News
21/10/2024

Twenty new cities awarded European Commission Mission label

On 8 October, the European Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities announced that 20 new cities had been awarded the EU Mission Label.

This recognition highlights their commitment to becoming carbon-neutral by 2030 and represents a key step in their journey toward sustainability.

The 20 cities that received the label are Aachen, Münster (Germany), Trikala (Greece), Miskolc (Hungary), Eilat (Israel), Bologna, Bergamo, Milan, Prato, Turin (Italy), Liepāja (Latvia), The Hague (the Netherlands), Porto (Portugal), Bucharest 2nd District, Suceava (Romania), Ljubljana, Kranj (Slovenia), Gothenburg, Gävle, and Umeå (Sweden). These cities will be officially presented with the label during a ceremony on 22 October at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

This latest round of recognition comes alongside cities previously awarded the label, such as Sønderborg (Denmark), Mannheim (Germany), Madrid, Valencia, Valladolid, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and Zaragoza (Spain), Klagenfurt (Austria), Cluj-Napoca (Romania), and Stockholm (Sweden).


A label to unlock the future

The EU Mission Label gives cities access to the Climate City Capital Hub, a finance initiative launched in June 2024 to enhance engagement with private investment. Additionally, they are eligible for a €2 billion lending facility established by the European Investment Bank, enabling them to accelerate their sustainability projects. This achievement is based on the successful development of Climate City Contracts. These contracts lay out the cities' long-term vision for climate neutrality, including detailed plans of action and investment strategies. Local governments worked with citizens, businesses, and other stakeholders to craft these contracts, which were reviewed by the European Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the Joint Research Centre (JRC). The EU Cities Mission is an initiative that unites 100 cities from the European Union, alongside 12 others associated with Horizon Europe, to work together toward climate-neutral goals.

Looking ahead, the European Commission will continue working with the NetZeroCities project through the Mission Platform to support cities in implementing their Climate City Contracts. Cities that hold the EU Mission Label can now use it as a sign of credibility in their climate-neutral plans, particularly when engaging with potential investors. The Commission will remain a key partner in providing guidance and connecting these cities with financial resources to realize their goals.



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