Brussels, 23/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - All EU cities with more than 200,000 inhabitants can now apply for the titles of European Green Capital 2012 and 2013 in an online application form by 1 February 2010. The jury is composed of representatives from the European Commission, the European Environment Agency and key European and international environmental organisations. The award was conceived as an initiative to promote and reward efforts, to spur cities to commit to further action, and to showcase and encourage exchange of best practice among European cities. Entries will be assessed on the basis of 11 environmental criteria, including local contribution to fighting global climate change, waste production and management, nature and biodiversity, transport, air and water. Stockholm and Hamburg beat off strong competition to be named as the first winners of the European Green Capital award in February this year. The Swedish capital will be European Green Capital in 2010, followed by Hamburg in 2011. Prize-winning cities for 2012 and 2013 will be known in 2010. The award scheme is open to the 27 EU Member States, candidate countries (Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Croatia) and European Economic Area countries (Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein). Submitting candidacies for the European Green Capital Award can be made at: (http://www.europeangreencapital.eu ). (A.N.)