Catalonia plans "independence from rainwater" by 2040
It will be achieved through seawater desalination plants
It also places second when considering a year-on-year basis in housing costs
Eurostat has released its quarterly report on the housing market situation in the EU and it shows that in the first quarter of 2024 it was Bulgaria that’s recorded the highest increase in prices compared to the last quarter of the previous year.
According to the European statistical authority, the increase of 7.1% seen in the Balkan country represents the highest such there since the last quarter of 2007. The reason behind this is not only the growth in the country’s economy, which has traditionally been ranked as the poorest in the EU but can also be attributed to a host of factors – some of which are also present in other Eastern European countries.
Economic stability and growth have boosted consumer confidence, leading to increased demand for property. However, the Bulgarian National Bank has also kept the interest rates low, in contrast to the Eurozone, which has encouraged the taking out of mortgages.
Investing in property has traditionally been seen as the safest bet by Bulgarians and that hasn’t changed much in recent decades. As a result, increasing urbanization in the largest cities – Sofia and Plovdiv – has not been able to keep in pace with the demand for housing.
In terms of annual price changes the Balkan country also places near the top of the ranking, coming in at second after Poland. The respective percentage changes are +18 for Poland and +16 for Bulgaria.
A brief look at the graphs showing the housing market price fluctuations across the EU shows that inflation surges are most prominent in Eastern European countries overall, which are still aiming to close the economic gap between them and their Western counterparts.
For a long-term view of this factor, it’s worth noting that housing prices in 7 EU countries have more than doubled since 2010. And the top five of these countries are in the East – Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia and Czechia. In the first three of these countries, rental prices have also more than doubled in the past 14 years.
The same goes for 5G coverage but that complete rate will be achieved already in 2025
Tusk’s administration failed to change the law, but it now promises to “change reality”
The country’s government cites security concerns behind the move
The same goes for 5G coverage but that complete rate will be achieved already in 2025
The tool builds upon the already available web version of the map
It marks the street spots that have recorded the highest number of incidents
Plus, you might have to book a spot in advance to view the famous attraction
This involves the creation of a special traffic control zone on streets leading to the UNESCO-protected Old Town
The German capital reps will head to COP16, in Cali (Colombia), with the aim of inviting other cities to join the cause
Plus, you might have to book a spot in advance to view the famous attraction
For many years, Molenbeek’s reputation was linked to terrorism, but now it wants to show the world that it has turned a new page
Passengers will be shuttled directly to and from the Port of Piraeus, skipping the lines at the airport
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself
An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö
A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital