Source: European Parliament
In Greece there is a momentum for the EU Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission[1]; of the six Greek cities selected for the Cities Mission, five have already received the Mission Label.
These cities established the ‘Climanet’ network, and the Greek Government announced EUR 20 million to be allocated to these cities for the preparation of studies and the financing of projects[2].
At European level, 53 Cities have so far been awarded with a Mission Label. A further 33 Climate City Contracts are now under review. 80 more cities have joined the Twinning Learning Programme[3] to replicate good practices: nine are Greek cities[4].
The Climate City Capital Hub[5], launched in June 2024, helps labelled cities[6] to get projects ready for investment. It offers advice on financing solutions, in cooperation with existing advisory services, such as those offered by the European Investment Bank (EIB), and puts cities in touch with investors.
Through the ‘Enabling City Transformation Programme’ under Horizon Europe, EUR 21 million were secured in 2024 to deploy advisory services of the EIB[7]. In addition, the EIB ringfenced a lending envelope of EUR 2 billion for the labelled cities to support the implementation of their decarbonisation strategies.
Greek Mission cities will also receive support from EU Cohesion Policy and, in line with the European Regional Development Fund/Cohesion Fund Regulation[8], they are implementing their sustainable urban development strategies, to support energy efficiency, climate adaptation, smart cities and green transport projects.
Finally, EU actions, such as the Covenant of Mayors[9], the Green City Accord[10], the European Urban Initiative[11], the URBACT IV programme[12] and others, support cities in capacity-building and knowledge exchange.
- [1] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/climate-neutral-and-smart-cities_en
- [2] https://2030.ioannina.gr/?page_id=1121
- [3] https://netzerocities.eu/twinning-learning-programme/
- [4] These are Penteli, Palaio Faliro, Mytilene and Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni (selected for Cohort 1); Chalkida and Chios (in Cohort 2); Fyli, Heraklion and Larisa (in Cohort 3).
- [5] https://netzerocities.eu/capital-hub/
- [6] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/document/942e747e-3ccf-4121-a973-9cc8032fc421_en
- [7] Including European Local ENergy Assistance (https://www.eib.org/en/products/advisory-services/elena/index)
and the InvestEU Advisory Hub (https://investeu.europa.eu/investeu-programme/investeu-advisory-hub_en). - [8] OJ L231, 30/06/2021, Article 11.
- [9] https://eu-mayors.ec.europa.eu/en/home
- [10] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/urban-environment/green-city-accord_en
- [11] https://www.urban-initiative.eu/
- [12] https://urbact.eu/