Bristol, Copenhagen and Frankfurt are the cities proposed by an independent panel of experts to become the Europe's Green Capital for 2014. In 2012, the current holder is Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain, and Nantes, who will hold the title in 2013.

The European Commission announced that the three cities shortlisted for 2014 European Green Capital award are Bristol, Copenhagen and Frankfurt. According to an independent panel of experts, the cities have been chosen from the 18 cities that applied, bearing in mind several areas, such as local contribution to global climate change, local transport, green urban areas incorporating sustainable land use, nature and biodiversity, quality of local ambient air, noise pollution, waste production and management, water consumption, waste water treatment, eco innovation and sustainable employment, environmental management of the local authority, and energy performance.

The panel of experts will make public its verdict at an award ceremony in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain on 29 June. But before Bristol, Copenhagen and Frankfurt will present their vision, action plans, communication strategy and their potential to act as a role model for other cities to the Jury on 8 June 2012 in Brussels.

The European Green Capital which, in 2012, is Vitoria-Gasteiz, is awarded to a city in the vanguard of environmentally friendly urban living. The Jury evaluates the cities on the basis on their record of achieving high environmental standards, their commitment to ongoing and ambitious goals for further environmental improvement and sustainable development, and the extent to which they can act as a role model and promote best practice in other European cities.