First Vice-President (of Spain), Commissioner, Members of the European Parliament, Ministers, Mayor, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Five years ago, Sevilla hosted one of the New European Bauhauss initial public dialogues. At this event, President von der Leyen highlighted the NEBs goals, emphasizing the need for both visions and tangible outcomes.

I fondly recall the Commission Presidents remark that the New European Bauhaus embodies the Green Deals essence, sparking a surge of creativity across our Union.

I believe the New European Bauhaus can translate the Green Deal into real-life improvements, enhancing daily life with sustainable solutions for our environment and lifestyle.

Now, five years later, we are commencing the construction of a significant product: the first EU building designed according to the New European Bauhaus principles.

Dear Bjarke, you once said, “it’s not about what we give up to be sustainable; it’s about what we gain.” This mantra resonates within the European Commission. Sustainability aligns with competitiveness, security, and resilience, making our lives happier and healthier, and potentially more beautiful.

This new building will exemplify that approach. Its impressive solar dome will generate double its energy needs, and its passive design will quickly offset its carbon footprint. As Commissioner for Water Resilience, I am particularly pleased that it will include rainwater collection for irrigation and toilet flushing.

Moreover, it will be aesthetically pleasing. With its shaded plaza and greenery, it will create a wonderful ambiance. Once completed, this building will stand as a magnificent tribute to the vision of the New European Bauhaus as initiated by our Commission President.

This building is just one manifestation of the New European Bauhaus. I also want to acknowledge the many beautiful and sustainable initiatives the NEB community is implementing in neighborhoods across Europe, illustrating the daily lives and resilience of citizens.

Through the New European Bauhaus, we are fostering a lasting movement to shape our future living spaces. This movement embraces the free-thinking and interdisciplinary spirit of the original Bauhaus, adapting it to our current century while preserving our cultural heritage.

Europeans responded enthusiastically. Initially small, the movement quickly grew into a vibrant community of over 1,900 members, including many here today.

They are bringing projects to life in various settings, translating the New European Bauhaus values into local actions, education, experimentation, and innovative business models.

The projects tackle diverse challenges, from creating temporary housing for vulnerable groups to promoting biodiversity through sustainable farming practices right here in Andalusia, and greening our cities, including Sevilla, by reintroducing nature into urban environments.

Dear colleagues at the Joint Research Centre: alongside leading the co-design of the New European Bauhaus, you are collaborating with over 200 regions, cities, and communities through the Preparatory Action, Innovation for place-based transformation. Some regions are embarking on a New European Bauhaus experimentation journey, and I look forward to witnessing their discoveries. Thank you for your commitment to this initiative, which is also supported by the European Parliament.

Next year, we are also preparing a Recommendation for Member States on the New European Bauhaus. I believe that embedding its values at a national level is essential for creating affordable, sustainable, and resilient solutions to current challenges, paving the way for a better future for generations to come.

This is not a top-down effort; it is a co-creation journey. That is the power of the New European Bauhaus. What we celebrate today is not merely the start of construction, but the continuation of a collective story and learning journey that belongs to everyone.

Thank you.

And now that we have heard about the New European Bauhaus, lets see what it looks like.