“Sustainability in Motion: Urban Strategies in a Central European Context”
The event titled “Sustainability in Motion – Urban Strategies in a Central European Context” represented a key milestone for the SUSCOMNET (Project ID: 101138675) – Making Sustainable Communities: Network for Local Green Deals project. The workshop took place on May 9, 2025, in an online format, coordinated from Gyula. The aim of the event was a comprehensive professional evaluation of the project's progress, both in terms of technical deliverables and the strategic development of the network.
The event created an opportunity to organize and evaluate the experiences gained so far, as well as to coordinate the partnership's tasks for the upcoming period. The workshop served both as a monitoring tool and a cooperation forum: the methodological, scientific, and practical approaches reinforced one another, contributing to the strengthening of the project's implementation framework.
In line with the project's modified schedule, the workshop confirmed that the implementation of planned activities is progressing at the committed pace. The events were conducted in accordance with the provisions of the grant agreement, and participation indicators reached, and in several cases exceeded, the planned target values. The partnership demonstrated a high level of commitment, with all partner municipalities actively contributing to the success of the program.
The event showcased the continuously expanding professional and scientific community organizing around the project. This informal yet increasingly structured knowledge network provides significant methodological support for the network's activities. The involvement of academic experts, urban development specialists, and local decision-makers ensured that the project is implemented on interdisciplinary foundations, integrating both theoretical and practical perspectives.
The workshop was structured into two thematic units. The morning session focused on theoretical and methodological presentations, which provided a comprehensive overview of the European Green Deal, the role of cities in achieving climate neutrality, and the importance of knowledge-based urban and regional development. The presentations placed the project within a broader European policy context and emphasized the key role of local-level action in addressing global challenges.
The afternoon session focused on the practical dimension of the project. The partner municipalities presented their own local "green deals" and demonstrated, through concrete examples, how they are implementing sustainability objectives within their communities. The presentations highlighted the diversity of strategies within the network: ranging from the transition to renewable energy sources and innovative mobility solutions to community green space management and environmental education programs.
During the workshop, a meaningful professional dialogue unfolded regarding the further development of the project's methodological framework, with particular regard to the refinement of monitoring tools, more effective forms of community engagement, and opportunities for joint research activities. The partners reaffirmed their commitment to the systematic utilization of the knowledge and experience accumulated together.
Based on the evaluation, project implementation is progressing at the planned pace, and no significant risk factors were identified. The partnership demonstrated flexibility and adaptability, particularly in organizing hybrid and online events, ensuring broad and inclusive participation.
Presentations
- The European Green Deal and Urban Sustainability – Mid-term Evaluation – Tamás Szilágyi presented the strategic mid-term evaluation of the European Green Deal, with a specific focus on the role of cities in achieving the European Union's 2050 climate neutrality goals.
- A New Framework for Evaluating Higher Education Sustainability: Presentation of the OVHR Model – Iván Zádori, habil., presented the OVHR model, which offers a comprehensive framework for evaluating the sustainability performance of higher education institutions.
- Knowledge-Based Regional Strategies – Conceptual Foundations of Sustainable Urban Policy – Dr. Zsolt Nemeskéri analyzed the role of knowledge management in the development of regional and urban sustainability strategies.
- Sustainability in Motion: The City of Wągrowiec
Piotr Sujak presented the city's green energy strategy, the introduction of free public transportation, and the water quality protection program for Lake Durowskie. - Gazdasági, társadalmi és infrastrukturális változások regionális perspektívából
habil. Brigitta Zsótér presented the challenges of regional transformation through the example of a small settlement in Hungary. - Sustainability in Motion: Local Green Deals of Gyula
Edit Hajnal presented the energy efficiency investments, green infrastructure developments, and sustainable mobility programs of Gyula. - Sustainability in Motion: The City of Miercurea Ciuc
Zoltán Biró presented the city's climate adaptation and energy transition measures. - Sustainability in Motion: The City of Komárno – Béla Keszegh presented Komárno's four-pillar sustainability strategy.
The workshop fully fulfilled its monitoring function and reaffirmed the partnership's shared vision for promoting sustainable urban strategies in Central Europe. The event contributed to strengthening cross-border cooperation, deepening the exchange of professional experience, and established the foundation for the upcoming phases of the project.
The workshop confirmed the professional potential of the SUSCOMNET network to provide a substantive and long-term contribution to the promotion of local green deals at the European level.
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