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Energy Cities

Energy Cities

Energy Cities is a network of local governments promoting a decentralized and democratic energy transition.

Lobbying Activity

Energy Cities urges EU to fund local energy infrastructure

29 Oct 2025
Topic — This consultation addresses the EU's post-2027 long-term budget and funding programmes.
Message — Energy Cities calls for funding to prioritize local, decentralized systems like district heating and energy communities. They recommend creating a dedicated Clean Heat Facility to help local authorities develop decarbonization plans. They also urge including urban nodes in transport funding to improve regional resilience.123
Why — This shift would unlock direct EU funding for municipal projects, reducing local financial burdens.4
Impact — Large-scale developers may lose funding as resources shift toward smaller municipal projects.5
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Energy Cities warns against centralising EU budget funds

29 Oct 2025
Topic — The consultation addresses the structure and priorities of the EU’s next long-term budget.
Message — Energy Cities demands mandatory regional and urban chapters in national plans to ensure local participation. They advocate for ring-fenced funding for cities and permanent structures for shared decision-making. They also want safeguards to protect local funding when national governments violate EU law.12
Why — Local authorities would obtain secure funding streams and formal roles in European investment planning.3
Impact — Central governments would lose the exclusive power to decide how and where EU funds are spent.4
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Meeting with Jutta Paulus (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Oct 2025 · Energy Cities: Mayor's club dinner

Meeting with Anne Katherina Weidenbach (Cabinet of Commissioner Dan Jørgensen) and REScoop.eu vzw and

8 Oct 2025 · Citizens Energy Package

Energy Cities Urges EU Heat Facility and Gas Phase-out

1 Oct 2025
Topic — Strategy to accelerate the decarbonisation of heating and cooling systems across the EU.
Message — Energy Cities calls for a dedicated EU Heat Facility to simplify funding access. They demand a phase-out of gas networks to prioritize clean renewable alternatives. They also request practical tools like heat mapping guides and technical assistance.12
Why — Clearer legal frameworks would provide the stability and guidance cities need to act.3
Impact — Gas network operators would lose infrastructure space and political priority to renewable alternatives.4
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Energy Cities demands EU Heat Facility to drive local decarbonisation

1 Oct 2025
Topic — The EU Electrification Action Plan aims to remove barriers to switching from fossil fuels to electricity.
Message — The group calls for an EU Heat Facility to pool resources and simplify funding access. They advocate for phasing out gas networks and reforming taxes to favor electrification and renewables. Local authorities also require practical tools like templates and heat mapping guides for better planning.123
Why — This would provide local governments with streamlined financing and the legal certainty needed to implement decarbonisation projects.45
Impact — Gas network operators would lose infrastructure space and political priority to clean energy alternatives.6
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Meeting with Beatriz Yordi (Director Climate Action) and Eurocities and

29 Sept 2025 · ETS2 & Social Climate Fund Implementation, Communication Efforts and Best Practices

Meeting with Beatriz Yordi (Director Climate Action) and Eurocities and

30 Jun 2025 · ETS2 / SCF / Public consultation

Response to European Affordable Housing Plan

4 Jun 2025

Energy Cities members welcome the European Affordable Housing Plan and related initiatives, as they urgently address the growing housing crisis. However, they emphasise the need to do so fairly and within planetary boundaries. For local leaders, this EU initiative is a unique opportunity to shape tomorrows citiesliveable, resilient, and just. While ensuring access to decent housing for all, the Plan should adopt an integrated urban planning approach. This includes promoting the 15-minute city model, encouraging town centre densification, preserving green spaces, and limiting urban sprawl. To align social justice, sustainability, and housing needs, local governments call for a sufficiency-based approach to be embedded in the Plan. To realise this vision, Energy Cities members propose the following key recommendations: 1. Empower and support local governments Involve local authorities in shaping EU and national housing policies Provide technical and financial support to develop the housing we need. Allocate dedicated funding in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), especially through InvestEU and Social Climate Plans, for energy-efficient renovation, building repurposing, and social housing development. 2. Put affordability and social housing at the core Support the renovation and creation of social and affordable housing, and affordable homeownership. Adopt Housing First approach to help end homelessness Reform State aid and SGEI rules to better support vulnerable and low-income groups and protect them from excessive rents. Counter housing market financialization by promoting models like community land trusts and cooperative housing. 3. Unlock the potential of vacant and underused buildings by improving data collection and municipal capacity Require systematic monitoring of building occupancy. Strengthen regulations and tax incentives to reduce vacancy, secondary homes, and short-term tourist rentals and support municipalities to take their own measures. Provide municipalities with technical assistance, training, and dedicated staff to convert vacant or underused buildings into housing. 4. Prioritise renovation and densification over land take Focus on refurbishing and repurposing existing buildings before constructing new ones. When new construction is necessary, prioritise it within existing urban areas. Ensure national renovation plans promote circular economy principles, positive energy buildings, and adaptability in new construction. 5. Promote housing models that optimise space and foster cohesion Encourage co-living, home-swapping, and subdivision of large homes to better match residents needs. Support temporary housing solutions using unoccupied buildings for the most vulnerable. Further recommendations and examples of local initiatives are detailed in the attached document
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Response to Policy agenda for cities

