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Zaragoza’s Puente de Piedra bridge and Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar

City of Zaragoza, Spain

Zaragoza’s Puente de Piedra bridge and Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
© JackF | Adobe Stock

Zaragoza stands on the banks of the River Ebro and is the capital of the Autonomous Community of Aragon. With 694 109 residents, it is Spain’s fifth most populated city. It has a rich historical and cultural heritage. The Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar and the Aljafería Palace are examples of the legacy left by different cultures. Its central position in the region make it a hub for communications and transport. There are a number of sectors that stand out in Zaragoza's economy, such as the services industry, renewable energy, sustainable water management, the automotive industry, pharmaceuticals and logistics. Its logistics platform PLAZA is the biggest in southern Europe. In 2022, the European Commission selected Zaragoza to be one of the ‘100 climate-neutral cities’, making the city a model in the EU, thanks to its innovative projects to do with sustainable mobility, energy efficiency and the circular economy.

Examples of projects and initiatives supported by the EU

Renovation of the street Hayedo

The upgrade works on Hayedo Street received EUR 402 252 in NextGenerationEU funding. This has helped to improve accessibility, create a new neighbourhood link, make pedestrian and cyclist mobility a priority and integrate the city’s river network into the urban landscape, creating a space where people can meet and coexist. 

Project: Student's Academic performance

With EUR 235 095 in funding from Erasmus+, the University of Zaragoza, together with other EU universities, has been able to develop an online platform called STAR.APP, which aims to pre-emptively detect students at risk of dropping out of their studies. 

Construction and upgrading of recycling centers

NextGenerationEU funding of EUR 135 000 has financed the construction and renovation of waste disposal hubs. The aim is to improve the processing of all kinds of municipal waste and ensure it is properly managed. 

International Doctoral Programme for Talent Attraction

The University of Zaragoza is part of the Campus Iberus – the Ebro Valley’s Campus of International Excellence. The IberusTalent programme is an initiative by Campus Iberus, funded with EUR 2 825 280 from the EU’s Horizon programme. It aims to attract 36 outstanding researchers to undertake a doctorate in the field of agri-food technologies.

Subsidies for public libraries

Zaragoza’s municipal libraries received EUR 85 478 in NextGenerationEU funding to acquire collections and printed books in order to make libraries more accessible to users and make it easier for those users to engage with culture. 

Further information
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