On the 15 December 2010 a seminar will take place in Brussels. The seminar is called "What it takes to become a European Green Capital – and the benefits it brings"

 

Seminar starts at 10:30 and runs to 13:00 and will look at the experiences of four winning cities: Stockholm (2010), Hamburg (2011), Vitoria-Gasteiz (2012) and Nantes (2013), as well as hearing the view point of an applicant city – Antwerp.

• The City of Stockholm will give a brief evaluation of its year as the first Green Capital and what the title has meant for citizens, businesses and visitors. Different aspects of the title will be presented.
   
• The City of Hamburg will show how a highly industrialised port city can succeed in combining ecological sustainability with economic growth. Hamburg will also present its communication actions including the Train of Ideas. The Train will visit 18 European cities including Brussels.
   
• Speakers from Vitoria-Gasteiz, Nantes and Antwerp, will speak about what's involved in applying in for the award.
   
• The European Commission will explain the selection process
  
  Lunch reception from 13:00 to 14:30: The Commission will hand over the European Green Capital title from Stockholm to Hamburg.

Detailed programme and speakers

• 10.30-11.00 Coffee and registration
   
• 11.00-11.10 Introduction Robert Konrad, Head of Communication, Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission
   
• 11.10-11.40
  The European Green Capital Award – a trigger for even higher targets Per Ankersjö, Vice Mayor for Environment, City of Stockholm European Green Capital Award
  
  A communication challenge resulting in increased exposure for Stockholm Hanna Brogren, Director of Communications, City of Stockholm
   
• 11.40-12.05 How to work for more urban sustainability. Experiences of the newly nominated European Green Capitals Panel discussion with Patxi Lazcoz (tbc), Mayor of Vitoria- Gasteiz and Ronan Dantec, Vice-President of Nantes Métropole in charge of Environment
   
• 12.05-12.35 Cranes and Cranes – The European Green Capital Award for an industrial metropolis Christian Maaß, State Secretary for Environment, Ministry of Urban Development and Environment of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
   
• 12.35-12.50 The benefits of applying for the European Green Capital Award Guy Lauwers, Vice-Mayor, City of Antwerp
   
• 12.50-13.00 Perspectives Robert Konrad, Head of Communication, Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission
   
• 13.00-14.30 Lunch reception
  EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, will hand over the "Green Book" from Per Ankersjö, Vice Mayor for Environment, City of Stockholm to Christian Maaß, State Secretary for Environment, Ministry of Urban Development and Environment of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. European Green Capital 2011