The Council of Europe this week announced the results of the "Best Practice Award Programme for European Coastal Towns", including Croatia's Zadar as well as Murter and Bibinje among the recipients.

The Programme has been carried out by the Council of Europe Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform, in partnership with the Congress, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Local Government Association of the United Kingdom.

Its objective is to identify and award local authorities with innovative practices aimed at reversing the downward economic and social trends faced by many coastal communities, and consequently make that knowledge and experience available for sharing with other local authorities.

Based on the evaluation of the 48 applications received, the First Prize was awarded to Yevpatoria (Ukraine), the Joint Second Prize to Bournemouth and Canterbury (both United Kingdom), and the Joint Third Prize to Heroy (Norway) and Zadar (Croatia), the Council of Europe said on its website.

The jury also decided to acknowledge the innovative projects selected for the final round of the competition and nominated for the Best Practice Award: Southampton (UK), Great Yarmouth (UK), East Riding (UK), Heraklion (Greece), Murter Kornati (Croatia), Aviles (Spain), Le Havre (France), Odessa (Ukraine), and Bibinje (Croatia).

The winners have been invited to an award ceremony in Blackpool, Great Britain, on May 9.