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06 May 2010

Mayors to receive extra EU cash for energy projects

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European Commission President José Manuel Barroso on May 4 pledged to divert unused EU stimulus cash into a fund to help regions and cities become more energy efficient

The Covenant of Mayors, which convened in Brussels yesterday, has received consistent praise from EU leaders since being set up in 2008, but has thus far being operating on a relatively modest budget of some €15 million per year.

The money was administered as a grant fund, managed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to support the development of energy efficiency and sustainable energy projects in European cities and regions.

The European Commission has now pledged to significantly increase the amount of funding available for such projects, using unused money from the EU recovery package.

Speaking at yesterday's event, EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger indicated that at least €115 million in unused funds will be available, and he would push for a significant percentage to support local and urban energy projects. "I would expect a serious leverage effect" from these funds, he added.

Mayors and their representatives questioned by EurActiv yesterday broadly welcomed the proposal, though many added that it was "about time" for the Commission to "put its money where its mouth is" on the role of cities and local authorities in pushing energy reform.

Paul Bevan, secretary-general of city lobby Eurocities, told EurActiv that while the proposed funds were "rather little, and rather late," they could nevertheless make a huge difference.

"Cities are desperate to act," he argued, though it is not yet clear when this new fund could be set up.

(EurActiv.com)

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