From 3 to 6 May 2026, the GreenMove partnership gathered in Valongo, Portugal, for the sixth and final transnational meeting of the project, marking the conclusion of a European cooperation path dedicated to sustainable mobility, social inclusion and democratic participation.

The event brought together 17 partners from 16 European countries, strengthening an international network that, over the past two years, has evolved into a permanent platform for climate democracy and social innovation.

Valongo: a model of sustainability and quality of life

The first day was dedicated to exploring the local territory and Valongo’s urban model, a municipality located just a few minutes from Porto and widely recognised for the quality of its public spaces, environmental commitment and high standard of urban wellbeing.

Through cultural visits and meetings within the local community, participants experienced first-hand an urban ecosystem characterised by sustainability, efficiency and liveability, capable of combining tranquillity with strong European connectivity.

The day also coincided with Mother’s Day celebrations in Portugal, creating a welcoming atmosphere strongly connected to community and family values.

Social inclusion, participation and intergenerational innovation

The second day opened with an address by the Mayor of Valongo, Paulo Esteves Ferreira, who reaffirmed the municipality’s commitment to social innovation, territorial resilience and participatory governance.

The main theme of the day focused on women’s empowerment in mountain regions through sustainable mobility and gender equality, explored through thematic sessions and presentations of local best practices.

Particular attention was given to the work carried out by Valongo’s Department of Social Innovation, which was widely recognised by the consortium as a highly replicable European model.

Among the most significant practices highlighted during the meeting:

• support for vulnerable groups, including the Roma community, through mobility and social inclusion programmes;
• reducing the intergenerational digital divide through innovative digital tools;
• the “YouTubeTrainers” initiative, through which young people transfer digital skills to elderly citizens, minorities and vulnerable groups;
• the development of shared activities connecting younger and older generations, fostering intergenerational solidarity and mutual learning.

Valongo’s citizen science-based approach, grounded in sustainability and resilience, demonstrated how local ecosystems can generate innovative and scalable solutions to address Europe’s most urgent mobility challenges.

Universal Design adopted as a strategic GreenMove legacy

The final day led to one of the most important outcomes of the entire project journey.

The Municipality of Fano presented a proposal focused on Universal Design – “Design for All” – promoting an inclusive planning approach capable of guaranteeing accessibility beyond physical barriers.

The proposal highlighted several key principles:

• planning investments that respond to the needs of families, children, people with mobility difficulties and users with specific needs;
• recognising that urban spaces are experienced differently depending on users’ conditions and requirements;
• encouraging direct dialogue with citizens in order to better understand real accessibility challenges;
• promoting training and co-design activities involving professionals, public administrations and individuals experiencing accessibility barriers in daily life.

During the discussion, the Municipality of Fano also stressed the importance of strengthening synergies among EU-funded projects in order to enhance the exchange and integration of good practices across Europe.

The partnership unanimously agreed to adopt Universal Design as a core legacy principle of GreenMove, recognising it as a fundamental element for the future development of inclusive, accessible and people-centred mobility planning.

Cultural heritage, traditions and local identity

Alongside the institutional and technical sessions, the programme also included several cultural activities aimed at showcasing the traditions of Valongo and the Porto region.

Participants visited Quinta das Arcas, one of the region’s historic wineries, followed by a traditional dance performance organised by the Senior Dance Academy of Valongo, demonstrating active ageing and cultural participation.

Partners also took part in an interactive experience at the Oficina da Regueifa e do Biscoito – the Bread and Biscuit Museum of Valongo – where delegates prepared traditional local biscuits and shared a hands-on cultural exchange involving representatives from all 16 participating countries.

The final achievements of GreenMove

With the conclusion of the Valongo meeting, the GreenMove consortium officially:

• completed the sixth chapter of the Interactive Guide to Sustainable Living (GISLG), dedicated to gender equality, social inclusion and mountain regions;
• formalised the GreenMove Digital Toolbox as a permanent open-access resource;
• adopted Universal Design as a strategic principle for inclusive mobility planning.

The meeting also took place close to 9 May, the European Sustainable Mobility Day, symbolically reaffirming mobility as a fundamental right and recognising environmentally sustainable and inclusive transport systems as a cornerstone of a resilient, democratic and united Europe.

As stated by the consortium coordinator:
“What we have built through GreenMove is not simply a set of tools, but a real movement. From the coasts of Corfu to the mountains of Valongo, we have demonstrated that citizens, local authorities and European values can work together to shape a more inclusive, sustainable and democratic Europe.”

About GreenMove

Funded by the European Commission under the CERV-2024 – Network of Towns programme, GreenMove is a project dedicated to promoting sustainable mobility in rural and island areas across Europe.

Through a network of 17 partners from 16 countries, the project has worked over two years to develop participatory tools, methodologies and practices aimed at strengthening citizen participation, integrating fundamental rights into transport planning and building a permanent European network for climate democracy.

Project platform: www.greenmove.site