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Public procurement as a strategic lever for the European Green Deal.
On 13 January at the European Parliament, the event “Buying European and Sustainable is Good Value for Public Money” brought Italy’s more than ten years of mandatory Green Public Procurement experience to Brussels. Promoted by Fondazione Ecosistemi as part of the BESA – Buy European and Sustainable Act campaign, in cooperation with MEP Nicola Zingaretti (S&D Group), the event brought together European institutions, policymakers, businesses and civil society to discuss the role of public spending in driving the ecological transition, strengthening European industrial value chains and creating quality jobs, ahead of the revision of the EU Public Procurement Directive.

Placing public procurement at the centre of Europe’s economic, environmental and social strategy is the objective of “Buying European and Sustainable is Good Value for Public Money”, the event taking place on 13 January at the European Parliament. The initiative is promoted by Fondazione Ecosistemi within the framework of the BESA – Buy European and Sustainable Act campaign, in cooperation with the office of Nicola Zingaretti, Head of the S&D Delegation in the European Parliament. The event aims to contribute concretely to the ongoing revision of the EU Public Procurement Directives, currently under discussion in Brussels.

Smile City launches the Urban Living Lab – Faber School, an open call running until 10 January 2026 for designers, students, researchers and professionals interested in shaping the future of sustainable urban mobility. The initiative invites participants to co-design an off-grid e-bike charging station, built with recycled materials and powered by renewable energy. A collaborative laboratory where innovation, sustainability and real-world experimentation come together to imagine the cities of tomorrow.

One million children already reached. More than 3,000 schools across 12 European countries. A simple yet transformative recipe: sustainable procurement, skilled kitchens, and an educational approach that engages the whole school community. SchoolFood4Change is reshaping how food is sourced, cooked, and experienced in European schools, generating real impact on health, sustainability, and local supply chains. The new official video shows how the Triple Approach — sustainable procurement, empowered kitchens, and the Whole School Food Approach — is already building a healthier, more conscious generation closely connected to its local territories. It’s time for a new menu. It’s time for real change.

On 3 December, Rome will host an event dedicated to urban innovation: the Urban Living Lab Workshop of the European project Smile City, which is testing new circular solutions for sustainable mobility. Researchers, designers, students and professionals will meet at the CNR to explore and contribute to the design of a fully off-grid e-bike charging station, powered by photovoltaic panels and second-life batteries, and built using recycled materials. It will be an open, collaborative and international day of work, turning ideas and technologies into concrete prototypes for the future.