"Europe’s green transition will only succeed if it works for every region, city and community, said Konstantinos Bakoyannis, Chair of the ENVE in his opening remarks of the conference “Delivering the green transition in times of crises: leveraging heritage”. Bakoyannis stressed that Europe must now move from legislation to implementation. “The green transition will not be won in Brussels alone. It will be won in our regions, in our cities and in our communities,” he said. He underlined that climate action must be concrete, fair and adapted to the diversity of Europe’s territories, adding that heritage and transformation must go hand in hand.
Åsa Ågren Wikström, County Councillor of Västerbotten Region, said that the green transition must protect both the environment and Europe’s cultural and natural heritage. “Our landscapes are not empty spaces. They are part of our identity,” she said. She called for a transition based on dialogue, planning, technological neutrality and real involvement of local communities. Public acceptance, she stressed, cannot be imposed from above but must be earned through transparency, consultation and tangible local benefits.
Birgitta Sacrédeus, Regional Commissioner of Dalarna Region, highlighted the political challenge of local resistance to renewable energy projects. Drawing on the Swedish experience, she pointed out that communities asked to host infrastructure serving wider climate and energy goals must also see direct benefits. “When local communities carry the burden of the transition, they must also share in its benefits,” she said. She called for stronger multi-level governance, fair compensation and solutions that combine local democracy with Europe’s need for development.
Vlasta Krmelj, Mayor of the Municipality of Selnica ob Dravi, underlined that the green transition starts with trust and must be built together with citizens. “People are not against change when they are informed, involved and respected. In our municipality, we built support for a climate-resilient, energy-efficient kindergarten by listening to citizens, answering their concerns and showing clear benefits for children and families. This is how local authorities can turn fear into confidence and climate action into opportunity,” she said.
EPP-CoR members made clear that Europe’s climate ambition must be matched by practical delivery on the ground. The green transition must strengthen competitiveness, energy security and trust, while leaving no region, city or community behind.