Marseille-Provence 2013 a larger, decades-long, multibillion-dollar development effort to revitalize the city. The official designation of European Capital of Culture was created in 1985 with the goal of building ties between citizens of the European Union by celebrating both the diversity of European culture and its common history and values. The event is also considered an opportunity for a city or region raise its international profile and to foster urban renewal through investment in culture and tourism. Thus far, more than 40 cities have received the European Capital of Culture designation. The city of Marseille launched its candidacy to host the European
European Green Capital Award 2015.The European Green Leaf is a new competition aimed at cities, with between 20,000 and 100,000 inhabitants, that recognises commitment to better environmental outcomes, with a particular accent on efforts that generate green growth and new jobs. The objectives of the European Green Leaf are threefold: The European Green Leaf will be presented on an annual basis by the European Commission in conjunction with the European Green Capital Award from 2015 onwards as a stamp of approval to "Smaller Cities, Growing Greener!" European Green Capital Award The European Green Capital Award is an award for a European city based on