"Local and regional authorities want to be perceived as actors, not as passive subjects of EU Climate and Energy policies" – Pascal Mangin, CoR rapporteur on the Energy Union, told Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete at the CoR plenary session this week. He also expressed support for the Commission's efforts in the international climate negotiations leading to the COP 21 Paris agreement, which is due to be adopted this December.
The European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy expressed his appreciation for the Committee of the Regions' ambitious approach to energy and climate change policies during the debate with local and regional level representatives: "The shift to low-carbon, climate resilient economies will require a transformation of our energy and transport systems and our buildings. This transformation is already under way in our cities and regions". Cañete also underlined that cities are at the very heart of the fight against climate change, where most of European live and where most of energy is consumed, also where the battle against climate change can be won.
The Vice-President of the CoR's ENVE commission, Sirpa Hertell, asked for strengthened cooperation when developing energy saving measures and approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as more funding opportunities:
"We would like to ask for adequate financial support to small-scale projects and clusters of projects and sub-national level"
In response, Commissioner Cañete highlighted the number of EU funding sources available and underlined crucial role of regions and cities can play in aggregating projects in order to make them eligible for larger scale funding opportunities. "A significant proportion of the spending on climate action is available through the EU's cohesion policy and the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). These funds aim to support action such as the development of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, sustainable urban mobility and climate adaptation measures" he added.