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ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability European Secretariat

ICLEI

ICLEI is the world's leading association of cities and local governments dedicated to sustainable development.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Ana Vasconcelos (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur for opinion) and European Association of Public Banks and Funding agencies AISBL

28 Jan 2026 · Performance Regulation

Response to Collection of urban mobility data per urban node

19 Nov 2025

ICLEI Europe welcomes the Implementing Act and appreciates the transparent process that guided its development. However, to support effective and successful implementation, we would like to offer several key recommendations: - Survey/transport model in indicator SU.2 (Number of trips per month made by persons who have their usual residence in the geographical area, broken down by the following four travel modes: walking, cycling, individual motorised transport, and public transport): For this indicator, the data collection method requests the Member State to use a survey or a transport model to collect the data. This survey or transport model raises certain concerns among Member States, who would welcome guidance from the EU regarding its implementation, including clarification on the responsible parties and the appropriate methodology. A harmonised approach at the EU level is strongly recommended. - Financial incentive: A major concern for local and regional authorities remains the lack of clarity regarding EU funding to urban nodes in the next Connecting Europe Facility. Such support is essential to cover the substantial costs of collecting and processing the data required for several proposed indicators, particularly those relying on travel surveys or detailed accident statistics. A lack of financial support slows down TEN-T implementation, creates inequalities between cities with different resources, and makes it harder to achieve EU mobility and climate goals. We therefore urge the EU to provide targeted technical assistance through the next CEF - especially for pilot activities, urban nodes with limited data, and capacity-building in data collection methods. - Technical assistance: Local and regional authorities that collect or manage data will need stronger EU support to meet the new rules. Additional and targeted technical assistance can help them understand their updated obligations and the practical steps required. This means offering clear guidance, explanatory materials, and hands-on help so local authorities can interpret the regulation and apply the necessary changes. Additional training will also be important to build capacity, ensure consistent implementation, and close any knowledge or skills gaps.
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ICLEI demands local government involvement in EU budget reforms

12 Nov 2025
Topic — This consultation addresses the performance and implementation of the next EU long-term budget.
Message — ICLEI calls for permanent governance structures to involve cities in budget planning. They want territorial performance indicators to track progress at the local level.12
Why — Local authorities would gain direct influence and resources for implementing EU policies.3
Impact — Centralized national authorities would lose the power to unilaterally decide investment priorities.4
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ICLEI urges local government inclusion in EU Competitiveness Fund

12 Nov 2025
Topic — The consultation addresses the post-2027 EU long-term budget for driving industrial competitiveness.
Message — ICLEI asks to include local governments as direct beneficiaries of the European Competitiveness Fund. They recommend adding regional representatives to boards managing EU industrial and innovation policies.12
Why — This would ensure funding addresses local needs and empowers cities as innovation partners.34
Impact — Centralized national agencies would lose exclusive control over the allocation of EU competitiveness funding.5
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ICLEI Urges Cities’ Involvement in New Circular Economy Act

6 Nov 2025
Topic — A consultation on legislative measures to promote sustainable production and circularity.
Message — ICLEI requests a local approach that moves beyond recycling to focus on reducing overall material use. They suggest using government buying power to support green businesses and changing tax rules to reward resource efficiency.123
Why — This would provide cities with more funding and support to expand their local environmental projects.45
Impact — New raw material suppliers lose as public spending and taxes favor recycled products over new ones.678
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Meeting with Kadri Uustal (Head of Unit Regional and Urban Policy) and Eurocities

6 Nov 2025 · Exchange of views on the preparation of the EU Agenda for Cities

ICLEI Europe Demands Mandatory Local Funding in Next EU Budget

29 Oct 2025
Topic — Consultation on the post-2027 EU long-term budget regarding regional and agricultural funding.
Message — ICLEI calls for mandatory regional plans and ring-fenced urban funding. They want direct access to funds if national governments break EU rules.12
Why — This protects local budgets and prevents exclusion by centralized national administrations.3
Impact — National governments would lose exclusive control over budget priorities and funding.4
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ICLEI Demands Urban Inclusion in EU Nature Credit Roadmap

30 Sept 2025
Topic — The European Commission is designing a roadmap to govern emerging nature-based credit markets.
Message — The organization requests including urban nature projects in European certification systems. They argue that nature credits should only complement direct pollution cuts rather than replace them.12
Why — Cities would secure private funding to cool streets and improve local air quality.3
Impact — Financial institutions lose the power to dictate projects based purely on potential profit.4
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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

ICLEI Europe demands local inclusion in Citizen Energy Package

11 Sept 2025
Topic — This initiative seeks to protect consumers and empower citizens in energy markets.
Message — Integrate local governments into the Social Climate Fund and legislative decision-making. Adopt the Fast and Fair Principles to accelerate renewable energy permitting processes. Use social criteria for planning, procurement, and the disbursement of EU funds.12
Why — Direct involvement ensures local authorities access funding and control over energy planning.34
Impact — Member States lose centralized control as decision-making shifts toward local levels.56
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ICLEI Europe urges EU to include cities in climate diplomacy

