19/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - Essen is European Green Capital 2017. The German city of Essen is to be the European Green Capital for 2017. It received this award from European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella for being an example in its practices of environmental protection and biodiversity, noise management and water consumption reduction. The award ceremony took place in Bristol (UK) - which is the current holder of the title. The European Green Leaf award, on the other hand, which is given for the first time to very small towns (50,000 to 100,000 inhabitants), has been awarded to the Spanish town of Mollet del Vallès and to the Portuguese town of Torres Vedras, in recognition of their commitment to improving their environmental performance to support green growth (see EUROPE 11214). (AN)