This November 8, the Social Hub of Barcelona hosted the start of Ciutat Europa, organized by the Catalunya Europa Foundation, with an intergenerational dialogue on the urban future. Journalist Lara Malvesí moderated this first panel, which included young people from various sectors who shared concerns and proposed solutions to preserve the Mediterranean city model while looking to the future and the need to build more inclusive and sustainable cities. The session was attended by Alba Bou, deputy mayor of the Urban Planning and Housing Area at the Prat de Llobregat City Council, and Xavi Paz, mayor of the Molins de Rei City Council.

The debate has addressed how to protect local businesses from the threat of large chains and digital platforms, and how to promote policies to prevent gentrification and ensure affordable housing for younger generations. The importance of generating a sense of community despite increasing mobility and the difficulties of establishing roots has also been highlighted.

This session has been recorded and will soon be published in videopodcast format.

Subsequently, the Ecological Transition axis has put on the table the role of citizens in the design of sustainable infrastructures and it will be possible to recover soon through the YouTube channel of the Catalunya Europa Foundation. Experts such as Cristina Poza de Celobert and Clementine Suraud from Revolta Escolar have explained how to better involve the community and overcome resistance to changes that may be necessary to ensure safer and healthier environments, such as around schools. We also had the participation of Javier Ortigosa, head of the Infrastructure and Mobility Office of the Metropolitan Urban Master Plan, providing the point of view of the institutions from the AMB. Finally, Stefen Ries, geographer, coordinator of Innovation Academy non-profit organization and official partner of the city of Freiburg, and professor at the School of Sustainable Mobility, has presented his experience from the city of Freiburg.