Debrecen4U June 4, 2025

Debrecen is in the TOP 10 in both environmental protection and economic development

Debrecen is among the TOP 10 candidates for the European Green Capital competition.

The European Commission recognises Debrecen’s innovative and sustainable green aspirations and, at the same time, sets a good example for other European cities to follow. The recognition was announced at a press conference on 3 June, 2025.

The event was attended by Mayor László Papp, Deputy Mayor Ákos Balázs, Senior Urban Development Expert at EDC Debrecen Mariann Andorkó, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Food Sciences, and Environmental Management of the University of Debrecen Dr. László Stündl, the head of the department, the founding member of the Green Working Group and the head of Természettár Zoltán Váradi and the CEO of Debrecen Waterworks Ferenc Gorján.

In 2019, the city government announced a new environmental policy, marking the beginning of a shift in attitude towards sustainability and green issues that laid the groundwork for applying for the title of European Green Capital.

In recent years, the Green Working Group was formed from young local professionals, the Future of Debrecen movement was launched, 10,000 trees were planted in the city, the planting of another 10,000 trees has already begun; water reached the Tócó stream within the framework of the Civaqua program, green buses were put into service; the Green Watch Environmental Monitoring System began operating; residents received rainwater collection barrels and composting bins; and numerous awareness-raising events helped shape the green thinking of the people of Debrecen.

The Green Codex was prepared as part of a cooperation between the University of Debrecen and the city, combining the most important strategies of the town and formulating 50 sustainability measures. The people of Debrecen ranked these according to how much they serve their well-being and consider them essential for the quality of life in the city. The bid for the title of European Green Capital 2027 received the seventh most votes.

The European Green Capital award is presented annually to a city that exemplifies best practices in developing an environmentally friendly lifestyle, making special efforts to improve the environment and quality of life.

Mayor László Papp highlighted the following regarding the application: “Winning the status is an important achievement for the city. It proves that the European Commission recognises Debrecen’s innovative and sustainable green aspirations and, at the same time, sets a good example for other European cities to follow.”

Deputy Mayor Ákos Balázs emphasised: “We are working to make Debrecen a healthy, green city of European standards. The European Commission recognised this by including us in the TOP 10 Green Capital candidates. As a result of consistent work, an ecosystem has been created in Debrecen, which, based on cooperation and knowledge, provides the city’s residents with development, security, and well-being in the alliance of nature and knowledge.”

Debrecen’s application was prepared by the University of Debrecen, EDC, the Green Department of the Mayor’s Office, Debrecen Waterworks Ltd., TIVIZIG, Debrecen Heat Supply, and Future of Debrecen. The project leaders are Dr. Professor István Szűcs and the senior expert of EDC, Mariann Andorkó.

Senior expert of EDC Mariann Andorkó drew attention to the fact that submitting the application is a good opportunity for Debrecen to compare itself with other cities in an international comparison, to articulate in which areas it can further develop, and to establish long-term partnerships with cities and economic actors committed to sustainable green development.

The application presents the city’s most significant green projects and good practices. The “flagship” is the Green Watch Environmental Monitoring System, which is uniquely innovative even in international comparison and significantly contributes to the city’s dynamic development, ensuring that both the natural environment and the city’s residents can live in safety.

Subject manager and Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Food Science, and Environmental Management of the University of Debrecen, Dr. László Stündl, said, “The scientific professional programme is a model environmental monitoring system that can serve as a good example for other cities.”

Among the good practices, the Civaqua programme and its continuation were presented, which are of great importance in the field of adaptation to climate change, as they increase urban water surfaces and develop water retention.

Head of the Faculty of Agriculture, Food Science, and Environmental Management of the University of Debrecen, Dr. János Tamás, said, “The goal and vision is the creation of a blue ring around Debrecen, with the rehabilitation of ecological and natural habitats and the creation of new ones.”

The next good practice is the presentation of the attitude-shaping actions of the Future of Debrecen movement and the contribution of the active green community to the greening of the city.

Founding member of the Green Working Group, Zoltán Váradi, said,” The Future of Debrecen movement will contribute in the long term to strengthening the social commitment of the population and implementing the green transition.”

The greywater project is also a good practice. Its innovative significance is demonstrated in the fact that the purification and reuse of municipal and industrial wastewater with modern technology is a circular water management model that reduces the ecological footprint of industrial activities while making water use more efficient.

CEO of Debrecen Waterworks PLC Ferenc Gorján, who is responsible for the topic, drew attention to the adaptability of the technological system: “The system has a modular structure, so its various elements, such as mixing facilities, buffer reservoirs, or target pipelines, can be flexibly adapted to the water management and infrastructure conditions of any settlement.”

Debrecen’s application was among the top 10 after the first round of the competition, based on the evaluation of the European Commission, and thus, by achieving the status of “Applicant City,” it became entitled to use the “Applicant City” logo on its official platforms, in the press, and on social media.

Ten cities have qualified for the European Green Capital 2027 competition:

Bielsko-Biała (Poland),

Chernivtsi (Ukraine),

Debrecen (Hungary),

Khmelnytskyi (Ukraine),

Heilbronn (Germany),

Košice (Slovakia),

Klagenfurt (Austria),

Lviv (Ukraine), Rivne (Ukraine), and Ternopil (Ukraine).

Debrecen congratulates the competitors, especially those from Ukraine, who are in a difficult situation.

Next steps in the competition:

June 2025: Technical evaluation: An independent panel of experts will evaluate the applications and select the finalists.

July 2025: Announcement of the finalists for the European Green Capital.

1-2 October 2025: The finalists will present their communication strategy and action plan to an international jury (chaired by the European Commission) on how they intend to meet the European Green Capital award criteria.

2 October 2025: Award ceremony and announcement of the winner of the European Green Capital 2027 in Vilnius, Lithuania.

The winner of the European Green Capital will receive a prize of EUR 600,000.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu