The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted an urgent resolution on the energy crisis. It includes a set of proposals to accelerate the EU's clean energy transition, both in production and consumption, as well as in buildings and transport – requesting a robust social package and fair redistribution measures to palliate the social impact of the energy crisis, in particular for the most vulnerable. Current initiatives are not providing Local and Regional Authorities (LRAs) with the immediate support needed, stresses the adopted resolution.

Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw and Chair of the ENVE Commission and of the Green Deal Going Local working group, said: "The energy crisis must not lower our ambition: climate change has not stopped. In many Member States, cities and regions have put in place more ambitious targets than their national governments. Despite the energy crisis, local and regional authorities have continued to provide public services. However, they need more financial and technical support." He called on the European Commission to provide direct funds for LRAs for energy transition projects on the ground. In this context, he proposes to launch a joint public procurement pilot project to provide a number of EU cities and their surroundings with hydrogen buses.

Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga, defended the urgency of reinforcing the financial support to a fast and complete renewal of the bus fleets, as a contribution to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions in urban areas, creating more stimulus for the use of public transport by citizens. He said "Braga, which already has 40% of its buses fully electric is also investing in the development of a Bus Rapid Transit system, with hydrogen vehicles."

Markku Markkula, President of Helsinki Region said that private investments in research and innovation are crucial. "This can and should be based on strong public-private collaboration. Cities and regions should take a more innovative approach and encourage clean-tech and other smart business development – using public procurement and taking actions as test-beds for new innovative energy solutions. In parallel to reducing the city’s own carbon footprint, they can collaborate with large and small companies to develop and use new climate-friendly solutions. In this, the focus of activities is on carbon handprint – co-creating new innovative solutions such as improving energy efficiency, reducing the use of materials, making climate-friendly raw material choices, developing product recyclability, reducing the amount of waste material, lengthening product lifespans, and improving product usability."

Nikola Dobroslavic, President of Dubrovnik-Neretva Region said "We need an Energy Union, and clean energy solutions should become the simplest and cheapest options on the market.  It is necessary to establish direct financing of sustainable energy projects, as well as a more significant participation of regions and cities in the development of new Recovery and Resilience Mechanism plans related to REPowerEU."

In the resolution, cities and regions demand more ambitious proposals to make clean energy solutions the easiest and cheapest options in the market. Energy communities and local authorities should have full rights to access grids, without enduring the same regulation than retail suppliers.

The CoR calls for the establishment of a real Energy Union with a fully integrated and well interconnected market across the EU with a well-functioning governance system at its core and requests to the Swedish presidency to accelerate the adoption of the remaining 'Fit for 55' –legislative proposals.

The CoR supports strengthening the EU Energy Platform due to its positive impact on energy prices. Concerning ongoing reforms in the electricity market, the CoR expects gas prices to be decoupled from electricity ones.

EU cities and regions ask Member Sates to involve them in the revision of National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), due in 2023 and call for direct involvement in the drafting of the new REPowerEU chapters of the Recovery and Resilience Facility plans as to ensure financing for specific strategic and cross-border infrastructure projects.

On finance, EU cities and regions urge for the exemption of targeted energy investments from the calculation of the deficit within the fiscal rules. They also highlight that distortions caused by relaxed state aid rules must be avoided as much as possible and that the European Commission must endeavour to balance out the different demands from Member States. The EU's assembly of cities and regions is also requesting a one-stop-shop funding portal to implement the Renovation Wave and calls on Member States to use REPowerEU funds to accelerate the investments in energy efficiency and buildings retrofitting.

On transport, the European Committee of the regions calls for a pan-European public procurement project to deploy hydrogen buses in the EU and stresses the Automotive Regions Alliance' objective to contribute to a just transition in energy intense regions with a strong automotive and suppliers' industry.

 

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