POLIS members Utrecht and Bilbao take top honours in EU Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award
Great news! The European Commission has recognised POLIS members Utrecht and Bilbao with Gold and Silver Awards, respectively, in the 2025 edition of the European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award. Find out more below.
The winners of the fourth edition of the European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award have just been announced by the European Commission. This award recognises, gives visibility to, and highlights the work done by a town, city, or region that can be a source of inspiration for other European cities in creating more diverse, discrimination-free and inclusive environments for their citizens. It seeks to recognise best practices that promote diversity, in terms of sex, age, disability, LGBTIQ identity, religion or belief, and racial or ethnic origin, as a source of richness and innovation, contribute to inclusive policies and systems, and foster a feeling of belonging for all its citizens.
We are pleased to announce that the top two honours in the category of 'local authorities with more than 50,000 inhabitants', namely the Gold and Silver Award, have been awarded to two of our members: Utrecht and Bilbao, respectively:
- The city of Utrecht, The Netherlands, which is also POLIS' current president, won the Gold Award for its impressive city-wide commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, embedded across all departments and backed by robust structures, leadership and funding.
- The city of Bilbao, Spain, won the Silver Award for its intersectional and values-driven initiatives on employment, education, transport, security, youth, and sports.
The announcement of this award also marks the launch of the 2025 European Diversity Month, which celebrates efforts to help build equal and inclusive environments for the benefit of all.
For more information about the 2025 European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award, check their official website here.
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