Background The frontier between port and city has become a focal point for a wide range of tensions of an urban, environmental and social nature. Sustainable solutions to these problems are needed, contributing to a more harmonious coexistence between port and city. One approach to this is to build a cooperative network for sharing of experience relating to integration between city and port. A similar strategy could be developed for small commercial, fishing and leisure ports found along the coastline in small municipalities. Objectives The project meant to: Demonstrate the socio-economic importance of ports and their relationship with environmental conservation Coordinate environmental management processes carried out in urban environments and port areas Develop joint port-city environmental management initiatives, emphasising monitoring and control of noise pollution, air pollution and undesirable visual impacts Create awareness amongst the general public about the importance of the coastal environment and the need for its conservation. Results The SIMPYC project fostered good relations in areas of Port-City interaction thereby contributing to a more harmonious coexistence in socio-environmental terms. This was achieved by joint initiatives like the monitoring and tracking of noise and air pollution, and the environmental visual impact, as well as by raising awareness about the need to facilitate relations between citizens, municipal government and the port authority with regard to environmental matters. Moreover the project implemented an action plan that addressed the relations between ports and cities in small commercial and fishing harbours and marinas. It coordinated action between Ports and City Councils by developing an EMS (Environmental Management System) suited to these port facilities. The main results achieved are: Expansion of air quality and noise pollution monitoring and tracking networks in the large commercial ports of Livorno, Toulon and Valencia Study of new coordination agreements between local governments and ports to establish environmental action plans in port settings The project has addressed the environmental management needs of fishing ports and marinas located in small municipalities by establishing an implementation standard for Environmental Management Systems based on EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) requirements and ISO 14001 standards Implementation of an Environmental Management System and its subsequent certification for application in the remaining ports managed by the Department of Infrastructure and Transport of the Valencian Region (Spain). The ports of Denia and Villajoyosa (both in Spain) have acted as pilots, but other European fishing ports and marinas will be invited to adopt the EMAS taking into account the project's results/conclusions Development of a reference guide on environmental improvement in fishing ports and marinas that is to be distributed to other ports in Spain and at European level Formulation of an environmental action plans in the form of school visits to ports aimed at raising awareness among the general public about the importance of respecting the environment and preserving the marine setting Establishment of a system of indicators that provides real time information on the environmental situation at the port-city interface as well as results of corrective measures applied to deal with any environmental problem encountered. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).