The winner was chosen by the European Commission with deputy director-general at the Director General for the Environment, Joanna Drake, telling the ceremony the decision was hard as all three finalists impressed the Commission with their work.

Drake also expressed her enthusiasm about Ljubljana as the European Green Capital this year, underscoring that green cities set an example to other cities how to create a better life for their populations, and even more importantly for the future generations.

The European Commission also presented the European Green Leaf 2016 award to Galway in Ireland. It is the Commission's initiative aimed at cities with populations of between 20,000 and 100,000 that recognises their commitment to environmental sustainability in particular on efforts that generate green growth and new jobs.