8 Sept 2025
Topic — This initiative defines the EU's global climate and energy strategy for 2025-2029.
Message — ICLEI requests the EU formally embed subnational diplomacy and multilevel governance in its climate strategy. They advocate for direct and simplified access to climate finance for local and regional governments.12
Why — This would secure significant funding and political recognition for local sustainability projects worldwide.3
Impact — Fossil fuel industries would lose influence as the EU shifts toward renewable energy.4
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ICLEI urges recognition of cities in 2040 climate law

8 Sept 2025
Topic — The European Commission is amending the Climate Law to establish a 2040 emissions target.
Message — The group supports a 90% reduction target achieved through real domestic emissions cuts. They demand the law explicitly recognizes the essential role of local governments.12
Why — Formal recognition would help cities secure necessary financial and technical support for climate investments.3
Impact — International carbon offset providers would be excluded from the EU's climate targets.4
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Response to Sustainable transport investment plan

4 Sept 2025

ICLEI Europe (Local Governments for Sustainability) urges the European Commission to embed urban and regional mobility into the upcoming Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) - a critical element currently absent from STIP discussions. Without such inclusion, the EU risks missing a vital opportunity to align its climate, competitiveness, and cohesion goals. For the STIP to deliver real impact, it must connect our territories and communities - and this can only happen by putting cities and regions at the heart of the strategy. Investing in sustainable local and regional transport solutions has the potential to create high-quality, local jobs across multiple sectors including construction, maintenance, public service, and innovation; stimulate key economic drivers such as tourism and retail by making cities more attractive, accessible, and efficient; reduce congestion and pollution, thereby contributing to cleaner air and quieter, healthier urban environments. ICLEI Europe also emphasises that the modal shift to sustainable transport options - such as walking, cycling, public transport, and shared mobility - offers the greatest return on investment for society at large. These modes not only cut emissions but also bring wide-ranging co-benefits: they enhance urban livability and public safety; they tackle transport poverty and promote social inclusion; they improve resilience and economic competitiveness; and they fully support EU Green Deal targets and climate neutrality goals. As highlighted in the European Urban Mobility Framework (2021), electrification must be complemented by demand management and mode shift strategies. Simply replacing combustion vehicles with electric ones will not solve the problems of congestion, land use inefficiency, or car dependency. When it comes to electrification in urban and regional areas, we stress the need to reinstate heavy duty electric charging (bus, and truck) as a priority within the STIP. Public transport and freight are essential to achieving decarbonisation targets, and their electrification must not be sidelined. By integrating urban and regional mobility as well as modal shift options such as active and shared mobility into the STIP, the European Commission has the chance to bridge sustainability with economic resilience, and to position transport as a key pillar of Europes global competitiveness agenda. With a clear and inclusive vision, STIP can become a cornerstone of a more livable, connected, and people-centered Europe. To this end, ICLEI Europe, together with POLIS, Eurocities, the European Metropolitan Transport Authorities (EMTA), the European Cyclists Federation (ECF), UITP, and EIT Urban Mobility, has co-signed a joint letter addressed to EU policymakers. This letter underscores the collective call from Europes cities and mobility stakeholders to elevate urban and regional mobility within STIP, and to ensure that Europes transport future is built not just for movement but for people. We call on the European Commission to seize this moment and to ensure that the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan drives an integrated, inclusive, and forward-looking mobility agenda. The joint letter is attached.
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ICLEI Europe Urges Binding Climate Resilience Targets for Cities

4 Sept 2025
Topic — This consultation focuses on creating an integrated framework for European climate risk management.
Message — Establish binding resilience goals and definitions within the EU Climate Law. Transform optional adaptation plans into mandatory climate resilience chapters for all member states. Ensure the next EU budget explicitly prioritizes funding for local resilience projects.123
Why — Local governments would receive simplified reporting tools and guaranteed access to climate funding.45
Impact — Developers of maladaptive projects will lose access to future European Union financial support.6
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Meeting with Eva Schultz (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu)

3 Sept 2025 · Meeting on the territorial and skills approach of the Competitiveness agenda

Meeting with Carla Tavares (Member of the European Parliament) and Civil Society Europe

3 Sept 2025 · Exchange about the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034

Meeting with Kadri Uustal (Head of Unit Regional and Urban Policy)

3 Sept 2025 · Exchange of views on the upcoming EU Agenda for Cities and how it is connected to the ongoing MFF negotiations.

Meeting with Sara Matthieu (Member of the European Parliament)

16 Jul 2025 · Lunch Meeting Utrecht & Rotterdam Deputy Mayors on Circular Economy

Meeting with Thomas Bajada (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Jul 2025 · Meeting on the upcoming MFF and water resilience

Meeting with Hubert Gambs (Deputy Director-General Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs)

1 Jul 2025 · The Role of Cities and Regions in EU Competitiveness Agenda

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

30 Jun 2025 · ETS2 / SCF / Public consultation

Meeting with Bruno Tobback (Member of the European Parliament)

24 Jun 2025 · local governments for sustainability

Meeting with Sirpa Pietikäinen (Member of the European Parliament)

