Sari Rautio, President of the EPP-CoR Group, and Vlasta Krmelj, Mayor of the Municipality of Selnica ob Dravi, participated in Together in Action 2026, the annual event of the European Climate Pact, bringing together policymakers, experts and community leaders committed to climate action across Europe.
At the event, Vlasta Krmelj underlined that Europe’s climate transition must remain pragmatic, locally anchored and socially fair, while strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of its regions, cities and communities. For the EPP-CoR, climate policy can only succeed if it is built with citizens, not above them, and if local and regional authorities are given the means to turn European objectives into concrete results on the ground.
“Climate adaptation is not an abstract strategy or another document for the shelf. It is a matter of protecting people, communities and our future quality of life. That is why citizens must be at the centre of climate action. To deliver real results, we need trust between people and institutions, and strong cooperation between governments, municipalities and mayors. Europe will only succeed if we work together in a practical way, develop solutions jointly and build resilience from the local level upwards.”
Sari Rautio, President of the EPP-CoR higthlighted that "The Climate Pact shows that Europe works best when cities, regions, businesses, academia and research centres join forces. It is an innovative governance tool that can turn local knowledge into better European decisions and stronger implementation on the ground, helping us move towards climate neutrality by 2050. Yet ambition must be matched by resources. Our regions need proper financial support to prepare for extreme weather, adapt to climate change, respond to disasters and invest in innovative solutions that strengthen resilience and competitiveness. As rapporteur on the MFF 2028–2034, I firmly believe that regions must be genuine partners in shaping and delivering the EU budget. Cohesion policy must remain at the heart of the European project, supporting every region and city in the green transition and in facing new challenges."
The EPP-CoR continues to advocate for a climate agenda that combines environmental responsibility, economic realism and territorial cohesion, ensuring that no community is left behind and that local leaders remain at the heart of Europe’s green transition.