Alba Iulia is a city with multiple national and international awards. In the past few years the rehabilitation works of the Vauban Alba Carolina Citadel - for which more than 50 million Euros were invested - and the efforts carried out by Alba Iulia Municipality for enhancing the tourism potential and for increasing the visibility of the local heritage were appreciated at national and international level through various awards and distinguished appreciations.
- Alba Iulia Municipality was awarded the prestigious title of European Destination of Excellence (EDEN) conferred on the 1 June 2012 by the European Commission through the Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism.
(https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/eden/destinations/romania_en#alba); - Alba Iulia Municipality was awarded the Jury's Special Mention Award from EUROPA NOSTRA Organisation which is the largest European Association focused on Tourism Conservation. Since then Alba Iulia Municipality is a member of the Association as associate partner. (http://europanostra.org/);
- The Roman - Catholic Cathedral of Alba Iulia Municipality, one of the most important architectural monuments of Transylvania is a Romanesque heritage recognized at European level. Since 2012, the cathedral has been included in one of the European Routes of the Council of Europe, TRANSROMANICA - The Romanesque Route of European Heritage.(https://www.transromanica.com/about/association/);
- The Greatest Hug from Alba Iulia - officially recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest human hug in history, during which 10.000 people hugged the Alba Carolina Citadel. Also the largest image of a country reached a new world record in 2018. (more than 4500 people);
- The efficient use of European funds brought to Alba Iulia Municipality in December 2014, the First Prize of the European Structural Funding Gala, at the "welcoming guests" section. The prize was offered to the City’s Mayor by Jyrki Katainen, European Commission’s Vice-President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness;
- Not only the achievements in tourism development were appreciated, in 2014, Alba Iulia Municipality was awarded the title “A city renewal” within the Best Cities Awards Gala 2014 by Forbes Romania for its accomplishments in the physical regeneration of the city, mainly financed through EU structural funds;
- First place in the contest organized within eTravel Conference 2017, section "Best Blogger Relations Program". eTravel Conference is the largest national business and online promotion event dedicated to the tourism industry in Romania;
- Alba Iulia won the European Public Sector Award - EPSA European Public Sector Award in 2017. Alba Iulia was awarded for “An innovative public sector in 2017 - New solutions to complex challenges, best practices at the Supreme level local and local”;
- In 2017 Alba Iulia obtained the official recognition of the European Commission (through the URBACT Secretariat) for the city branding project implemented by the city. Through this recognition, the city of Alba Iulia is promoted at European level as an example of good practices in the field of city branding: http://urbact.eu/city-branding-making-invisible-visible;
- "The most efficient cities in Romania", 2nd place: #AlbaIulia. http://urbanizehub.ro/topul-celor-mai-eficiente-orase-din-romania/ „For such a small city, Alba Iulia has some impressive figures. At the level of capital expenditures, the city made investments of € 79.6 million with an average of € 1,253 per capita, and € 51.7 million absorptions of European funds, with an average of 815 euros per capita”;
- In October 2017, the International Road Transport Union awarded the trophy to Alba Iulia at the Smart Move Awards gala, in the Smart Move City Trophy category. Alba Iulia impressed the IRU jury with the collaborative and integrated approach to mobility, through the organized way of receiving tourists;
- In November 2017, Alba Iulia Municipality is awarded the First Prize for Excellence in public transport at the AMR Gala organized by the Association of Romanian Municipalities, an event under the patronage of the President of Romania;
- 1st place at the Business Review Gala, “Local Smart Initiative” category - March 5, 2018;
- First Prize from the French Embassy in Romania, within the contest "Sustainable Cities", category: "Capitalization of buildings and rehabilitation of heritage" - May 14, 2018;
- Certificate of recognition of the restoration project of the Alba Carolina Citadel, within the initiative of the EPP Group of the European Parliament "Let the Stars Shine" - June 19, 2018;
- ADMINISTRAȚIE.RO Gala Award, 14th edition, category “Projects for the implementation of modern technologies in administration” for the unique pilot project in Romania “AlbaIuliaSmartCity” - October 25, 2018;
- 1st place from the National Association of Civil Servants, within the International Conference "Innovation and quality in the public sector", section Public consultation - premise for the functionality of co-decision mechanisms - October 31, 2018;
- 1st place at the Gala of the Association of Romanian Municipalities, category “Excellence in digitization / Smart City” - November 12, 2018;
- Awarded by the Romanian Association for Smart City and Mobility at the "Smart Industry Awards" gala: first prize in the "Smart Government" section, for the project "Communication with citizens via Bluetooth and beacons (e-AlbaIulia application)", December 10, 2018;
- Accepted as a member in the Green City Accord initiative, April 2021;
- European Energy Award - Alba Iulia is the first municipality in Transylvania to receive the title of "Sustainable Community". The performance evaluation was made on the basis of 79 indicators and 6 areas of energy efficiency.
Photo credits: Romulus Opriscan
