POSITION PAPERS

Stringent objectives have already been set for 2020, and the European Commission is now looking increasingly towards 2030 with the release of its related Green Paper. Very surprisingly, this document does not mention the key role to be played by local authorities. We are thus seizing this opportunity to highlight how much EU’s low-carbon future – and related economic prosperity – depends on cities’ contribution, and inviting others to join us in our actions towards the much-needed energy transition.

In an open letter addressing President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, the Energy Cities network calls for the EU to reconsider its post-2020 climate and energy strategy, that should acknowledge the crucial role played by local and regional levels.

Eufores, EREC and the Coalition for Energy Savings - gathering almost 40 organisations- express their strong support for a dedicated follow-up of the successful Intelligent Energy
Europe (IEE) programme.

To Member States and permanent representations
"We urgently call on Member States
to support the IEE programme as well.[...]"

Energy Cities calls for the future ERDF regulation to support local authorities voluntarily committed
to the EU energy and climate objectives!

Open letter to the Council, the European Parliament and the European
Commission on the Partnership principle in the Common regulation

“Zero fossil fuel cities”, “positive energy territories”, “passive” 100% renewable districts: local authorities are on the move, setting long-term objectives and shaping a future that is both sustainable and desirable, and acting practically through various initiatives.

A strong support to innovative non-technological solutions is crucial for Europe’s energy transition.

Energy Cities warns that achievement of Europe’s energy and climate targets might be endangered if non-technological
solutions are neglected. Indeed, non-technological actions empowering local authorities & actors are essential for Europe’s success. They facilitate the implementation of the EU’s energy and climate policy at local level, prepare the field for successful uptake of sustainable technological solutions and investments and favour the acceptance of those innovations by the general public. Non-technological actions also help overcoming market failures, financial and regulatory barriers as identified by the European Commission in the Consultation Paper “Financial support for energy efficiency in buildings”.

Twenty years ago, Rio de Janeiro hosted the most important world event for the future of
humankind on the planet, leading to the adoption of an Agenda for the 21st century.
The world has since changed. “Emerging” countries, progressively followed by “developing”
countries, have become major worldwide players and are joining the ranks of the so‐called
“developed” countries.

Energy Cities very much welcomes the legislative proposals for the future Cohesion Policy 2014-2020.
The Commission proposals are a real breakthrough, giving for the first time an "urban" dimension to EU policies. Based on the excellent "Cities of Tomorrow" report, the proposed cohesion policy could really be a facilitator for boosting the energy transition in European cities. This change of energy paradigm, which relies upon the territorialisation of energy issues, also means the creation of local jobs, the fight against fuel poverty and finally a better quality of life for the citizens.

On 22 June 2011, the European Commission published its proposal for an Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), which repeals the Cogeneration Directive (2004/8/EC) and the Energy Services Directive (2006/32/EC).

Energy Cities, the European Association of local authorities inventing their energy future, welcomes and recognises the priority given by the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament to saving energy and using energy more efficiently.

On 29 June 2011, the European Commission published a proposal for the EU Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2014-2020. The MFF will be negotiated and adopted by the European Council and the European Parliament by the end of 2012. It should be a key mechanism enabling the EU transition towards a low carbon and low energy economy.

The Covenant of Mayors is the landmark EU initiative successfully delivering on the
community’s climate and energy objectives at the local level. The approach upon which it is
based is unprecedented, and its success largely undisputed.The number of local authorities joining the ranks of Covenant Signatories is growing by the day, and so is the number of regions,
provinces and networks supporting their efforts. This has prompted decision-makers across all EU institutions to extend their support to the initiative, and call for its replication to other policy areas. Taking stock of these developments, Energy Cities has issued a position outlining its vision and contributing to the reflexion on the Covenant of Mayors’ future.

Energy Cities reaffirms its position that Smart Cities and Communities will live up to expectations
only if it is clearly designed as the technological contribution to the Covenant of Mayors success
in an unequivocal way.

Energy Cities publishes its opinion about the Energy Efficiency plan 2011 released by the European Commission on 8 march 2011.

The decade ahead of us is supposed to place Europe on the track of a low energy, low carbon economy and of a more democratic society where all levels of responsibility are interconnected. It is time to use these objectives to devise local strategies for smart, sustainable and inclusive territories.

Our associations are united by the belief that cities and local authorities hold the key towards
accelerated transition to a sustainable energy future. We share the interest for heating and cooling
as a market that provides important possibilities for better energy integration and efficiency. A
market which is a giant not only in energy consumption but also as regards available near‐term
low‐energy, low‐carbon solutions coming along with significant economic opportunities.

Europe and its citizens need energy efficient cities!
Energy Cities welcomes the European Commission’s communication “REGIONAL POLICY CONTRIBUTING TO SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN EUROPE 2020” from 26 January 2011 and the new orientations given to the European regional policy. These are in line with our opinion which goes even further, proposing concrete measures leading to the Europe-wide development of the low energy city with high quality of life for all concept that Energy Cities promotes!

The European Union is preparing a new energy strategy for 2011-2020. Energy Cities believes that this is a crucial moment to give a strong signal and trigger the right, innovative actions for the coming years. In its paper the network proposes to:

• Introduce a new Community Instrument : ‘URBAN – Sustainable Energy’’
• Empower local authorities with financial engineering assistance to implement energy-efficient projects
• Initiate a public forum on the EU Energy Strategy through the prism of territorial cohesion

The Annual General Meeting of Energy Cities convened in Salerno (IT) on 29th April 2010
adopted the following statement about the Covenant of Mayors.

