The initiative, known as European Capitals of Small Retail – ECoSR, recognizes municipalities' commitment to local retail, the revitalization of their urban centers, and the sector's ecological and digital transformation. Velilla de San Antonio, with a population of 14,468, is competing in the category specifically for municipalities with 5,000 to 50,000 residents.
The local retail sector in Velilla accounts for 95% of the business ecosystem, comprising approximately 300 small and medium-sized enterprises and 72.2% of the service sector, making it the primary driver of employment, economic activity, and social cohesion for its residents.
The candidacy highlights municipal actions aimed at supporting small businesses as engines of employment and local dynamism, as well as the potential of these initiatives to serve as a benchmark for other European municipalities. The municipal approach emphasizes that commercial revitalization does not necessarily require large budgets but rather a strategic combination of effective local policies, shared digital services, public space activation, and close collaboration between the administration and businesses.
The goal is to consolidate a sustainable, accessible, and adaptable commercial model capable of responding to the challenges faced by small businesses and contributing to the municipality's economic and social activity. Through this candidacy, the City Council seeks to showcase its efforts to strengthen small businesses and demonstrate their capacity to inspire other European towns facing similar challenges: sector competitiveness, generational renewal, digital transformation, and maintaining vibrant commercial streets.
Following the submission deadline, proposals will be evaluated by a panel of independent experts who will announce the three finalist cities in each category at the end of November 2026. The selected towns will then present their programs to the jury in Brussels in January 2027, when the new European Capitals will be chosen to succeed the 2026 winners, including notable cities like Silandro (Italy), Caldas da Rainha (Portugal), and Barcelona (Spain).
“"Achieving this title will allow us to strengthen our international projection, participate in the exchange of experiences, and access new opportunities for promotion and collaboration on a European scale. With this candidacy, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to local commerce and aspire to place the daily efforts of our small businesses on the European map of good commercial practices."
