Gümülcine Municipality participates in URBACT CALL Network’s 2nd International Meeting in Portugal
The Municipality of Gümülcine took part in the 2nd International Meeting of the URBACT CALL – Accessible Cities for All network, held in Braga, Portugal, under the European Union’s URBACT programme.
Acting as the Lead Partner of the network, Gümülcine Municipality played a coordinating role in the collaboration process and the transfer of good practice examples to partner cities.
The meeting was organised in cooperation with Associação Pentágono Urbano and brought together representatives from Dubrovnik, Galway, San Lucido, Jarosław, Zrenjanin, Bratislava, and Pentágono Urbano, alongside Gümülcine.
Focus on Accessible and Inclusive Urban Development
Held at the Pentágono Urbano centre in Braga, the sessions focused on reviewing the network’s progress, sharing experiences, and working on Local Roadmaps designed to adapt good practices to the specific needs of each participating city. Participants also exchanged views on the Transferability Study and implementation methodology.
The opening session featured remarks from Braga Municipality representative Miguel Nuno Ribeiro da Cunha, URBACT Portugal National Contact Point representative Maria José Efigénio, Gümülcine Municipality Secretary General Maria Sofianou, and Nuno Cunha on behalf of Pentágono Urbano. Braga’s smart city initiatives were presented by Tiago Silva.
Field Visits Across Portuguese Cities
The programme continued in Guimarães, where participants were informed about the city’s bid for European Green Capital 2026, as well as initiatives promoting accessibility through the Municipal Forum for Persons with Disabilities and the development of an accessible Afonsina Fair.
A workshop titled “From Vision to Action: Partner Roadmap Lab” focused on translating project outcomes into concrete action plans for partner cities.
In Viana do Castelo, mobility solutions were presented, along with an applied evaluation under the Local Support Group (ULG) framework. A visit to the municipal library highlighted accessibility features enabling visually impaired and low-vision individuals to access information, reading materials, cultural activities, and library services.
The final stop was Vila Nova de Famalicão, where partners were introduced to smart mobility solutions implemented at a new bus terminal.
Emphasis on Inclusive Accessibility
The meeting concluded with evaluation sessions, task distribution, and planning for the next stages of the network.
Throughout presentations, workshops, and field visits, participants emphasized that accessibility extends beyond physical infrastructure, encompassing mobility, social inclusion, culture, innovation, safety, equality of opportunity, and quality of life.
They also agreed that transferring best practices is not about direct replication, but about adapting, testing, and refining solutions according to the specific needs of each local community.