23 May 2025

The EU and local governments are mutually dependent: the EU relies on local governments to implement a significant share of its legislation and to connect citizens and businesses to the European project. Conversely, local governments depend on the EU for support, legitimacy, and resources to advance their agendas. While the EU has already developed several programmes and initiatives for local authorities, a renewed and ambitious EU Cities Agenda is essential to meet todays high-stakes challenges. We believe it should: Be designed with local governments and their representatives Ensure inclusivity by creating pathways for local governments of all sizes and contexts to take action. Adopt a holistic approach to urban transformation, pushing for a cross-sector and cross-directorate vision. Offer a long-term, common vision that supports local authorities in structuring and legitimising their urban transformation agendas and mobilises them around shared objectives, contributing to a resilient, competitive, social and green Europe. Ensure that EU programmes and initiatives are better aligned with local governments' needs, improving the availability, efficiency and targeting of EU financial support instruments. To achieve this, a territorial chapter under the next MFF would ensure that EU legislation would be well implemented. Strengthen multilevel governance to move from consultation to co-creation of EU and national policies. To respond to the specific challenges raised in the call for evidence, Energy Cities had put together concrete proposals to develop the EU Cities agenda. See the document attached.
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Meeting with Daniel Freund (Member of the European Parliament) and Magyar Helsinki Bizottság and Hertie School

7 Apr 2025 · BUDG/CONT hearing on RoL conditionality

Meeting with Mohammed Chahim (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Feb 2025 · MFF/Cohesion Policy/SCF

Meeting with Annalisa Corrado (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Feb 2025 · Energia

Energy Cities urges local focus for EU energy security

26 Nov 2024
Topic — This consultation evaluates the EU's energy security framework following recent geopolitical crises.
Message — The organization requests that the EU prioritize reducing demand through sufficiency measures. They advocate for local ownership of renewable energy and integrated energy planning at the district level.123
Why — Local authorities would receive more funding and legal authority to transition away from fossil fuels.4
Impact — Foreign fossil fuel suppliers and wholesale market operators would lose market share and price influence.56
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Meeting with Michael Bloss (Member of the European Parliament) and Climate Action Network Europe and

26 Sept 2024 · CAN Energy policy conference

Meeting with Maroš Šefčovič (Executive Vice-President) and

15 Mar 2024 · Clean Transition Dialogue for Cities

Response to Guidance to facilitate the designation of renewables acceleration areas

22 Feb 2024

Energy Cities believes that mapping and planning are fundamental steps toward achieving our common 2030 climate & energy targets, but when guiding national governments in the identification of acceleration areas, there should be some key aspects to be kept in mind: Local governments involvement Municipalities should be involved in a meaningful way in the identification of such areas. Member States must allow sufficient time for them to do so, but municipalities should also be provided with the necessary tools and resources to carry out this exercise. Such participation could be facilitated on the regional level by the relevant planning authorities with the input of local/regional energy agencies. This ensures that, on the one hand, local government voices are considered and on the other hand, a fragmentation due to potentially different local approaches/views is avoided. Capacity should be ensured at local level also to make sure permitting processes in those areas can run smoothly. Potential of distributed renewable energy in urban areas In mapping suitable acceleration areas, Member States should consider the untapped potential of artificial surfaces in urban areas (from rooftops to buildings façades, parking spaces or landfills). Such areas should be mapped and considered in priority, to minimise impact on agricultural and natural areas. Local ownership and participation to foster public acceptance To avoid the insurgence of NIMBY behaviours that could slow RES deployment down in the identified areas, community involvement will be key in every step of the process. Citizens, civil society, and energy communities should be provided with ample opportunities to provide feedback and help co-design the selection of the renewables acceleration areas, while clear grievance mechanisms should be foreseen in case conflicts arise, in line with the Aarhus Convention. In addition, community ownership considerations should be explored by national governments in the identification of the areas, together with local communities. There are already a number of national examples of policy measures aimed to ensure that local communities can directly participate in professional developer-led projects. Such examples could be included in the guidelines. The Netherlands National Climate Pact (Klimaatakkoord) contains a non-binding policy objective of including 50% ownership in all new onshore wind and PV projects. The objective has been given to the municipalities to interpret and implement, providing them with the basis for integrating criteria in planning permitting to include citizen participation in the process with project developers that want to build a project in the municipality. In the Belgian Region of Wallonia, The Regional Government recently adopted a Wind Agreement that will require new wind projects to be open for at least 24.999%, respectively, between citizens and municipalities. These policies are intended to ensure that local citizens enjoy the benefits of local production potential, helping to ensure public acceptance and speed up the energy transition. Local authorities have also integrated such requirements in public tenders for siting projects on public land. In the Belgian Region of Flanders, 10 municipal councils agreed together to require all renewable production installations on municipal land to offer 50 percent of its capital to investment by citizens. Energy infrastructure availability To integrate the additional renewable energy produced thanks to the accelerated process, we need to make sure grid, storage and flexibility options are suitable, while also identifying the need for modernisation and expansion in cooperation with DSOs and TSOs.
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Meeting with Caroline Roose (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

