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Vitoria-Gasteiz is now officially European Green Capital 2012. The Mayor, Javier Maroto, has gathered this morning in the European Parliament the Green Book, amulet that testifies European green capital status, from Secretary of State of Hamburg, Holger Lange, completing the journey that began in Stockholm in October 2010, when Vitoria won the "Environmental Nobel".

"Vitoria-Gasteiz will lead the green revolution, so we are very proud to finally pick up this award, that accredits the work over three decades," the mayor said during his speech in the hemicycle of the European Parliament minutes before receiving the Green Book, "I'm going to show it to all the citizens, because this award belongs to everyone and is for all," he added before making a family photo with the delegation of Vitoria.

Immediately after this formal ceremony, Maroto has officially opened its new green charge and has used his stay in Brussels to meet with Mercedes Bresso, President of the Committee of the Regions and Evelyne Brouyhek, Minister of Environment of Belgium.

The third of the capitals that can show its environmental trophy with proud, after Stockholm and Hamburg, has received the green reign witness from the hands of the Secretary of State of this German city, Holger Longe, at a ceremony in which first Bresso, chairwoman of the Committee of the Regions has not hesitated to invite Vitoria to lead a new "generation" of green capitals "that allows this award impose a higher standard for the cities, citizens and institutions ". Therefore has proposed both in plenary and then in a private meeting Maroto to lead a community of European Green Capitals, "in which all candidates are included as well as cities that work on sustainability criteria." For these reasons it has committed itself and the Committee of the Regions to release these new practices because "the EU budget for 2014-2020 should consider this award as it combines economic, social and green policies."

During the 50 minute-long ceremony, as part of a plenary session of the Committee of the Regions Janez Potočnik, Commissioner for the Environment, responded to President Bresso highlighting the role of Vitoria-Gasteiz, as an ambassador of the systems sustainable urban and involvement in the summit meeting in Brazil, Rio + 20, which will take place in a few months. It has also highlighted the performance of the capital of Alava in energy and water management, and recovery of green areas. For its part, the Secretary of State of Hamburg, after to congratulate Vitoria-Gasteiz, showed a video of this German city to highlight their care for nature and green areas and energy management in common with the capital of Alava.

The mayor, from the top table of European central hall of the Chamber and to the full Committee of the Regions, plus various guests office Green Capital and representatives of Hamburg, Stockholm and praised Nantes, has lauded, in Euskera, Vitoria-Gasteiz and thanked for this opportunity for the city. After watching a video on which the audience has been shown Vitoria to be worth the European Green Capital award, the municipal councilor in English has highlighted the importance of this award as it makes Vitoria-Gasteiz an example of European cities. "2012 will be a year to share ideas and take responsibility for building the future," said the Mayor, while making reference to the context of crisis, opportunity to improve the future of cities to take up the challenge of introducing nature in cities.

To end the European day, Javier Maroto will meet with the Minister Brouyhek, of Brussels, as being candidates for European Green Capital 2014, wanted to take this opportunity to discuss the fundamental issues of climate change and find solutions to the challenges of sustainable mobility.