Empowering local leadership for a sustainable future

2024, turbulent times. For several Member States in the European Union, elections have brought difficult coalition negotiations to form governments. At European level, the Parliament is more fragmented into different political forces and the priorities are changing. The new Commission’s mandate is to ensure security and competitiveness. The European Environmental Agency, in its sustainability outlook, explains why fairness needs to be the third pillar of the future EU strategic agenda. This is a very short summary of the political context we are now in.

What is sure, is that the years ahead will be “investment” years into our sustainable future. And this is what we have been asking for, advocating for the means to achieve the ambitions set out in the European Green Deal. Cities are ready to take up the challenge. More than that, while our network is expanding, with some new very committed members, we noticed a change in attitude. Cities are ready to invest. They have transformation plans that will answer the EU’s top 3 priorities: security, competitiveness and fairness. They are convinced that making EU a resilient continent, a safe place for everyone, is possible, and they have started to design it. Energy Cities is there to help them do just that: in 2024 we worked hard to call for national and EU frameworks that are suitable, and to provide the necessary knowledge and support.

In 2025 Energy Cities will celebrate its 35^th anniversary. Our wish for this year (and beyond!), is for cities to have a trustful dialogue, a renewed partnership with the EU, the governments, and the regions to continue to invest in EU residents’ future.