4 Jun 2025 · MFF and regional innovation policy

Response to European Affordable Housing Plan

3 Jun 2025

ICLEI Europe welcomes the European Commissions affordable housing plan initiative and acknowledgement that addressing housing needs cannot come at the expense of environmental and social goals. Considering that around 90% of today's buildings will still exist in 2050, European policies and investments in this field should focus on high-quality, sustainable, and energy-efficient housing that is affordable and supports inclusive, healthy communities. Through the Affordable Housing Plan, local governments and their partners such as housing corporations, should be given the necessary technical assistance, capacity, tools and financial support for the renovation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings over greenfield development and embedding circular economy principles into urban planning. To unlock this potential, cities need tools to map underused buildings, updated planning frameworks, and workforce training to bridge the gap between heritage conservation and energy standards, as well as to overcome skills shortages. Revitalizing depopulated regions through improved housing, connectivity, and local economies is also essential. In fact, affordable, high- quality and sustainable housing, as well as adequate access to services and infrastructure, are not only an essential part of quality of life, but also a prerequisite to ensure the attractiveness of a place, support the competitiveness of the sector and the EUs cohesion and strategic autonomy objectives. A key obstacle to progress is fragmented governance. Policy misalignment across municipal, national, and EU levels, especially between housing, land policy, energy, and environmental strategies, creates inefficiencies and limits impact. Moreover, current regulatory and administrative procedures are often slow and complex, hindering renovation, construction, and access to funding. Streamlined permitting, simplified funding applications, and well-designed rent control measures can help improve housing supply, quality, and affordability. Financing remains a major challenge. Local governments need access to low-interest financing instruments and intermediary support to navigate funding systems and implement projects effectively. Simultaneously, a review of the State Aid Framework is required to allow for the construction of affordable housing for middle-income families. This would help local governments and their partners such as housing corporations to better facilitate citizens access to affordable housing, especially for those who are not eligible for social housing.Social inclusion must be at the core of all housing policies. Without adequate tenant protections, renovation, urban development and even climate adaptation efforts risk displacing low-income residents and accelerating gentrification. Housing strategies should prioritize tenant rights, targeted subsidies, and inclusive planning processes. The principles of the New European Bauhaus, sustainability, inclusion, and beauty, should guide these efforts. The housing crisis is a multifaceted challenge that demands a coherent and forward-looking EU response. ICLEI Europe calls for a comprehensive strategy that links affordability, sustainability, quality and social inclusion. Empowering local governments with the right tools, funding, and governance frameworks is essential to delivering resilient, inclusive, and climate-ready housing systems. A coordinated, multi-level governance framework is urgently needed to align regulation at the national, regional and local level. It would also be key to ensure the efficient streamlining of funding resources to the local level, including through an updated State Aid framework, and to set up training and re-skilling programmes that can provide the local level with the adequate knowledge, tools and skills for renovation and reuse. With strong leadership and coordinated action, Europe can create a future where housing is a right, not a privilege.
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Response to European Democracy Shield

26 May 2025

As an international network of local governments for sustainability, ICLEI Europe is deeply concerned about foreign and internal interference that specifically targets the EUs ambitious environmental goals and the spread of climate disinformation that threatens the implementation of the European Green Deal at national, regional and local levels. While the present Call for Evidence (CfE) on the European Democracy shield only mentions the national and EU levels, ICLEI Europe asserts that reducing Europeans vulnerability to climate-related misinformation requires robust local democratic climate action. Trust in public institutions is under deliberate attack and one way local governments can work to restore it is through citizen participation in policy design and implementation. In addition to facilitating partnerships with civil society organisations and setting up spaces for democratic dialogue, ICLEI Europe members are experimenting with innovative ways to connect with their residents, with the aim to create trust and ensure productive, joint efforts. ICLEI Europe supports local governments in applying integrated approaches to achieve net-zero emissions. To realise its ambitious objective of climate neutrality by 2050, it is imperative for the European Union to implement an equally robust and comprehensive strategy to combat climate disinformation and counter foreign interference on its pathway to sustainability. The EU Democracy Shield is perceived by ICLEI Europe not only as a safeguard of our unity in diversity but also as a defence of a shared, resilient future of prosperity within planetary boundaries. The attached document provides some initial perspectives, evidence and analysis from ICLEIs European Secretariat.
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Response to Policy agenda for cities

