Debrecen has been named one of the ten best candidates for the European Green Capital Award 2027, the European Commission has announced. This international recognition reinforces the sustainability approach that has permeated the city's urban development efforts in recent years, which focuses on the alliance between nature and knowledge.

In 2019, the city administration announced a new environmental policy, which marked the beginning of a shift in attitude towards sustainability and green issues, laying the foundation for the city's bid for the European Green Capital title.

During the application process, the city presented good practices such as the Green Guard Environmental Monitoring System, the Civaqua program, the Future of Debrecen awareness-raising actions, and the gray water project based on circular water management. Thanks to the cooperation between the city administration, the University of Debrecen, EDC, and several local organizations, a unique ecosystem has been created that forms the basis for a sustainable future.

With the active participation of the people of Debrecen, a Green Code was created, which sets out 50 measures for the well-being of the city.

The TOP 10 nomination provides an opportunity for Debrecen to establish new international partnerships with other cities that are thinking about a green future. The next stages of the competition will involve the technical evaluation of the applications, the selection of the finalists, and then the presentation to the jury – the results will be announced on October 2, 2025, in Vilnius.