The European Commission made the announcement yesterday evening and it is the first time a southern European capital has come so far in the competition. The other finalists - in a category for which competitors must have more than 100,000 inhabitants - are Ghent (Belgium), Lahti (Finland), Oslo (Norway) and Tallinn (Estonia). In a statement the Lisbon councillor for green policies, José Sá Fernandes, described the achievement as “historic”, given that it is the first capital in southern Europe to make the finals.