Zaragoza takes a gamble in Brussels: nerves and anticipation for the European award for small businesses

Zaragoza is experiencing a day of anticipation, nerves, and excitement this Wednesday in the heart of
 Europe . The Aragonese capital is vying in Brussels today to be named Visionary City of Small Retail at the first edition of the European Capitals of Small Retail 2026 Awards, accolades promoted by the European Union to recognize the best policies supporting local businesses. The Zaragoza delegation is already in the EU capital to defend a candidacy that, whatever the outcome, has already made history.

The Zaragoza City Council has been selected as one of the three European finalists in this category, along with Utrecht (Netherlands) and Barcelona. This pre-selection positions the city as a leader in creating vibrant, resilient, and forward-thinking small business ecosystems, in a competition that received hundreds of proposals from larger cities with a more international profile.

The task of presenting the candidacy will fall to the Councilor for Economy, Digital Transformation, and Transparency, Carlos Gimeno, who explained to Aragón Digital that he will highlight Zaragoza’s two-thousand-year history and its commerce, as well as the municipal policies implemented in recent years. Among these, he will emphasize the successful ” Volveremos” (We Will Return) program, the direct aid provided to the sector, and will also announce a couple of new initiatives that reinforce the city’s commitment to local businesses.

Gimeno emphasized that “the nomination itself is already a prize,” having made it to the finals against renowned European cities. “For Natalia Chueca ’s administration , this represents enormous support for the work we undertook during this term, which, in just two and a half years, has delivered excellent results for the self-employed, SMEs, and micro-enterprises ,” he stated, also highlighting the recognition these policies are receiving from both the sector itself and the public.

The ceremony on January 28th will decide which city will ultimately receive the title , which will entail a year of European visibility, participation in specialized forums, and international promotion. The jury will evaluate both the achievements attained and the strength of the program of activities planned for 2026, the year in which the initiative would be implemented. Zaragoza arrives at the event with a candidacy built on more than 8.5 million euros in annual aid, the revitalization of markets and neighborhoods, direct connection with residents, and the creation of the Office for the Promotion of the Self-Employed. Today, Brussels decides, and Zaragoza dreams.