On February 18 and 19, 2026 , GM5 partners hosted a joint visit from the European Commission to several European LIFE projects linked to the New European Bauhaus (NEB) : LIFE BauhausingEurope, LIFE GreenMe5, and LIFE SeedNEB . The meeting provided an opportunity to share progress, methodologies, and results among European partners, as well as to visit several pilot projects in the region.
During these sessions, LIFE GreenMe5 presented its approach to facilitating the implementation of the Green City Accord (GCA) in European cities and showcasing concrete examples of nature-based solutions and participatory governance.
Project presentation and its NEB approach
In this context, the LIFE GreenMe5 team presented:
- The project objectives, focused on facilitating the implementation of the Green City Accord in municipalities.
- The working methodology based on multi-level governanceCitizen participation and cooperation between cities.
- The project's contribution to the principles of the New European Bauhausintegrating sustainability, aesthetics and participation in urban interventions.
Visit to the biodiversity pilot project in Cieza
The first day included a visit to the pilot project for the renaturalization of school playgrounds in Cieza , developed within the framework of the biodiversity pillar of the Green City Accord.
During the visit, the participants were able to learn about:
- The transformation of the school playground through nature-based solutions.
- The replacement of impermeable surfaces with systems of sustainable drainage.
- Activities co-design with the educational community, a key element in the participatory approach of the project.
This pilot project represents a clear example of the connection between LIFE GreenMe5 and the New European Bauhaus , by combining environmental improvement, public space design and school community participation.
Environmental monitoring and local governance
One of the challenges identified by LIFE GreenMe5 is precisely the coordination between different municipal services for the collection of environmental indicators. To address this, the project has promoted multi-level governance structures and local action groups , which involve administrations, universities, associations, and citizens in monitoring the objectives of the GreenMe5 initiative.
Visit to the pilot project for reducing food waste in Murcia
The second day focused on the pilot project developed in Murcia , aimed at reducing food waste in school cafeterias.
During the visit to the educational center, the complete food waste audit process was demonstrated, which includes:
- Observation of the operation of the school cafeteria.
- Separation and weighing of uneaten food remains.
- Data collection to analyze waste patterns.
This pilot demonstrates how local actions can generate useful knowledge to scale solutions to the municipal and regional level , one of the key objectives of the project.
LIFE GreenMe5 and the New European Bauhaus
The visit highlighted how the project's actions contribute to the values promoted by the New European Bauhaus :
- Sustainabilitythrough nature-based solutions and improvements in environmental management.
- Participation, involving citizens, educational communities and local actors in the design of the interventions.
- Quality of the urban environmentintegrating environmental, social and aesthetic criteria into the projects.
Interventions such as the renaturalization of the school playground in Cieza, the river restoration in Helsingborg or the ECOPARK in Arezzo show how LIFE GreenMe5 contributes to creating greener, healthier and more inclusive urban spaces , fully aligned with the vision of the New European Bauhaus.
European cooperation for more sustainable cities
The joint visit to LIFE projects in the Region of Murcia has strengthened cooperation between European initiatives working on the sustainable transformation of cities.
Through its pilot projects, governance activities and exchange actions between cities, LIFE GreenMe5 continues to advance its goal of facilitating the implementation of the Green City Accord and supporting European municipalities in their transition towards more sustainable and resilient urban environments.