26 May 2025

ICLEI Europe welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a new EU Agenda for Cities. ICLEI recommends the EU Agenda for Cities take a bold, integrated, and forward-looking approach grounded in multilevel collaboration and local empowerment. Based on extensive practical experience and engagement in EU-funded initiatives, ICLEI Europe puts forward the following key recommendations: - Strengthening the alignment between EU Urban Initiatives and Priorities of Cities The new EU Agenda for cities should be designed with cities. To this end, ICLEI recommends establishing a high-level advisory group that includes local government representatives, and their networks to advise on the alignment of EU urban initiatives. It should promote a long-term, cross-sectoral vision for cities based on the New Leipzig Charter and supported at the highest political level by the European Commission. The implementation of the new Agenda should be built on enhanced coordination across the European Commission to reduce duplication and administrative burdens for cities. - Aligning EU Financial Instruments with the Needs of Cities The new EU Agenda for Cities should help embed multilevel governance as a guiding principle in the design and implementation of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). It should guarantee local and regional authorities access to future EU financial instruments, including the Competitiveness Fund, as well as to strengthen Cohesion Policy to support place-based innovation and fair economic transitions. The new Agenda should, alongside with the MFF, introduce safeguards to ensure that if national authorities fail to deliver policy reforms, such as under the rule of law conditionality, regional and local governments can still access EU fundings. It should address the issue of simplification of application procedures and harmonising rules, audit procedures and timelines across funding instruments to support cities of all sizes, especially for smaller municipalities. - Strengthening the Role of Cities and Regions in EU Policy Making: The new Agenda should build an inclusive and effective multilevel governance system that is based on five guiding principles: i) co-creation over consultation, ii) institutional permanence of established structures, iii) inclusivity of all sizes of cities and regions, iv) respect to subsidiarity with focus on EU added value, v) shared responsibility and mutual accountability Building on these guiding principles, it should establish structured, permanent dialogues with local and regional governments from policy design to implementation. It should also align with multilevel dialogue structures based on various sectoral legislation and MFF programmes, to ensure that EU funds are directed where they can have the greatest impact, and that feedback loops are established across all relevant levels of government. - Empowering Cities through Capacity Building and Technical Support The new Agenda for Cities should establish robust, city-focused capacity-building measures. Through the new Agenda for Cities, the Commission should create a separate capacity-building mechanism, for instance a specific Technical Support Instrument for cities (complementing the existing TSI for Member States) with its own budget and a streamlined application process that is directly accessible to cities. To strengthen local capacities, especially in small and medium-sized municipalities, there is a need for a high-quality capacity-building programme with a clear urban focus. Besides a potential TSI for cities, EU and national financing and funding programmes must embed hands-on technical support to help local governments move from strategy to implementation, accompanied by streamlined, accessible guidance tailored to real local needs rather than generic frameworks.
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Meeting with Mario Ronconi (Head of Unit Directorate-General for International Partnerships)

15 May 2025 · Discussion on ICLEI’s programmes in South and Southeast Asia

Meeting with Vivien Costanzo (Member of the European Parliament)

29 Apr 2025 · Exchange of views on Urban Mobility and Development

Meeting with Thomas Pellerin-Carlin (Member of the European Parliament)

27 Mar 2025 · The role of cities and regions in the EU's competitiveness policies

Meeting with Anna Wagner (Head of Unit Regional and Urban Policy), Kadri Uustal (Head of Unit Regional and Urban Policy)

27 Mar 2025 · Exchange of views on the preparation of the EU Agenda for cities, and future Multiannual Financial Framework

Meeting with Dan Jørgensen (Commissioner) and

27 Mar 2025 · Energy and Housing

Meeting with Eva Schultz (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu), Vanessa Debiais-Sainton (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu)

26 Mar 2025 · Follow up of Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the European Automotive Industry

ICLEI Demands Stronger Mandatory Rules for Sustainable Public Procurement

6 Mar 2025
Topic — The Commission is evaluating the 2014 directives governing public procurement and concession contracts.
Message — ICLEI recommends making sustainable procurement mandatory in sectors like infrastructure and defense. They call for regulatory sandboxes to test how new rules work in practice. The organization also wants clearer legal language to help local governments apply sustainability criteria.1234
Why — Stronger rules provide local authorities with legal certainty to pursue ambitious climate goals.5
Impact — Non-compliant subcontractors would face stricter enforcement and potential exclusion from public contracts.6
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ICLEI urges EU to empower cities in water strategy

4 Mar 2025
Topic — The consultation aims to create a multi-sectoral plan for a water-resilient Europe.
Message — ICLEI requests that water becomes a priority across all sectors through a Water-Efficiency First Principle. They also want the strategy to fund nature-based solutions and promote decentralised wastewater systems.12
Why — Local authorities would benefit from direct funding and enhanced governance roles.34
Impact — Firms focused on centralized infrastructure may lose out to decentralized solutions.5
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Meeting with Cristina Guarda (Member of the European Parliament)

27 Nov 2024 · Cities, regional development

Response to Guidance to facilitate the designation of renewables acceleration areas

