finnish MP, has championed evidence-based policymaking, public-private partnerships and community-focused urban development.
At the EU level, Markku served as President of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) from 2015 to 2017, ensuring cities’ voices shaped EU policy in areas such as innovation, digitalisation and sustainability. His role as an EU Climate Ambassador highlighted the key role of cities in achieving the EU’s climate targets.
Markku has transformed Espoo into a data-driven, impact-focused city, leading initiatives like the Espoo Climate Neutrality 2030 Roadmap and the Nature-Wise 2035 Roadmap. His efforts have strengthened regional sustainability, aligning Espoo’s goals with EU targets.
Inspiring City Initiative award
The city initiatives shortlisted are:
Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality – Bugday Tanesi Prosthetics and Orthotics Production and Application Centre
The Bugday Tanesi Prosthetics and Orthotics Production and Application Centre is Turkey’s first municipally-run prosthetics centre. It provides prosthetic and orthotic services, physical therapy, psychosocial support and rehabilitation, particularly for people affected by disabilities or natural disasters.
Since its launch, the centre has supported nearly 900 people, including over 500 earthquake victims from Turkey’s February 2023 disaster. The centre’s ability to quickly scale up its operations in response to crises, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, highlights its resilience and adaptability. By addressing urgent healthcare needs and expanding services to remote areas, the centre exemplifies innovation in disaster response and healthcare services.
Gothenburg – School as an arena
The School as an Arena initiative has transformed the lives of children and families, particularly in the city’s disadvantaged areas, by strengthening their ability to get involved in their communities.
The project uses school premises as open, safe spaces where children and young people can take part in free activities and help plan and implement initiatives. A key example is the ‘Children’s Board’ where children manage a budget and decide on activities, helping to boost their self-esteem and sense of citizenship. Parents also take part in community gatherings, which fosters trust between families and public institutions, and helps reduce social exclusion.
Helsinki – The Finnish Alliance model
The Finnish Alliance Model supports cooperation between the Finnish Government and Finland’s six largest cities. It brings together all levels of government to address short and long-term challenges, including issues like skilled worker shortages, digitalisation and early childhood care. The Alliance promotes solutions through multi-level collaboration, helping cities and the government work together effectively.
One example of this cooperation is the Alliance’s involvement in the next EU budget after 2027. The Finnish government and six cities have worked together to input into Finland’s EU budget priorities and concerns, showing how national governments and large cities can collaborate to achieve real results on policy issues.
Nice – Community restaurants for seniors
In 2023, Nice launched the ‘Alegria’ community restaurant for seniors, offering healthy three-course meals for just €3 to address senior isolation, rising inflation, and malnutrition. The meals are prepared by the city’s central kitchen and served by volunteering university students. Two more restaurants, ‘Pignata’ and ‘Maiouneta,’ opened in 2024, continuing to offer affordable meals and providing cultural and social activities.
With nearly 100% occupancy, the three community restaurants have had a significant impact, serving their 10,000th meal in January 2025. Given that around 30% of Lyon’s population are over 60, the initiative combats malnutrition and strengthens social bonds by offering affordable, locally sourced food and fostering community interaction.
Turin – ToNite initiative
The ToNite project has improved safety and security in public spaces along the city’s Dora River by combining urban regeneration with social innovation. The project has transformed life for students, families and local residents, creating an ‘outdoor campus’ for students, regenerating an abandoned inner-city area into a playground for families, and enhancing the riverbanks with street furniture and lighting.
The initiative has also funded 19 other community-led projects involving over 30,000 participants from across the city, contributing to a broader regeneration programme that has improved public spaces, social inclusion, mobility and community engagement.
Eurocities Awards 2025
The Eurocities awards not only celebrate the achievements of cities but also inspire others to adopt similar initiatives and contribute to a more sustainable future.
An independent jury of four member judges is made up of the jury chair Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga, an expert on urban issues, an NGO representative, and an expert in EU affairs.
Cities, as the level of government closest to citizens, have an essential role to play in improving the lives and well-being of their residents, responding to major challenges such as climate change and social inequalities, and working with the EU to build a just, resilient future for everyone.
At our annual conference in Braga, we will showcase how cities and individuals are responding to evolving needs and increasing resident’s well-being in a changing world. The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 5 June 2025.
Read about last year’s Eurocities Awards winners.