The European Commission has recently published its “EU 2020 Strategy” which is designed as the successor to the current Lisbon Strategy.

According to Energie-Cités, proposing a medium-term EU strategy is a welcome initiative. However, except for the few new ideas that are put forward, we consider that this paper is lacking in stamina, enthusiasm and ambition and regret that it is not conducive to a renewal of practices commensurate with the stakes at hand. We cannot afford to end up with a remake of the Lisbon Strategy!

Energy Cities welcomes the release of the Action Plan on Urban Mobility and thus focusing long awaited attention on urban traffic that is responsible for 40% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 70% of pollutants deriving from road transport.
Energy Cities sees different positive actions in the Plan but wonder if it goes far enough. Are the 20 actions it contains aligned with the EU’s “20-20-20” objective and - unrevised - will they meet the challenges related to energy and climate that the EU and its citizens will have to face before 2020 and beyond?

Energy Cities’ opinion paper on the EPBD policy process based on the Display Campaign experience. This paper strongly supports the recently accepted EU parliament amendment 94 of the EPBD recast. The idea to implement a voluntary common European Union certification for the energy performance of non-residential buildings in 2012 is something that has (since 2004) and
continues to be carried out by Display Campaign participants. It is felt that this common approach will go a long way to reducing confusion and it is hoped that the gulf between Europe and its citizens be reduced.

ENERGY CITIES, EUROCITIES, CLIMATE ALLIANCE, ICLEI (AND SUPPORTED BY EREC)

Providing proposals to the European Commission, the European Council and European
Parliament for improving the European Economic Recovery Plan.
Supporting cities that are committed to job creation through actions to achieve and surpass the
EU energy and climate targets.

The European Commission launched a public consultation on the recasting of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2002/91/EC).

The consultation will help the Commission gain input on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive from interested parties through an online questionnaire and thus enable it to better develop the new proposal.

This charter is a document of the Member States, which has been drawn up with the broad and transparent participation of European Stakeholders. In the Knowledge of the challenges and opportunities as well as the different historical, economical, social and environmental backgrounds of European cities, the Member States’ Ministers responsible for Urban Development agree upon common principles and strategies for urban development policy.

In March 2007, Energy Cities warmly welcomed the decisions of the European Council. Today, Energy Cities calls the local authorities to commit themselves to reach the EU energy and climate objectives. To reach these objectifs, Energy Cities is launching a call to local authorities to create a voluntary movement with all local stakeholders within their territories to imagine their energy future in this new context.

The European Commission has launched this public consultation to contribute to the Impact Assessment by providing a range of opinions and new and innovative ideas regarding the implementation and the impacts of different types of policies and measures that could be considered to promote heating and cooling from renewable energy sources. This consultation offers the opportunity to Energy Cities to define its opinion on this topic.

The contribution of Energy Cities could guide the Commission to determine the overall objectives of SAVE (energy efficiency in buildings and industry), ALTENEER (new and renewable energy sources) and STEER (energy aspect in transport) which will continue in IEE-II.

The European Commission DG REGIO published on 23rd November 2005 a Commission staff working document entitled “Cohesion Policy and cities: the urban contribution to growth and jobs in the regions”. As this document mentions, among others, the energy efficiency, renewable energies and transport issues, Energy Cities prepared a related opinion which has just been published.

This initiative allows energy efficiency to be on the agenda of community concerns at the same time as energy prices continue to increase and the effects of climate change become felt more and more. Through the advice given by their board of directors, Energy Cities is actively participating in the debate following the release of the Green Paper . A number of points still need to be improved to ensure that energy efficiency remains at the heart of the Lisbon Strategy and that the pivotal role of local authorities is recognised.

With the supported of EU networks, local authorities are ready to do more to improve energy efficiency. We offer to be partners in reaching the ambitious 20% reduction objective. Here is the letter from EU mayors to the European Commission.

A call from local governments. The next G8 meeting will take place in July in Gleneagles in Scotland. Climate will be on the agenda of the meeting. Before that, the Energy and Environment Ministers, as well as the European Commissioners, met on 15th -16th March in London. In order to prepare these events and promote local authorities as Climate Protection partners, a document entitled "8 messages for the G8" was prepared by the Local Government Association (GB), the Council of European Municipalities and Regions-CEMR/Conseil des Communes et Régions d’Europe-CCRE, ICLEI, Climate Alliance and Energie-Cités.

The European Commission has launched a Consultation relative to the integration of support programmes to energy efficiency (IEE Programme) in the Competitiveness and Innovative Programme (CIP), this one being integrated in the Lisbon process. This consultation offers the opportunity to Energy Cities to define its opinion on the relationships between Sustainable energy, Competitiveness and Innovation.

Promoting energy services is an important element for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This will be promoted through the planned Directive on "Energy Demand Management and Energy Efficiency Services" (Directive on "energy services"), which is intended to develop and encourage energy efficiency on the demand side, in particular that provided by utilities and related service companies in the form of energy services.

The European Commission formally adopted, on 11th February 2004, the Communication "Towards a thematic strategy on the urban environment". Urban issues were completely forgotten by the Commission during its presentation of the 6th Environment Action Plan in 2001. The Communication sets out the major problems and challenges facing Europe’s towns and cities: sustainable urban management, sustainable urban transport, sustainable construction and sustainable urban design.