22 Feb 2024

It is imperative that local governments have a say in the allocation of renewable energy acceleration zones. Given the very high number of local governments in Europe, and particularly in some Member States, 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. We welcome the aim to accelerate RES deployment through a simplification of the permitting process. There is no denying, however, that such a process will be met with scrutiny by those who already harbour resentment against RES infrastructure. Local governments often find themselves having to mediate between many involved parties and, depending on the national context, they might not be sufficiently staffed to promote a quick deployment of RES in the first place. We suggest that national efforts to allocate acceleration zones come together with an accelerated roll-out of intermediaries and neutral advisory bodies providing guidance, technical assistance and comprehensive consulting services for municipalities, citizens, landowners and developers. Such bodies might be linked to the contact points Member States should have set-up already, pursuant to Article 16 of the Renewable Energy Directive. Efforts to include local communities during the pre-deployment phase and during the operation of RES assets have been proven to increase local acceptance. In many cases, the emphasis on participatory approaches (beyond what might already be required by national processes), has been crucial to ensure that projects were accelerated and implemented at all. While the REDIII already points to the importance of direct and indirect means of public participation in RES assets, we recommend that the European Commission includes in its guidance examples of successful different forms of community participation. This is important as different ways of community participation seem feasible and just to different people. In many cases, project developers provide donations, invest into local non-profit associations or foundations in order to enhance local/regional social welfare. In some cases acceptance is generated via (mandatory) payments of parts of the financial gains into the municipal budget, so that all citizens may receive these benefits. In other cases, local populations and governments might call for energy communities to be established. But others might argue that this is not fair as, depending on the legal set-up of the energy community, it might not always allow all of a municipality's citizens to benefit equally. Good practices from the EU WinWind project could serve as input on how to provide guidance on this matter. We recommend that the allocation of acceleration zones is done together with the establishment of clear national and/or regional procedures and transparent operational principles ensuring that environmental concerns are eliminated in the first place, while benefit-sharing is implemented in the second, and sustained in the long-run and safeguarded in case of changing ownership of the RES asset. Several examples of such schemes already exist e.g. in Thuringia and Schleswig-Holstein in Germany. See p. 32-37 https://winwind-project.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/Deliverables/D4.2_Good_Practice_Portfolio.pdf Several of the contributions to this consultation relate to the impact of wind turbines situated across the border. In order to mitigate the negative effects of such projects on local communities in the other Member State, the EC guidance document on acceleration areas should include reference to the currently ongoing discussion around cross-border energy communities and what is required to facilitate the participation of different stakeholders in them.
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Meeting with Kurt Vandenberghe (Director-General Climate Action)

23 Jan 2024 · Discussion to ensure a strong response from cities and regions.

Meeting with Virginie Battu-Henriksson (Cabinet of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič)

8 Nov 2023 · Challenges and opportunities identified by local authorities while implementing the Green Deal.

Meeting with Morten Petersen (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Cleantech for Europe and

12 Oct 2023 · Ongoing Parliamentary work related to Geothermal

Response to Review report on the Governance Regulation of the Energy Union and Climate Action

3 Aug 2023

As the EU moves towards the implementation of the Green Deal and other key initiatives at all governance levels, a coherent and robust review of the Governance Regulation that addresses current barriers would be an important step forward. Therefore, ICLEI Europe welcomes the European Commissions call for evidence for the review on the Governance Regulation. The review/ revision of the Governance Regulation should consider the following principles: - Ensuring the implementation of the current and upcoming climate and energy targets: The Regulation should be revised in a way that reflects the EUs enhanced 2030 climate and energy targets, including sectoral targets, and takes into account the EUs upcoming 2040 climate target and ensures the transition to climate neutrality latest by 2050. - Inclusion of regional and local level action : The National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) template should be strengthened through guaranteeing the integration of regional and local level targets and policies. Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans under the Covenant of Mayors, Climate City Contracts and Action Plans under the EU Mission Climate-neutral Cities, Local Green Deals as under the Intelligent Cities Challenge, and NECPs or their equivalent should become a part of NECP templates. The same approach should apply for the National Long Term Strategies (nLTS) and multilevel action reporting should become an integral part of the revised Governance Regulation. - Establishment of permanent and strengthened multilevel climate and energy dialogues: Article 11 of the Governance Regulation foresees the establishment of a multilevel climate and energy dialogue but this has not always happened in a structured and systematic way that delivers effective outcomes. The revised Governance Regulation should strengthen these mechanisms, as well as the requirement for timely public consultation to enable collaboration across all levels of governments and with other stakeholders for the drafting, revision and implementation, financing and monitoring of NECPs and nLTS. - Reflecting todays sustainable energy system transformation: The revised Governance Regulation and its NECP and nLTS templates should take into account structural changes in our energy systems. To do so, it should be obligatory for member states to include policies, as well as monitoring and reporting on national and local support schemes, local determined contributions to the NECPs and nLTS, and complementing centralised energy infrastructure, the development of diversified ownership, in particular including renewable energy communities. - Stronger emphasis on energy poverty target and reporting : NECPs and nLTS should become key reporting tools for member states action to alleviate energy poverty. To do so, Member States should set clear targets and measures in their NECPs to reduce energy poverty and use tools and technologies/data-driven approaches for monitoring and targeted action. - Investment plans that include regional and local needs : A revised version of Article 7 should ensure the inclusion of regional and local governments investment needs to implement their climate and energy targets and action plans. This should go hand in hand with aligning the timeline of different EU spending plans such as, NECP, REPowerEU chapter and Social Climate Fund Spending Plans. - Adaptation must be an integral part of nLTS: To move towards a more resilient Europe, the revision of the Governance Regulation should strengthen the requirements on including adaptation policies in the National Long-Term Strategies integrated with local and regional ones, as well as Urban Greening Plans and ensure their alignment with other national plans that are key for adaptation and resilience of ecosystems, such as National Nature Restoration Plans.
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Meeting with Damyana Stoynova (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans), Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

27 Jun 2023 · Local Green Deals

Meeting with Lukas Visek (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

16 Dec 2022 · Sustainable food systems

Meeting with Annukka Ojala (Cabinet of Commissioner Stella Kyriakides) and Eurocities and

