Call for an extension of the Covenant of Mayors to the Western Balkans
By
Miriam Eisermann on 16 June 2010
The Covenant of Mayors with its 1800 signatories is a unique initiative from which candidate and potential candidate countries (IPA) should also be able to benefit. Dozens of local authorities from these countries have already committed to reducing their CO2 emissions in their territories, but more needs to be done.
Energy Cities calls for an extension of the Covenant of Mayors to the Western Balkans in a common declaration drafted with NALAS, CEMR, FEDRE and the support of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.
Adopted during the meeting of Presidents and Directors of the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South East Europe (NALAS) in Sofia on 15th June, the text claims that related technical assistance and appropriate financial mechanisms are essential for this part of Europe to cope with expectations from municipalities and regions eager to go beyond the energy and climate objectives of the EU.
The Declaration calls for the European Commission (Directorate General Enlargement and Directorate General Energy) to consider the following:
- the importance of the Covenant of Mayors in the EU and its strong leverage effect at the local, national and European level;
- the need to prepare IPA (*) countries – at all levels, including the local and regional level– to meet EU requirements;
- the fact that about 50 local authorities from Western Balkans have already committed to the Covenant of Mayors, from the EU and from non-member countries;
- the foreseen extension of the Covenant of Mayors to some Eastern countries, such as Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Belarus, etc.) with the support of the European Commission.
Download the Declaration
Covenant of Mayors website: www.eumayors.eu
* IPA concerns countries with candidate status (currently Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey) and potential candidate status (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro including Kosovo according to UNSCR 1244).
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