Biondi in Bratislava: L'Aquila presented as a model of recovery through

Biondi in Bratislava: L'Aquila as a model of recovery

Mayor of L'Aquila, Pierluigi Biondi, spoke recently at the Committee of the Regions summit of the Conservatives and Reformists group in Bratislava. He traced the city’s journey from the 2009 earthquake to its recognition as Italian Capital of Culture 2026, stressing the role of culture, innovation and quality of life in reversing demographic decline.

Biondi noted that around €23 billion have been allocated by successive Italian governments for emergency management and reconstruction of L'Aquila and the affected area, and emphasized that planning the city’s future meant combining physical rebuilding with a broader development strategy.

• Quality of life: policies to make staying in inner areas a viable choice.
• Culture as an asset: leveraging cultural institutions and local identity for development.
• Administrative simplification: ensuring European funds are effective through faster procedures.

Speaking on public services and demographic challenges, Biondi presented L'Aquila as a replicable model for medium-sized cities and internal areas, calling on the 2028–2034 EU budget and the Cities Agenda to support similar initiatives.