Debrecen4U
October 8, 2025
European Green Capital: Debrecen is the first Hungarian city to reach the finals
“Debrecen has made it into the TOP 3 in the European Green Capital competition, the finals of which were held on Thursday: it is particularly rare for a city to make it into the top 3 on its first entry, as Pécs and Budapest have previously tried, but neither of them succeeded,” highlighted Deputy Mayor Ákos Balázs in the HírPONT Extra program.
Debrecen achieved great success in the European Green Capital competition: the city was included in the three greenest settlements on the continent in the category with a population of more than 100 thousand. This was one of the topics discussed in the Médiacentrum Debrecen HírPONT Extra program, where Editor-in-Chief Zsuzsa Keserű talked to Deputy Mayor Ákos Balázs and László Kövér, associate professor at the University of Debrecen.
The finals of the competition were held last Thursday in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius. The European Commission selected Debrecen as one of the TOP 3 cities, along with Heilbronn in Germany and Klagenfurt in Austria. In the end, Heilbronn won the title of Green Capital 2027.
In response to a question from editor-in-chief Zsuzsa Keserű, Ákos Balázs said that Debrecen is the first Hungarian city to make it to the finals. Previously, Pécs and Budapest also tried, but neither of them succeeded. It is particularly rare for a city to be among the best on its first entry.
According to the deputy mayor, this is a clear indication that Debrecen is on the right track and is an increasingly prominent player in the European green community. He added that the cities that made it to the finals demonstrate good practices for other settlements and serve as models for EU sustainability efforts.
The city’s environmental strategy is based on the Green Codex, which was created jointly by city and university experts.
“The European Commission jury first asked us about the impact of BMW on the development of Debrecen’s green economy. This also shows how important it is that our industrial developments are carried out along environmentally friendly principles. I believe that BMW will continue to be an integral part of Debrecen’s green program in the future,” pointed out Ákos Balázs.
The city’s goal is for industrial growth not to conflict with sustainability efforts but to strengthen them. The study on carbon-neutral industrial parks and the use of renewable energy both reflect this approach.
The work was also actively supported by experts from the University of Debrecen. László Kövér, associate professor at UD explained that separate working groups dealt with issues such as soil, air, noise, water, and biodiversity.
“Not only university researchers participated in the process, but also renowned experts from the city. Debrecen has proven on several occasions that joint thinking and cooperation can bring about meaningful results,” he stated.
During the competition, the European Commission highly appreciated Debrecen’s efforts in coordinating industrial developments and sustainability.
“Debrecen is the only Hungarian city that previously had a separate study prepared on the development of carbon-neutral industrial parks,” explained Ákos Balázs, saying that the essence of the concept is that new industrial zones use renewable energy and recycle grey water, thus reducing the ecological footprint. The city has recently increased its green areas by 16 percent and planted thousands of trees—these steps also contributed to the positive international assessment.
“Our goal is to improve the urban microclimate and ensure that industrial development does not occur at the expense of the environment,” added the deputy mayor.
The HírPONT Extra program also discussed the Civaqua program, which could make a fifty-year plan a reality: the Tisza water could soon reach the Great Forest.
“Debrecen has always taken a pioneering role in nature conservation and biodiversity preservation. This program is a milestone not only in the environmental sustainability of the city but also in the entire region,” emphasized László Kövér.
Debrecen’s green aspirations in the field of transportation are also progressive. Ákos Balázs pointed out that in rural terms, Debrecen has the largest green bus fleet in Hungary. Based on the positive experiences, they would like to develop this further and direct transportation even more towards renewable energy sources.
The city’s goal is to create an intelligent control center that will make Debrecen more efficient and livable by dynamically regulating transportation and enforcing green aspects. Its implementation is currently in the planning and permitting phase.
At the end of the discussion, László Kövér emphasized that shaping the attitudes of future generations is essential. Teachers and civil organizations and environmental programs—such as Future of Debrecen—are all key players in this process. Debrecen is now present on the international environmental map, and they intend to continue on this path together with experts and the city administration.
Source:dehir.hu | Photo credit:Facebook Papp László