16 Dec 2022 · VTC Meeting: Sustainable Food Systems/Procurement

Meeting with Damyana Stoynova (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

6 Apr 2022 · RePowerEU, COP27, Climate Pact

Meeting with Olivia Gippner (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

30 Nov 2021 · Climate Pact, Local Green Deals

Response to Review of Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency

18 Nov 2021

ICLEI Europe recognises that energy efficiency is a key area for urgent action in the EU, to reach 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and achieve a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. Whilst supporting the proposed revisions to the EED overall, ICLEI counsels that amendments to the text are made to highlight the central role subnational governments play in delivering on-the-ground energy efficiency gains more strongly. The EED will have the desired impact only if Member States engage subnational governments in policy design and if new or expanded responsibilities are linked to the provision of sufficient technical assistance and resources. Inputs provided to the consultation as an attachment call for greater acknowledgment and support of subnational governments, to drive energy efficiency measures. Means of support include technical capacitation and support in areas such as stakeholder engagement processes; energy efficiency obligation schemes; financing and making projects bankable as well as setting up and securing the long-term operation of One-Stop-Shops. Besides capacitation it must also be ensured that local and regional governments are equipped with sufficient financial resources to deliver measures and to take on additional monitoring and reporting responsibilities. ICLEI Europe welcomes that the Covenant of Mayors initiative is included in the Directive’s recitals. Indeed, thousands of local governments across Europe have already designed, developed and kicked off ambitious energy efficiency measures, for example as part of the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans. These planning documents as well as comparable local climate action plans do not only capture the priorities of the local communities, but also include actions designed to provide socio-economic and environmental benefits to citizens. This includes measures to respond to the issues of climate change - connecting energy efficiency and resilience measures form the outset, as well as closely responding to the needs of vulnerable communities, including tackling energy poverty. Finally, such plans include an abundance of measures ready for implementation, which collectively generate a massive pipeline of bankable projects that are almost investment-ready. Local policies and actions represent not only a key to accelerate implementation of EED but also a great potential to be tapped into by Member States to scale up their ambition, and work towards higher energy efficiency targets. In addition to feedback on the EED Articles, the attached document also includes more detailed comments on recitals in relation to the energy efficiency of buildings.
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Response to Revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001

18 Nov 2021

ICLEI Europe welcomes the consultation to ensure that at least 55% (and not 50%) GHG emissions will be reduced by 2030 compared with 1990, as this is closer in line with the effort of the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement. We also welcome that the proposed amendment takes appropriate note of the need for Member States to cooperate with public and private stakeholders as well as with renewable energy communities to provide the necessary skills for a transition to a more inclusive and sustainable energy sector. Nonetheless, unfortunately many MSs have not yet sufficiently carried out an assessment of barriers for the development of renewable energy communities as required by Art. 22 of the revised Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001/EU (RED II). Proper implementation of this assessment and of the other provisions pertaining the establishment of renewable energy communities must be monitored to ensure the creation of adequate, stable enabling frameworks at Member State level. Only when properly enabled and upscaled, the full potential of renewable energy communities can be untapped. ICLEI welcomes that the proposal does not suggest any changes to Article 21 on renewables self-consumers and that the rules on renewable energy communities in Article 22 remain unchanged. The role of the European Commission in monitoring the proper transposition and implementation is essential in order to accelerate a just, inclusive and citizen-centred energy transition. Progress of transposition is not yet happening at the required speed and it is essential that all Member States move to a swift and effective transposition based on the (already passed) deadline of the original Directive. We also welcome and support the Commission’s approach to assess the National Energy and Climate Action Plans (NECPs) and the biannual progress report against the at least 55% GHG reduction target in correspondence with a responsible effort sharing across the EU MSs. However, NECPs and their progress reports should more explicitly outline and connect to regional and local planning of sustainable renewable and efficient energy in order to be more effective as an instrument to steer, monitor and ensure that the envisioned targets are achieved. This is particularly important for those sectors (transport and heating and cooling in industry and buildings), where too little progress in decarbonisation has been reached so far. Therefore, ICLEI supports sector specific targets and measures. Heating and cooling (HC) accounts for half of the energy demand in Europe. About 66% is still fossil based and the EU average share of renewables within (2019) for HC accounts to only 22.1%. Thus, ICLEI Europe calls for 1. Establishing an internal market for HC and energy storage that privileges energy efficiency and renewable energy services instead of gas or other fossil fuels 2. An annual binding (not indicative) increase of at least 1.3 % renewables in HC at national level 3. An annual binding target of 2.1 % renewable energy and excess heat and cold in district heating and cooling 4. Enabling Heat Purchase Agreements to be made (e.g. by local authorities) that foster the increase of sustainable renewables and excess heat in the local energy system 5. Empowering and easing the possibility for community energy and collective actions to be part of the heating and cooling market 5. Making HC planning obligatory for a defined size of municipalities (like in Baden-Württemberg, Germany) and assigning resources for them to do so adequately. Based on the impact assessment of the 2030 climate target plan and assessment of the final NECPs into account, ICLEI rejects Option 1 (no policy change) and requests the uptake of Option 5 (combination of non-regulatory measures, raising the ambition level of REDII and amend REDII to translate into binding legal measures, where needed) to achieve a comprehensive and systematic transformation towards a sustainable energy system.
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Response to Proposal for a Regulation on establishing a Climate Action Social Facility

