New European Bauhaus Prize Winner: An interview with Fabio Bassini, EU Local Councillor

Nestled in northern Italy, the small municipality of Marcignago has just earned a place among Europe’s visionary communities with its “School of Collective Care” project. As one of only 20 winners of the prestigious 2025 New European Bauhaus (NEB) Prizes, Marcignago has been recognised for its project for blending beauty, sustainability, and social inclusion: three key goals of the NEB initiative.  
 

The NEB Prizes celebrate projects that change towns for the better not just making them look nice but improving people’s lives and the planet. But what does this endorsement mean for Marcignago, and how did a small municipality stand out on the EU stage? 

To find out, we spoke with Fabio Bassini President of the Municipal Council of Marcignago about the journey behind this award-winning project, its impact on the local community, and what lies ahead for a town now in the EU spotlight. 

Fabio Bassini, EULC member  

Fabio, the ‘School of Collective Care’ has put Marcignago on the map as one of Europe’s most innovative small towns, winning a New European Bauhaus Prize against 300+ competitors. Could you take us through the journey of this project? What inspired it, how the community came together to make it happen?   

We didn’t just want a garden; we wanted a living classroom, a well-being pathway, and a space young people could call their own. That’s the ‘School of Collective Care’: an outdoor learning space and a hub shaped by our youth. Sustainability here means building connections, not just green spaces. 

It took a village literally. With the University of Pavia, local groups, and countless voices, we crafted something truly ours.  

The €30,000 prize? All reinvested. But the real win is the chance to share our blueprint, turning Marcignago’s idea into inspiration for others on the NEB network, a platform for sharing knowledge across EU Member States. 

How does it feel to be among the winners of the NEB Prize and invited here to Brussels?  

Winning the NEB Prize as a representative of a small community like mine is a source of immense pride and satisfaction. It proves that, with the right support, even small municipalities can make their voices heard, showcase their ideas, and turn their projects into examples of innovation and growth for their region.  

What advice would you give to the other EU local councillors who are approaching the NEB initiative for the first time?  

My advice is to involve citizens in the NEB project’s design process. Listening to diverse perspectives and valuing community ideas is essential for developing initiatives that genuinely address local needs.  

What do your citizens think of this initiative (NEB)?  

Citizens have embraced the NEB initiative with interest and curiosity, actively contributing to its implementation. The victory was met with great enthusiasm, reinforcing the belief that even a small community can lead innovative projects of European significance.  

What benefits does this European initiative bring to small municipalities like yours? How can being part of the EULC network help?  

An initiative like this undoubtedly brings innovative, Europe-wide projects into the public eye. However, what I consider most crucial, as a member of the EU Local Councillors Network, is the sharing of ideas and the exchange of diverse experiences.  

Simply presenting a winning project to inspire admiration isn’t enough; it’s essential to share skills, best practices, and knowledge so that other communities can grow and develop pathways to achieve similar goals. For me, this is one of the founding principles of the EU’s local councillors’ network: sharing experiences and tools to give everyone the opportunity to improve, strengthen their community, and contribute to the common good.