European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award 2024

It seeks to recognise best practices that: promote diversity (in terms of sex, age, disability, LGBTIQ identity, religion/belief and ethnic/racial origin) as a source of richness and innovation; contribute to inclusive policies and systems; and foster a feeling of belonging for all its citizens.

Award Categories

• The European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Awards will recognise three cities in two distinct categories:
  • local authorities with less than 50 000 inhabitants;
  • local authorities with more than 50 000 inhabitants.
• Each category will have a first (sole winner of the title of European Capital of Inclusion and Diversity for a given year), second and third place. Applicants may also receive a special mention, depending on the assessment of their continuous and positive efforts in contexts or circumstances that are exceptionally challenging, which can be perceived as a source of inspiration to other European cities. The special mention can be granted to a maximum of one shortlisted candidate, for each of the two distinct categories.
• The Awards are open to all local authorities (e.g. towns, cities, regions etc.).
• In 2024, a Specific Award for local authorities enabling safe towns, cities and regions for women in all their diversity, by addressing violence against women, will also be handed out. There will be three winners in this category (first, second and third place). The size of the local authority is not taken into account for the Specific Award for which there is only one category.

Award Information

• Award ceremony:
  • The winners of the European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity 2024 Award and the Specific Award for local authorities enabling safe towns, cities and regions for women in all their diversity, by addressing violence against women, will officially be announced at the Award Ceremony in Brussels (venue: Mix Brussels) on April 25, 2024.
  • Shortlisted applicants from each category will be invited to Brussels.
  • The winners will receive a physical award and a framed diploma. They will be promoted on social media as the winners and they will be able to use a ‘winner visual’ on their websites/materials etc.
  • The ceremony will be also streamed online
• The good practice sharing event:
  • Shortlisted applicants will be also invited to the good practice sharing event organised in Brussels on the day following the Award ceremony, April 26, 2024. The aim of the event is to share good practice in the area of diversity and inclusion with other shortlisted applicants, stakeholders working in this field and the European Commission representatives.
• Cost Covered
  • The European Commission will cover the travel and accommodation costs for both the Award ceremony and the good practice sharing event of 1 person/shortlisted applicant.

Eligibility Criteria

• This call for applications for the competition is open to the following applicants:
  • The submitting body must be a local authority (town, city or region etc.) in one of the EU Member States. The submitting body shall be an administrative unit governed by a city council or another form of democratically elected governmental body.
  • The applicants must attach a Declaration of honour signed by the Mayor or the highestranking representative, authorised by national law to legally represent the town/city/region.
  • Applicants will be asked to provide a description of key initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion.
  • Initiatives that comprehensively address different grounds of discrimination (in particular, sex, age, disability, ethnic/racial origin, religion and sexual orientation/gender identity and gender expression) and demonstrate an intersectional approach will be an asset.

For more information, visit European Commission (EC).