The 2010 Annual CIVITAS Forum Conference was hosted by the city of Malmo in Sweden from 27-29 September. The event presented an opportunity for the exchange of dialogue and views between city and European politicians on the one hand, and experts in the field of urban mobility on the other.

The conference was the 8th such annual event, and was previously hosted in various quarters of Europe including Krakow, Bologna, Kaunas, Burgos and Rotterdam since the start of the series in 2003. The CIVITAS Forum Network currently includes 181 cities from 30 European countries that have formally committed to clean and sustainable urban transport.

The city of Malmö was an ideal location for the Forum. Located in southern Sweden’s Oresund region and with approximately 295,000 inhabitants, it has developed as a thriving industrial and trade centre from its mediaeval roots. Today, it is renowned for its eco-friendly neighbourhoods and is often referred to as “the world’s smallest big city,” not least because you can reach anywhere with a bike in 15 minutes. This philosophy of using sustainable means of transport over short journeys is one that underpinned Malmo’s involvement in CIVITAS SMILE, the achievements of which the city shared with visitors of the CIVITAS Forum 2010. In December 2010 for instance, the Citytunnel was opened to commuters, while the new Triangel-station has become one of Sweden’s second largest stations and hosts an innovative bicyle parking garage.