Rendezvous with... Jan Olbrycht
By
Floriane Bernardot on 28 June 2011
Member of the EU Parliament for the Christian-Democrats, Jan Olbrycht is also President of the URBAN Housing Intergroup of the Parliament. This interview is taken from the latest Energy Cities INFO magazine (39/2011).
Mr. Olbrycht, what will be necessary to maintain and increase the success of the Covenant of Mayors and to encourage cities to practically implement actions with a long-term effect?
There are different motivations for cities to join the Covenant of Mayors. A first motive – and we all know it - is the possibility to access new financial resources for implementing CO2 reduction programs. A second motive is to become part of an elite group. For mayors and
councillors, the official commitment to prepare and implement a sustainable action plan justifies internal actions and it can facilitate the introduction of some necessary measures. The long-term effect takes place if there is an efficient follow-up as well as opportunities to
network.
Which appropriate financial measures are you ready to support for now and for the post-2013 period to empower local
authorities on energy and climate action?
For a Mayor it is important to show that his signature facilitates the discovery of investors and will have a leverage effect at national or local level. I think it will be necessary to have one financial instrument dedicated to the Covenant. When public EU money is given to beneficiaries, eco-
conditionalities have to be introduced. The Covenant can be a good eligibility criteria. The big mistake currently is that administrations
create special funds for everything: special funds for energy, special funds for climate, special funds for CO2. We need to have an integrated approach. That is why ELENA is interesting.
Do you speak EU?
The URBAN Housing Intergroup
With more than 90 partners and 70 MEPs -Members of the European Parliament, this group has become a true power of persuasion within the European Parliament in the field of urban policy.
Rules of procedure of the European Parliament - Intergroups (Title I, Chapter 4, rule 32).
Other articles related to ELENA:
@ photo Wikipedia, @ photo Wiktor Dabkowski.
RSS
Feed
