Policy Documents

EU Energy Efficiency Policy

Level(s) – a tool to deliver a sustainable built environment in Europe

Built environment stakeholders call for integration of whole life carbon criteria into EU policy

Energy Cities has endorsed a vision document of the EU building and construction community to highlight the transformative potential that the EU Commission’s framework for sustainable buildings, Level(s), can play in delivering Europe’s environmental, social and economic goals.

EU Lending Policy

It’s time to stand firm and go Fossil Free

Fossil Free EIB Campaign calls on the EIB president to double down on bank's commitment to divest from fossil fuels

Energy Cities has co-signed an open letter of the Fossil Free EIB Campaign, which calls on EIB president Werner Hoyer to double down on the EU’s bank commitment to divest from fossil fuels.

EU Research & Innovation Programme

Mission innovation – climate neutral & smart cities

Activating the next-generation climate governance

Energy Cities welcomes the new mission-oriented approach proposed for the forthcoming Horizon Europe programme. The principles highlighted in the Mazzucato report echo the views of cities, whom to a great extent will be the “delivery arms” of Europe’s innovation.

EU Budget

LIFE programme 2021-2027

Energy Cities's recommendations for the clean energy transition sub-programme within the future LIFE programme

Energy Cities calls for the new clean energy transition sub-programme within the 2021-2027 LIFE programme to support governance changes, set citizen energy communities as a strategic priority and put in place an enabling administrative framework to fund local authorities’ actions.

EU Budget

Letter to EU Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen

Europe must use a climate neutral 2050 emissions target to be more ambitious in 2030 and cities must be involved at every step to succeed

This letter to the new EU President sets out Energy Cities’ priorities for ensuring a shared energy transition in Europe. By mobilising the entirety of the EU’s capabilities and incorporating detailed carbon budgeting to ensure that, on an annual basis, we are making the necessary emissions cuts, Europe can lead the rest of the world and show the way.

EU Research & Innovation Programme

Public consultation to shape the delivery of the EU Horizon Europe programme

How the new EU funding instrument should be structured to enable local authorities of all sizes to access it

Horizon Europe, the successor programme to Horizon 2020, will start in 2021 and distribute a budget of EUR 100 billion to research and innovation efforts across Europe. In the public consultation to shape the delivery of Horizon Europe, Energy Cities shares its views on how the new EU funding instrument should be structured to enable local authorities of all sizes to effectively access it.

National Policies

German Mayors call upon Chancellor Merkel for greater climate support and action

A joint letter by the presidents of Energy Cities, Climate Alliance and ICLEI

The presidents of Energy Cities, Climate Alliance and ICLEI call on behalf of German cities for greater climate support and action by the German government, as the number of municipal climate emergency declarations across Germany and Europe rises.

EU Research & Innovation Programme

Public consultation to co-design the strategic priorities of the EU Horizon Europe programme

How the new EU funding instrument should support the local energy transition

Horizon Europe, the successor programme to Horizon 2020, will kick off in 2021 and distribute a budget of EUR 100 billion to research and innovation efforts across Europe. In the public consultation to co-design the strategic priorities of the first phase of Horizon Europe (2021-2024), Energy Cities shares its views on what role the new EU funding instrument should play in supporting the local energy transition.

EU State Aid Framework

Public consultation on the EU State Aid Guidelines for Energy and Environmental Protection

How the EU State Aid framework should enable a Paris-proof energy market and accelerate the locally-driven energy transition

In view of the public consultation on the evaluation of the EU State Aids Guidelines for energy and environmental protection, Energy Cities shares its recommendations to ensure that this legal framework supports the locally-driven energy transition and enables a Paris-proof energy market in Europe.

Just Energy Transition Fund

Energy Cities shares its recommendations for the new funding instrument in the future EU budget

What is still missing in the Just Energy Transition Fund’s scope is an overarching mission to drive a radical change in energy generation and environmental responsibility that result in a genuine power shift towards local communities in transition in all EU territories.