Cities and regions are essential to delivering a secure, resilient and affordable European Energy Union, speakers stressed today at the European Committee of the Regions conference “Energy Transition Goes Local: Driving the Energy Transition in Europe’s Cities and Regions.”
The conference brought together policymakers, local and regional authorities, civil society representatives and energy stakeholders to discuss how Europe can accelerate the energy transition while strengthening energy security in the face of geopolitical instability, price volatility and climate-related risks.
Opening the event, Kostas Bakoyannis, Chair of the CoR ENVE Commission, underlined that Europe’s climate and energy objectives now depend on implementation on the ground. He stressed that local and regional authorities are central to expanding home-grown renewables, improving grid planning, supporting energy communities, combating disinformation and ensuring that citizens remain at the centre of the transition.
Kostas Bakoyannis, Chair of the ENVE Commission, said:
“Europe’s energy transition will only succeed if it is clean, secure, affordable and firmly anchored in our territories and communities. Cities and regions are ready to accelerate renewables, electrification, energy efficiency and local resilience, but they need flexible and targeted funding, new skills and a genuine role in shaping EU decisions. The European Committee of the Regions must act as a bridge between EU ambition and local reality, ensuring that energy policies reflect territorial needs, strengthen citizen trust and help turn the energy crisis into an opportunity for a more resilient and competitive Energy Union.”
The event also contributed to the CoR’s ongoing work on energy policy and to the preparation of the upcoming opinion on the Energy Security Framework, led by Vlasta Krmelj (SI/EPP), Mayor of the Municipality of Selnica ob Dravi. In her intervention, Vlasta Krmelj stressed that energy security is no longer a purely technical issue, but one of Europe’s defining political, economic and security challenges. She highlighted the need for the revised framework to address affordability, consumer protection, infrastructure resilience, emergency preparedness, cross-border solidarity and the different realities faced by Europe’s territories — from border regions and islands to rural and industrial areas.
Vlasta Krmelj (SI/EPP), rapporteur on the revision of the EU Energy Security Framework, said:
“European energy security will not be built only in Brussels. It will be built in our regions, cities, communities and homes. For local and regional authorities, energy security means keeping hospitals, schools, water systems and public services running during crises, protecting vulnerable households from energy poverty and helping businesses withstand price shocks. The future framework must recognise territorial diversity, support municipalities and regions as real partners, and ensure that no region is left behind because it lacks financing, technical capacity or skills.”
Speakers underlined that Europe’s future energy security must be understood in the context of a decarbonised, digitalised and increasingly decentralised energy system. Investments in home-grown renewables, energy storage, smart grids, energy communities and local innovation can reduce dependency while creating jobs, supporting competitiveness and strengthening Europe’s industrial base.
The debate also highlighted the importance of multilevel governance and public trust. Local and regional authorities are often the first point of contact for citizens during energy crises and are key actors in addressing energy poverty, countering disinformation and building acceptance for renewable energy and infrastructure projects.
The conference concluded with a clear political message: Europe’s Energy Union will be stronger only if its cities and regions are fully empowered to deliver the transition on the ground. A secure and affordable energy future requires targeted investment, stronger coordination across all levels of governance and policies that reflect the needs of Europe’s territories and citizens.