CIVITAS Welcomed to Matosinhos, Portugal by Deputy Mayor for General Assembly
Image from ICLEI Europe by ICLEI Europe
The CIVITAS Initiative consortium met on 14 and 15 May 2025 in Matosinhos, Portugal, for its Annual General Assembly. Kindly hosted by CIVITAS Partner, INOVA+, the meeting was an ideal opportunity to reflect on progress and exchange ideas and approaches for both ongoing and future programmes.
Now in its second year, the CIVITAS Initiative had much to discuss in Matosinhos, including several strategic priorities:
The Replication & Deployment Programme
Now in its second cycle, the Replication & Deployment Programme is accepting applications for six new Challenge Cities. Over the course of the Programme, it will work with 36 cities to address specific sustainable urban mobility challenges and help cities to develop tailored deployment strategies adapted to each city's unique context and challenges.
CIVITAS Summer Course, Deep Dives and Educational Networks
Through various activities—including webinars, trainings and events—the CIVITAS Initiative remains committed to developing and sharing high-quality educational resources. These materials aim to equip mobility professionals and students with the tools needed to make sustainable and smart urban mobility a reality for all in Europe.
The CIVITAS National Networks (CIVINETs)
With 12 active CIVINETs, this national network of cities and relevant institutions promotes the CIVITAS approach to strengthen local, regional and national capacity around sustainable urban mobility. It remains a vital and expanding branch of the CIVITAS Community.
Urban Mobility Days 2025
This year’s Urban Mobility Days (UMD) will take place from 30 September to 2 October in Vilnius, Lithuania, the European Green Capital 2025. As the European Commission’s flagship mobility event, UMD 2025 provides a chance to network, debate current mobility topics and exchange on urban mobility in line with the new European Union’s strategic priorities. The conference combines two leading events from Europe’s transport calendar: the CIVITAS Forum and the former European Conference on Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs).
A fruitful and Productive Meeting
On the second day of the assembly, the consortium was honoured to welcome the Deputy Mayor of Matosinhos, Carlos Manuel Amorim da Mouta, to the INOVA+ premises. Representing the scenic port and fishing town which neighbours the larger city of Porto, and an ICLEI Member since 2022, Deputy Mayor da Mouta offered insights into the Municipality’s progress in advancing sustainable urban mobility.
Da Mouta reflected on the city’s transformation over the last 20 years, particularly in terms of population growth and the subsequent need for increased mobility management. Matosinhos, though small in size, experiences an influx of tourists drawn to its sunny coastal beaches and proximity to Porto, placing enormous strain on local mobility and transport systems.
To illustrate the numbers that regularly visit the area, Bruno Eugénio, Head of the Mobility Management Unit in Porto’s CGI Centro de Gestão Integrada (Porto’ integrated management centre), described the pedestrian traffic across Dom Luís I Bridge. Classified as an official World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986, the bridge is nestled in the heart of Porto, which sees an estimated 900 crossings in just 15 minutes.
During his visit, the Deputy Mayor emphasised the importance of participating in EU projects, like the CIVITAS Initiative, expressing the Municipality’s desire to strengthen and advance its mobility efforts.
Seizing the moment, Andreas Pillar, CIVITAS Initiative coordinator and Senior Expert in Sustainable Mobility at ICLEI Europe, extended an invitation for Matosinhos to become the CIVITAS Initiative's newest CIVITAS City, as a motivated and innovative city to join our CIVITAS City network.
A heartfelt thank you to the Municipality of Matosinhos, Deputy Mayor Carlos Manuel Amorim da Mouta, and Bruno Eugénio, Head of the Mobility Management Unit at Porto’s CGI Centro de Gestão Integradato, for their warm welcome to Matosinhos and Porto.
A sincere thank you to INOVA+ for generously and warmly hosting the consortium for the meeting. Lastly, thank you to all CIVITAS partners: INOVA+, ICLEI Europe, Mobiel 21, TRT TRASPORTI E TERRITORIO SRL, Eurocities, EIT Urban Mobility, DTV, Breda University of Applied Sciences, and everyone who contributed to making the CIVITAS General Assembly a success.
Your collaboration, ideas, and shared dedication to sustainable urban mobility continues to energise and inspire CIVITAS.
