Mimmo Lucano awarded Badolato Prize for combating depopulation

Mimmo Lucano, a Member of the European Parliament and former mayor of Riace, has been awarded the 2026 “Premio Badolato di Calabria contro lo spopolamento” (Badolato Prize against depopulation). The award, presented by the Università delle Generazioni, recognizes mayors who work to prevent the decline of their towns.

Lucano is recognized for his role in the “Riace model,” an initiative aimed at revitalizing the Locride hill village through migrant integration and community resilience.

In the same ceremony, the “Premio Agnone del Molise contro lo spopolamento” was awarded to the SPOP-ART Artistic Team of Badolato. The awards are scheduled to be presented on October 7, 2026.