17 Nov 2021

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability welcomes the creation of a Social Climate Fund (the Fund) as a long-term instrument for a fairer Europe on the way to climate neutrality. It helps in responding to imbalances generated by the extension of the ETS to buildings and transport, which would affect in particular more vulnerable enterprises, households and individuals struggling with, inter alia, energy poverty. The scope and longevity can adequately serve this aim, whilst the size may only be considered adequate if it unlocks additional resources for a fair transition. The use of the Fund to continue delivering resources support to the most vulnerable, following the phase out of the Recovery Facility is welcome only if allocation is closely monitored and well connected with other EU instruments within and beyond the EGD - i.e. Just Transition Plans for relevant countries. However, the current proposal contains: 1. Little to no reference to the crucial role that subnational, local and regional governments (LRGs) are having and need to play in designing, managing and allocating resources, together with Member States. Structured MLG processes should be included as a mandatory step throughout the design and roll-out at national level to ensure fit-for-purpose measures according to communities` needs; 2. Little to no reference regarding phasing out both incentives and use of fossil fuels with respect to alternative, clean transport and energy technologies when allocating support. Concerning point 1, the current text highlights in the preamble, point (15) that regional authorities are conveniently placed both to design and to implement the Social Climate Plans in conjunction with NECPs. We would advise to uptake the reference in the text of the Fund itself, referring to preparation, prioritization and implementation of the plans, currently under art. 4 (i), possibly by suggesting that “in an effective multilevel governance system, local and regional authorities shall be adequately consulted in designing the national climate social plans and adequately supported in implementing them”. As leading association of LRGs, with more than 500 members in Europe alone, we highlight their value-added in co-designing and implementing climate plans at the scale and pace needed to reach climate neutrality.We urge considering the active participation of LRGs in managing and applying of the Fund, as well as to participative decision-making.We propose that their direct engagement in the development of Plans is considered as a performance indicator during the assessment phase by the Commission. Concerning point 2, the inclusion of “temporary direct income support to mitigate adverse income effects in the shorter term” should be strongly paired with levers to prevent and curtail direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies, allowances, direct credits, or any other form of financial incentive to fossil fuels consumption. This can be done by prioritizing sustainable mobility, especially considering the potential of urban and peri-urban areas, and by supporting sustainable building renovations, energy efficiency measures, and energy awareness, as well as the development of local energy communities with a focus on renewable sources. To this end, LRGs, which are primary providers and consumers of sustainable energy and services, should be enabled and supported in reinvesting revenues originating from these projects within the local community. Stronger, clearer reference to the role, responsibilities and mandates of local governments is necessary for the success of the Fund - from the design to the implementation of the Plans operationalizing the Fund at national level. Reference to MLG should be included. Monitoring of local engagement should be undertaken so that national plans adequately integrate LRGs, and ensure that a proportion of the total budget is managed by them, closest to the level of the communities that the Fund supports.
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Response to Revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU

22 Mar 2021

The scale and speed of transformation required to deliver on the EU’s 2030 and 2050 climate and energy targets requires not only clear and certain regulatory frameworks, but also adequate financing and enabling measures to foster deep renovation in both the public and the private sector. The support of communities and local governments (LGs) is crucial to deliver the much needed decarbonisation of the EU’s building stock. As the level closest to citizens ultimately tasked with establishing programs and enforcing standards to drive energy efficiency measures, and to tackle issues such as energy poverty, LGs will be key in operationalizing the Renovation Wave. For this reason, a stronger focus on technical and resource constraints faced by LGs should be included. Furthermore, greater policy alignment across level of government should form a necessary basis for the Renovation Wave: the need for continuous consultation across levels should be strongly emphasised in the EPBD. Among the existing barriers, ICLEI Europe highlights the importance of framing policies on workforce qualification in the context of broader renovation market fragmentation, and in line with the socio-economic needs of reskilling the workforce. This would contextualise the professionalization of actors in the renovation value chain, whilst also opening up the opportunity to mention aspects such as accreditation / quality labelling schemes and the importance of obtaining robust and comparable building stock data to inform policymaking, enable impact measuring, and de-risk private finance. With regard to objectives and policy options, it is recommended that building renovation passports as well as digital logbooks are explored. In the context of updates to Energy Performance Certificates, ICLEI recommends considering the revision to the current cost-optimal methodology underpinning the EPBD including non-energy indicators (e.g. carbon emissions, indoor environmental quality, etc.). Low Carbon Certificates accreditation should be explored in relation to One-Stop-Shops, which should be further defined in accordance with the EU taxonomy for sustainable activities, to establish access to stable public funding streams ensuring continued operation, in line with state aid rules. To fully deliver on the Green Deal`s objectives, stronger linkages to EED and RED should be established. Integrated approaches to mobility and adaptation priorities should be included. In relation to principles of circularity, the introduction of material passports, the expansion of the Construction Product Regulation, the Environmental Product Declarations as well as the strategy on the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources should also be reflected upon. Whilst renovation may generate less waste and material extraction, environmental impacts related to specifications, sourcing of materials, and waste processing, should be properly addressed. Off-site prefabrication, embedded lifecycle approaches, waste avoidance schemes (e.g. on-site reuse and recycling of materials) should be promoted. Sufficient recycling and collection centres at local level should be made available. The roadmap recognises the additional administrative burden that EPBD revisions could place on building owners and the construction industry. It fails, however, to identify the significant burden that increased reporting and enforcement will place on LGs. It will be critically important to recognise this impact and respond with adequate support mechanisms for LGs. These should include provisions for direct access to EU funding. Considering the limited data available to the EU Building Stock Observatory, it will be essential to collect a representative sample of LGs’ perspectives, to better gauge on-the-ground realities. ICLEI is conducting interviews with local renovation and public building portfolio managers, to further strengthen the understanding of potential EBPD revision impacts, and would be happy to share the results
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Meeting with Daniel Mes (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans), Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

