Policy Documents

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.

EU Budget

2019 EU elections – Our Manifesto

What Energy Cities demands of future EU leaders

The Energy Cities manifesto is aimed at incoming MEPs with a series of demands on both a short timescale and a longer horizon.
These demands are ambitious but will deliver the changes cities and citizens need to develop sustainably.
Time is short. But the window for decisive action on climate change is still open. We need brave and bold EU leaders to heed our call and deliver a shared energy transition.

EU Lending Policy

Public consultation on the European Investment Bank Energy Lending Policy

What the EU's lending arm should prioritize in its funding policy

In view of the public consultation on the future energy lending policy of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Energy Cities shares its recommendations to ensure that the EIB divests from fossil fuels and invests instead in the Paris-proof energy transition.

EU Energy Union Governance

Good practices in energy and climate governance in EU Member States

Summary of main findings

Climate and energy governance processes in the EU need to be strengthened through an increased coordination and cooperation between local and national authorities. Energy Cities has analyzed what constitutes a good practice in energy and climate governance, based on examples from 7 EU countries collected in the framework of the LIFE PlanUp project. The findings shall support national policy-makers in the EU in developing and implementing multilevel climate and energy dialogues in the framework of the 2030 national energy and climate plans.

EU Climate Action

Cities call for a more sustainable and equitable European future

An open letter to the European Council and its Member States

President of the European Council,Heads of States and Governments of the European Union Member States, We, the undersigned mayors and heads of local governments have […]

EU Budget

Recommendations for an Effective and Inclusive Clean Energy Transition Sub-Programme within LIFE 2021-2027

Cities, regions and their energy agencies are striving to accelerate their energy and environmental transition

Cities, regions and their energy agencies are striving to accelerate their energy and environmental transition that is a driving force for innovation, job creation, growth, social inclusion and overall territorial development. Within the context of the proposed changes within the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, and specifically the creation of a LIFE subprogramme on the Clean Energy Transition, the European Networks FEDARENE, EUROCITIES, Energy Cities and Climate Alliance carefully considered the opportunities that these changes present to local/regional authorities and their energy agencies.

EU Budget

Recommendations for the vote in ENVI Committee on the proposal for a regulation establishing a Programme for the Environment and Climate action (LIFE)

The 6 key recommendations from European city networks

In view of the Environment Committee vote on the European Commission’s proposal on the LIFE Programme for 2021–2027, EUROCITIES, FEDARENE, Energy Cities, CEMR, Climate Alliance and ICLEI would like to request your support for the provisions highlighted below.

EU Budget

Towards an EU budget that will serve to achieve Europe’s climate objectives

Cities and civil society groups send open letter to EU Council

Open Letter to Ministers ahead of General Affairs Council of 16 October 2018 by 101 businesses, civil society, local authorities, think tanks and other organisations on the Multi-Annual Financial Framework