Green & Social Hub in Brussels: Three Days of Exchange for a More Inclusive Ecological Transition

From June 3rd to 5th, a delegation from the Green & Social Hub project took part in three intensive days of meetings in Brussels, focused on exchanging experiences with European initiatives for ecological transition and exploring the role that local communities can play in this process.
The project, funded by the European Social Fund 2022 and coordinated by ALI – Autonomie Locali Italiane, saw the active participation of representatives from the municipalities of Avezzano, Bassiano, and Crispiano, with the goal of building sustainable models capable of reducing social inequalities.

Green & Social Hub was created with precisely this mission: to make the green transition not only technological, but also fair and accessible. It promotes energy communities and includes the most vulnerable citizens in environmental innovation processes.
The Brussels mission marked a crucial step in strengthening the partners’ skills and fostering dialogue with ongoing initiatives across Europe.

Among the highlights of the visit was the June 3rd meeting with Energy Cities at the ACR+ headquarters, where the group discussed the European project Horizon Power-UP — a virtuous example of combating energy poverty through active local involvement.
The following day, the delegation visited Eeklo, in East Flanders, where they had the opportunity to closely observe the model of the Ecopower cooperative. This community-managed wind energy initiative demonstrated how energy production can be both democratic and participatory.

On June 5th, the delegation delved into European sustainability policies during a session at the Tuscany Region office in Brussels, which included the presentation of the Guide of Sustainable Municipalities. This was followed by a meeting with Hon. Antonio Decaro and a visit to the European Parliament, organized by ALI Europe Desk, a key reference point for Italian local authorities in Brussels.

Among the members of the delegation were Giovanna Bruno, Vice President of ALI and Mayor of Andria, and Vincenzo D’Ercole, Mayor of Castiglione Messer Raimondo — their presence affirmed the strong institutional commitment of local governments toward inclusive and sustainable development models.

This visit represented a turning point for the Green & Social Hub project, consolidating collaborative networks and reinforcing a shared commitment to a greener, more inclusive, and participatory transition.