Lleida is an official candidate for European Volunteering Capital 2028, with the city now preparing its formal bid and a decision due in December.
For readers in Catalonia, the key dates are clear: the application must be submitted by 15 July, the bid will be presented in Brussels on 15 October, and the winner will be announced on 1 December. You can also follow local civic coverage on our news tag page.
According to the Centre for European Volunteering, the title recognises places that support volunteering, social cohesion, and active citizen involvement through public policy. The official information is available on the Centre for European Volunteering website.
Lleida is one of four municipalities in the running, alongside Odder in Denmark, Pilsen in the Czech Republic, and Reggio Emilia in Italy. The Paeria, the city council in Lleida, says the bid is linked to work on participation and volunteering in the city.
Councillor Roberto Pino said the candidacy aims to strengthen and make visible the city’s associative fabric, and that social, cultural, sports, and cooperation groups play a role in inclusion, solidarity, and quality of life. He also said the project has been built with local organisations and hundreds of volunteers.
The council has set up a specific commission on the European Volunteering Capital, led by the Department of Participation. It has also linked the bid to the 2025 municipal budget pact with Junts and to a plenary motion approved last May.
Residents, associations, and neighbourhood groups interested in the city’s civic agenda can follow updates from the Paeria and the Centre for European Volunteering as the bid moves towards the autumn presentation and December decision.