16 Feb 2021 · Virtual meeting on Local Green Deals

Meeting with Lukas Visek (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans) and European Environmental Bureau and

20 Jan 2021 · Discussion on minimum sustainability criteria for public procurement

Meeting with Annukka Ojala (Cabinet of Commissioner Stella Kyriakides) and European Environmental Bureau and

20 Jan 2021 · VC Meeting - Discussion on minimum sustainability criteria for public procurement.

Meeting with Daniel Mes (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans), Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

9 Dec 2020 · European Green Deal

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (Executive Vice-President) and European Environmental Bureau and

27 Oct 2020 · Business and investor support for higher ambition and the just transition

Meeting with Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

1 Oct 2020 · Speech on the European Greel Deal at online ESCT Mannheim 2020

Response to Revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001

21 Sept 2020

ICLEI Europe welcomes the REDII Inception impact assessment. As the leading global network of 1,750 cities, towns and regions committed to building a sustainable future, representing more than 25 percent of the global urban population, and on behalf of our European members and the millions of citizens they represent, ICLEI Europe supports an increase of the 2030 climate target to at least 55% GHG emissions reduction, but recommends a 65% reduction target to stay on track with the necessary efforts to meet the 1.5°C.goal. To meet this target, strenghtening the role and deployment of RES is essential in power generation, as well as in the heating and cooling, and transport sectors. A more ambitious and inclusive renewable energy transition - the current RES target of at least 32% should be increased in line with the urgency and scale required by a switch to a 100% RES energy system by 2050 at the latest. This translates into sector-specific targets and, in particular, it includes the revision of the annual increase of RES in national thermal systems. A swift and effective transition needs to be inclusive, with citizens and communities playing an integral role in implementing it. Securing a prompt and effective transposition into national law of REDII articles 21 and 22 is key to boost community ownership and involvement. To this end, national governments should establish nationally appropriate definitions and a related legally enabling framework as soon as possible, allowing for a prompt transposition, preferably within primary legislation. The definitions of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) should be consistent with the definition of Citizen Energy Communities. Finally, necessary enabling framework for RECs should be established. This includes appropriate financial support, a clear pathway for grid access, a one-stop-shop for advice and permitting and clear assigning of roles and responsibilities to national or local agencies. An integrated approach to the energy system - the energy transition should be led with social innovation in mind, be based on cost-efficient measures, and resilient infrastructures. Considering the energy system as a whole, with interlinked production, supply, distribution and consumption is key. Energy efficiency measures need to be planned and implemented across sectors (mobility, heating, etc.), considering supply, and energy recovery. Whilst technologies can support integration of RES in buildings and transport, and facilitate the use of waste heat, the main barriers for a rapid implementation of a more efficient energy system relate to lack of financial and human resources as well as to existing policies, regulations and organizational structures. This includes excess red tape or overburdening bureaucratic processes, which should be removed to facilitate data collection, innovation, and better integrated energy planning and implementation. Increasing capacity of actors and in particular Local Governments (LGs) is strategically important to meet this challenge, and speed up implementation of virtuous measures and plans. Multi-level governance as a key tool for implementation – a preliminary analysis of the NECPs development process highlighted how too often the gap between national and subnational level can prevent from fully reaping the benefits of ambitious local energy and climate action. LGs have often ambitious plans to become carbon neutral by 2040 or 100% RES by 2030. These local plans, such as transition roadmaps and Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs) can strengthen the collaboration between local and national climate policy and action. A more systematic alignment between local plans and NECPs is of the utmost importance in ensuring the efficient management of the vast resources needed to tackle the climate emergency, and to secure effective implementation of a socially-inclusive climate and energy transition to a carbon neutral Europe.
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Meeting with Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

21 Sept 2020 · Speech on the European Green Deal at online Mayor's Meeting European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns, Mannheim 2020

Meeting with Daniel Mes (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans), Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

6 Jul 2020 · meeting on European Sustainable Cities

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

5 Feb 2020 · Climate Pact, Covenant of Mayors

Meeting with Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans), Helena Braun (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

16 Jan 2020 · European Green Deal and local governments