Although Azpeitia returns without an award, the town council stated that it was “a great achievement” to have been among the finalists. The locality competed among five candidacies, alongside the municipalities of Errenteria and Orio (Gipuzkoa), San Xoan de Río (Galicia), and Mariscovetere (Italy).

Ultimately, Errenteria secured the gold medal, Orio the silver, and San Xoan de Río the bronze. Azpeitia's candidacy was recognized, among other aspects, for prioritizing the needs of the LGTBIQ+ community and for effectively integrating diversity and inclusion into its municipal policies.

Over the past two years, the municipality has developed a process ranging from diagnosis to the implementation of specific actions, in collaboration with various stakeholders. This journey was considered by Brussels when granting the awards.