11 Aug 2023 · Rapport Accès à l'énergie dans les pays en développement

Meeting with Jens Geier (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Global Witness and

7 Jun 2023 · Exchange on the gas market directive (staff level)

Meeting with Pedro MOIA (Cabinet of Commissioner Elisa Ferreira), Simeona Manova (Cabinet of Commissioner Elisa Ferreira)

24 Apr 2023 · Future of urban policies and sustainability transitions at local level.

Response to European Year of Skills 2023

14 Dec 2022

The lack of human resources and skills is one of the first barriers local governments mention regarding their energy and ecological transition. This is the feedback from the members of Energy Cities, a network representing over a thousand local governments. The proposal for a decision of the Parliament and Council "the Year of Skills 2023" has therefore been very well received by Energy Cities. However, to our great disappointment, there are no measures concerning public sector employment for energy transition, especially at the local level. By planning the energy and ecological transition, by making public procurement work, by implementing projects, local governments create demand and employment locally. Cities should be considered as part of the supply chain of certain sectors such as building or photovoltaics. Moreover, cities are key actors to activate and boost the local economy. However, this requires human capacity within local administrations. It is true that few data are available on the topic, making it difficult to tackle. To raise awareness on this issue, Energy Cities has conducted a study to quantify the lack of human resources and skills in local administrations to carry out the ecological and energy transition. The figures, focusing on the building sector transition only, are already alarming: more than 214,000 additional full-time jobs need to be created in Europe between 2022 and 2030 to reach the decarbonisation targets by that time. This represents about 2.5 additional full-time jobs per year in each municipality. The details of the study (methodology, results per country, demands) can be consulted on the website www.localstaff4climate.eu/thestudy and attached. In general, cities lack the budget and long-term vision to recruit. And even if they have the means, the profiles needed are scarce and the public sector is competing with the often more attractive private sector. There are no structural responses to these problems from national or European governments and yet, without local labour, energy and climate policies cannot be implemented. It is, therefore, crucial to provide a rapid response and adjust the programme "The Year of Skills" to include public service jobs. That is why Energy Cities urges the European Commission to better include skills in local governments in the "Year of Skills 2023" programme by having: - A programme to better assess the human and skills needs in local administrations for transition in relation to climate ambitions. This can be done at the local level, with the support of relevant stakeholders such as local energy agencies, local and regional authorities, and then centralised at the national level to coordinate national objectives and human ressources needs to territorialise these objectives. The upcoming revision of the NECPs is an ideal timing to ensure that the means, including human ressources, are in line with the objectives, assess the needs and streamline the process. - A proposal to develop attractiveness plans to upgrade employment in the local public service for the green transition (upgrading of salary conditions, working conditions, means, employer branding ....) in each Member State, with the support of EU instruments such as the Technical Support Instrument or the Cohesion Fund. - A target to develop local energy companies, which have been set up in the autumn and should have the appropriate resources, particularly human resources and skills. These agencies enable local authorities to be active and competitive players in both the labour and energy markets, while stimulating the local economy. - A reflection on how to enable local authorities to have a long-term vision and means, rather than means provided for the duration of projects (1, 2 or 3 years). We thank you for considering these points and remain at your disposal
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Meeting with Nicolas Schmit (Commissioner) and

9 Dec 2022 · The European Year of Skills, the NEETs (Not in Employment, Education or Training), the cities in transition.

Meeting with Christoph Nerlich (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit)

28 Nov 2022 · Preparatory meeting to the Energy Cities Board Members Meeting

Meeting with Claudia Gamon (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and The Regulatory Assistance Project

25 Apr 2022 · Gas & Hydrogen Package

Response to Revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU

22 Mar 2021

Please find attached the feedback from Energy Cities on the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
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Meeting with Kadri Simson (Commissioner) and

4 Dec 2020 · Mayors presented their climate ambition. The Commissioner explained the Renovation Wave proposal and encouraged the municipalities to do their share.

