Mayors meet with EU leaders in Brussels to advance affordable energy and climate resilience

Several members of the European Committee of the Regions participated in this year’s EU Covenant of Mayors Ceremony in Brussels on 15 October. The event organised right after the European Week of Regions and Cities highlighted how cooperation between EU and local leaders is essential to protect Europeans from price shocks and climate risks.

Against a backdrop of rising energy costs and growing climate risks, making everyday life safe and affordable has become a shared priority for the EU and its cities. By working together to advance the energy and climate transition, they are helping ensure that a decent quality of life is accessible and affordable for everyone.

This is at the heart of the EU Covenant of Mayors’ new action, Places Made for People, launched at the ceremony: supporting local governments in shaping places where people can live and thrive today and for generations to come.

In the discussions with European Commission's Executive Vice-Presidents Teresa Ribera and Raffaele Fitto, and Commissioners Dan Jørgensen and Wopke Hoekstra, mayors and regional leaders recalled the significant investments needed to transform local energy systems and to protect people from climate risks, such as heatwaves and wildfires. 

Emil Boc (RO/EPP), Mayor of Cluj-Napoca and EU Covenant of Mayors Board member, said: “Our budget is our future. It should reflect our political ambitions – including our climate targets. We need continued funding for climate action. We need to secure that funding at European level and, just as importantly, ensure it reaches the local level, where it can make a real difference.”

Read more on the EU Covenant of Mayors website

Photos of the EU Covenant of Mayors ceremony