Zaragoza has been selected as a finalist in two categories of the European Capital Awards for its inclusion and diversity in 2025, organized by the European Commission. These awards recognize the best practices for promoting diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and equal opportunities in European Union cities.
The Zaragoza City Council has implemented several initiatives that have been nominated in the category of cities with over 50,000 inhabitants, alongside nine other notable cities such as Paris, Braga, Krakow, Salzburg, and Bilbao, for their commitment to including vulnerable individuals from a participatory perspective. Zaragoza has also been selected for the special award for inclusive housing due to its innovative initiatives.
Marian Orós, the Minister of Social Policies in the City of Zaragoza, emphasized that «this nomination is a recognition of the City Council, Social Services, Entities, and Citizens for building a more inclusive, accessible, and equitable city with rights and equal opportunities for all individuals.»
The final results of the European Capital Awards for Inclusion and Diversity in 2025 will be announced on April 29th in Brussels at a ceremony organized by the European Commission.
Among the teams, services, and programs submitted for the award, The Women’s House, a leading space for the city’s equality policies, as well as programs for the social inclusion of migrants, awareness and training in diversity and interculturality, led by the Culturi culture, aim to build a more equitable and cohesive city.
Similarly, within the candidacy, the network plan for elderly-friendly cities, which includes combating loneliness, accidents, and strengthening community support and participation networks, as well as the local plan for children and adolescence in Zaragoza, Colonias Zaragalla, or the network of Ludotecs and Municipal Leisure Time Centers, among other children, leisure, and family participation systems.
In the field of accessibility, a cornerstone of the city’s inclusion and equal opportunities policies, Zaragoza’s work on the development of the Universal Accessibility Strategic Plan stands out as a key tool to ensure equitable access to all spaces and services for individuals with disabilities.
This plan structures the implementation of the accessibility and rights ordinance, recognized with the Queen Letizia Award for municipalities’ accessibility in 2024, as well as the accessibility board that oversees it, led by entities representing individuals with disabilities.
Addressing homelessness was also a priority highlighted in the municipal submissions, with the Homelessness First initiative as the spearhead, including programs for care, accommodation, and inclusion for homeless individuals.
In this regard, various inclusion projects by Socio-Raga laport for vulnerable individuals, as well as access to housing for different groups at risk of exclusion, were presented.
