site.btaUPDATED EC President: New European Bauhaus Has Become a Global Movement

What started as a small project three years ago has grown into a global movement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the opening of the second New European Bauhaus Festival.

The initiative is linked to the EU's Green Deal and aims to make it a tangible change on the ground that improves citizens' daily lives through sustainable solutions to transform built environments and lifestyles for the better within the green transition, combining sustainability with good design that needs less carbon. It also makes these solutions inclusive, accessible and affordable for all, while respecting the diversity of places, traditions and cultures.

The event was opened with a ceremony at the Museum of Art and History in Jubelpark, also known as Cinquantenaire Park, in Brussels. 

"Here, in Cinquantenaire, the three principles of the New European Bauhaus come to life: beauty, sustainability, and inclusivity," the EC President said. She pointed out that the New European Bauhaus has contributed to many significant changes in the lives of many people in different communities, and this is its great importance. She gave examples of innovative projects carried out in Spain on cutting-edge 3D printing technology to ‘print' sustainable buildings made of earth, on species conservation in Estonia and on adaptive architectural designs that the Future School for Ukraine initiative will make available free of charge to rebuild war-damaged schools in Ukraine.

"Today, our New European Bauhaus enriches the lives of citizens and communities across Europe and the world. Our movement has grown up. Three years ago, we planted a seed. Today, it has grown into a forest. The seed of the New European Bauhaus was a simple idea. We wanted to showcase what a better future could look like. A future that appeals to our eyes, our minds, and our souls where the environmental and social imperatives of today meet visions of tomorrow, where people from different countries and backgrounds come together to imagine and create a sustainable, inclusive, and indeed more beautiful future. Today, the New European Bauhaus Community spans over 750 non-profit organisations: a network of over 200 businesses and public authorities and a roundtable of esteemed high-level advisors from three continents. Together, these organisations reach millions of people," she said. 

Von der Leyen noted that the EC can support the Bauhaus community with tools and resources to spread the spirit. She said she was proud that the EC has supported their work with EUR 250 million in funding. 

"I am proud that tomorrow, we will officially launch the New European Bauhaus Academy. It will train a new generation of architects, engineers, and construction workers. It will give them the knowledge and skills they need to turn sustainable materials into beautiful spaces. And I would like to thank Commissioner Ivanova, for leading this important work. Dear Iliana, it is good to have you by my side," the EC President said.

Von der Leyen added that going forward the New European Bauhaus will need to step up efforts in three directions - stable funding, diversification of development sectors and promotion of competition. She underlined the role of the dedicated funding instrument for the initiative with EUR 120 million per year for research and development until 2027.

The EC President stressed that the European Green Deal, under which she launched the New European Bauhaus initiative, is first and foremost a growth strategy. "Let us work together to ensure that the New European Bauhaus continues to grow and flourish. Let us make it the beating heart of a more inclusive, sustainable and beautiful Europe. Long live Europe!", Von der Leyen concluded her speech.