The other cities are Bristol (UK), Brussels (Belgium), Bydgoszcz (Poland), Dublin (Ireland), Glasgow (UK), Kutahya (Turkey), and Ljubljana (Slovenia).

The European Green Capital Award is given to a city that promotes environmentally-friendly urban living. All eight cities will be assessed by an international expert panel regarding their achievements in terms of climate change and energy performance, sustainable local transport, air quality and noise levels, green urban areas and sustainable land use, promotion of nature and biodiversity, waste management, water consumption and waste water treatment, eco-innovation and sustainable employment, and finally, the environmental management practice of the local authority.

"This is the sixth year of the European Green Capital Award. It is encouraging to see former applicants reapplying and new ones showing genuine interest. Many EU cities are setting global standards for urban sustainability, with pioneering innovative solutions to environmental challenges. The Green Capital Award is a unique opportunity for them to share this knowledge with the rest of Europe," EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said.

In 2013, the shortlisted cities will be asked to present their proposals to an international jury that will evaluate their accomplishments in terms of environmental improvement, their goals for the future development of this area, and their ability to act as role models to other European cities in order to promote green growth. The winner will be announced in June in Nantes, France, which is the 2013 European Green Capital.