Supported projects

VALENCIA / EMILIA-ROMAGNA - Two years after devastating floods in Valencia and Emilia-Romagna, this investigation examines failures in early warning systems and the lessons needed to prevent future disasters as the climate crisis worsens.

ROTTERDAM / RIMINI / FAIRBOURNE - The investigation looks at three cities that are all vulnerable to increased flooding as the sea level rises. It analyses the municipal policies designed to protect the cities from flooding, demonstrating that greater protection is linked to a higher economic value ...

BRATISLAVA / PRAGUE / BUDAPEST / WARSAW - Four leading newsrooms placed scientific-grade air monitors outside elementary schools. For four months, the data didn’t blink. PM2.5 levels stayed dangerously high, right where children learn and play.

PRAGUE/ BERLIN/ BRUSSELS - The European project “The Housing Games” investigates whether the people essential to keep our cities running can still afford to live in them.

ATHENS/ ISTANBUL - Istanbul and Athens are densely populated cities sitting on fault lines. Yet, their disaster preparedness lags behind.

SAINT-MALO/ SINTRA - In the periphery of major city hotspots grappling with mass tourism, the flow of holidaymakers also changes the identity and affordability of smaller towns. This project investigated the nuances of this phenomena in Brittany and near Lisbon.

TENERIFE / NAPLES - Overtourism has turned destinations like Naples and Tenerife into hotspots of environmental degradation. The sea, which attracts millions of visitors to these destinations, is becoming increasingly polluted and unsafe. This cross-border journalistic investigation sheds light on ...

ROTTERDAM - Despite the vision of a borderless EU enshrined in the free movement principles of the Schengen Area, EU citizens can still be deported from their host country. The majority of intra-EU deportation cases are initiated for 'causing a nuisance', and the group most affected are unsheltered ...

VALLETTA / TUNIS / MARRAKECH / ISTANBUL - Mediterranean Low Cost investigates the negative impacts of touristification and gentrification on the southern shore of the Mediterranean, focusing on four areas particularly affected by the phenomena: Malta, Istanbul, Marrakech, and Tunis. 

ALYTUS / WEINSTADT – This project explores inclusion as far more than mere accessibility, focusing on participation, equality, and career opportunities for individuals with disabilities. While public discourse often limits the subject to special schools and sheltered workshops, compelling models ...

TIRANA / PRAGUE / PODGORICA - In Montenegro, where pollution levels are rising and institutional responses to environmental challenges remain insufficient, community-led solutions are increasingly stepping in to bridge the gap. 

BARCELONA/PALERMO – This investigation focuses on how tourism is reshaping everyday life in two Mediterranean cities: Barcelona and Palermo. Behind the postcard image of packed beaches and lively streets lies another reality: rising rents, vanishing neighbours, and the slow erosion of community.

THE CYCLADES – Tourism in the Greek Cyclades is booming, but at a high cost. This cross-border investigation explores how over-tourism is putting pressure on water supplies, creating waste, and fuelling uncontrolled construction projects across the islands.

PRAGUE / TIRANA / WEINSTADT – This project explores the surprising new roles of Czech military bunkers, which were once part of the defence system built in the 1930s. Brno’s 10-Z shelter has been revived by historian Pavel Paleček, who has turned it into a museum, cultural venue and unconventional ...

CLUJ-NAPOCA / LISBON / ALYTUS / PRAGUE – Cities are not very pedestrian-friendly, and small children are among the most vulnerable groups. One solution is tactical urbanism, a method that opens a discussion about the design of a specific area, making it possible to convince all stakeholders of the ...

BERLIN / ATHENS - Every year, hundreds of thousands of buildings are demolished across Europe. This demolition frenzy is virtually unregulated and to date has received too little attention, despite the many ecological and social problems it causes.

BRUSSELS - This investigation examines how stricter European regulations on wild animals in circuses have led to an unintended crisis, leaving hundreds of big cats are trapped in  overcrowded shelters with limited resources and no coordinated solutions.

VIENNA - The fact that Vienna was named the most liveable city in the world in 2024 for the third year in a row by The Economist is largely due to its generous social housing policy. The central question in this dossier is “what can Flanders learn from Vienna in terms of social, affordable housing”?

BRNO - 'Dammed Waters' examines the political and economic interests behind contrasting flood defence approaches across the Czech Republic and Poland. Through field reporting, data analysis and in-depth interviews, this cross-border investigation uncovers why some flood defences in the region ...

LILLE/ROTTERDAM - This research explores the intersection of urban development projects and drug crime reduction, looking at the shortcomings and successful strategies of two cities.

PETROSANI - The Just Transition Mechanism promised Europe's coal regions that their communities would not be left behind as coal-intensive industries close. This team of journalists investigates what's happening in the coal regions of Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria.

ROTTERDAM - In the late 1980s, an existing plans to convert Rotterdam The Hague Airport into a residential area was already underway. A team of investigative journalists aims to find out how closing down airports within close proximity to a city delivers a higher quality of life to the residents of ...

VALENCIA - In recent years, several European countries have faced devastating floods, sparking discussions on how to mitigate or prevent such disasters. In Spain, the tragedy in Valencia in October 2024 has led to the exploration of solutions like early warning systems, architectural adaptations ...

CHURCHILL / DULUTH / NUUK - Some places in the world, due to their strategic location, are proving to be unexpected havens in the face of the relentless onslaught of climate change.

BRUSSELS - In this investigation, a diverse group of journalists analysed climate risk reports, academic literature and EU strategies for climate adaption to grasp the current state of adaptation in Europe. They also looked at local climate adaptation in Oradea, Romania, Loulé, Portugal and Rostock ...

MILAN / BOLOGNA / BARCELONA / DRESDEN – This investigation looked in the climate action plans of leading cities in Italy, Spain and Germany, scrutinising their use of EU funding, and identifying effective solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

MILANO - The number of homeless people in Europe has doubled since 2009. A recent report from the Feantsa states that Europe has almost 895,000 homeless people.

MILAN/ROTTERDAM - Many cities in Europe are experimenting with citizen’s assemblies to develop stronger and more inclusive climate policies. But are these experiments effective? The team investigated the value and shortcomings of the assemblies as a climate policies solution.

LISBON - As cities battle with the dual challenge of maintaining resident populations amidst rising real estate interests and overtourism, the team investigated if there are any evidence-based ways to stop or slow gentrification and other issues through public, cooperative and social housing.

MADRID - Heat is killing thousands of people in Southern European cities but what is being done in Barcelona, Milan and Lisbon about it? In 2023, more than 45.000 people died in Europe due to heat-related causes, with the southern countries topping the list.