Response to Commission Communication – "Renovation wave" initiative for the building sector

29 May 2020

The upcoming Renovation strategy should adopt a district-level approach, in order to assess the assets and needs on a broader area and tap into the full renovation potential at local level. At the same time, a broad array of tools to motivate and enforce change in different kinds of buildings, building owners and occupants, public and private is needed. But any regulatory and non-regulatory instrument is only useful if it can be wielded effectively by local authorities. That is why the Renovation Wave must couple the district-level approach with a significant effort to build the capacity, knowledge and financial firepower in Europe’s cities. Energy Cities therefore recommends: - Use district-level renovation plans to strategically link renovation with the larger energy transition A Renovation Wave strategy anchored in city district-level renovation plans will harness renovation speed, scale and fairness to meet recovery needs, while speeding up the larger energy transition. This is because district-level renovation plans enable to identify both “quick-win” and long-term renovation projects with optimal cost-efficiency and cross-sectorial benefits. - Incentivize massive deployment of one-stop-shops as key local vectors for residential buildings One-stop shops coordinated by cities play key roles in ensuring a high-quality supply chain for renovations: at the stages of assessing the building; advising on the measures to be carried out in a holistic, long-term renovation plan; choosing companies and coordinating the renovations; taking delivery of the work; and monitoring energy savings delivered. These synergies between cities and all stakeholders of the buildings ecosystem need to be fully exploited to increase their local renovation impact. In this regard, common, transparent platforms involving all building stakeholders are vital in effectively matching renovation demand and supply, and also in supporting the overall renovation decision-making process of citizens. - Address the skills gap by prioritizing capacity-building at the local level A district-level renovation plan can only work in cities equipped with the necessary skills, capacity and knowledge to plan and coordinate such an effort. This requires firstly for cities to have increased data availability for all types of buildings, so as to best assess needs and available policy options, and monitor performance improvements. Furthermore, Energy Performance Certificates should also become a more reliable and transparent instrument to better support renovation decision-making processes. Building renovation passports and energy audits should also follow a common European framework. Moreover, a European standard for green building training programmes and certification should be set to specifically address the skills gap in cities. - Establish a European Renovation Financing Facility to increase cities’ financial renovation firepower This Facility should firstly enable direct access of cities to EU grant financing. Alongside this grant financing, cities should also be allowed access to financing and refinancing products that can be blended with grant financing to cover longer-term investments that go beyond the immediate recovery. The Facility should also bridge the gaps between the upfront cost of renovation and how to leverage its benefits equally, including the non-monetary ones. This should be done by supporting cities in aggregating projects through public guarantees to increase trust from financial intermediaries by covering the first lost piece of a loan, and grants to close the gap between social and private returns. Finally, the Facility should also be complemented with technical assistance, which should build on the experience of the European City Facility. It would support cities with funding to developing district-level renovation investment concepts, run and scale up pilots as well as cover other critical costs, such as e.g. costs of energy audits.
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Meeting with Francisco Barros Castro (Cabinet of Commissioner Elisa Ferreira)

5 Feb 2020 · Climate change, Just Transition Fund

Meeting with Olivier Smith (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen) and Eurocities and

5 Feb 2020 · Climate Pact, Covenant of Mayors

Meeting with Ditte Juul-Joergensen (Director-General Energy)

16 Oct 2019 · Role of the cities in the energy transition

Meeting with Ioannis Latoudis (Cabinet of Commissioner Corina Crețu), Tomas Nejdl (Cabinet of Commissioner Corina Crețu)

19 Sept 2017 · Cities and energy transition and the links with cohesion policies, covenant of Mayors and the links with the Urban Agenda and the future of cohesion policies

Meeting with Silvia Bartolini (Cabinet of Vice-President Miguel Arias Cañete)

7 Apr 2017 · Decarbonisation

Meeting with Mathieu Fichter (Cabinet of Commissioner Corina Crețu)

20 Mar 2017 · Urban dimension in the MFF Cycle

Meeting with Maroš Šefčovič (Vice-President) and

6 Oct 2016 · The Global Covenant of Mayors: priorities for the coming months

Meeting with Peter Van Kemseke (Cabinet of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič) and Eurocities and Climate Alliance of European cities with indigenous rainforest peoples

7 Sept 2016 · Global Covenant of Mayors: Next steps

Meeting with Maroš Šefčovič (Vice-President) and

6 Sept 2016 · The role of the local level in the governance of the Energy Union

Meeting with Peter Van Kemseke (Cabinet of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič)

17 Jun 2016 · Global Covenant of Mayors

Meeting with Silvia Bartolini (Cabinet of Vice-President Miguel Arias Cañete)

22 Jan 2015 · Energy Union

Meeting with Peter Van Kemseke (Cabinet of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič)

8 Jan 2015 · Energy Union