On 12 October, the European Commission awarded the first ten European cities with the Label of ‘EU Mission Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities’ for their plans to achieve climate-neutrality by 2030.  

The EU Mission Label symbolises a crucial milestone, not only recognising the comprehensive plans of these cities to achieve climate neutrality by 2030 but also serves as a catalyst for facilitating access to both public and private funding to support these ambitious goals. 

ERRIN is pleased to see that all ten cities are located in ERRIN member regions. Here the full list:  

• Cluj-Napoca (Romania) 

• Klagenfurt (Austria) 

• Madrid (Spain) 

• Mannheim (Germany) 

• Sønderborg (Denmark) 

• Stockholm (Sweden) 

• Valencia (Spain) 

• Valladolid (Spain) 

• Vitoria Gasteiz (Spain) 

• Zaragoza (Spain) 

These cities are leading the way for others in the EU Cities Mission, showcasing an inclusive approach to local policy-making. The first group of cities presented their Climate City Contracts in April 2023. These contracts were reviewed by the Commission, with the support of experts from institutions such as the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC). Following a positive review, cities receive the EU Mission Label, an acknowledgment that signifies their plans are on the right track. 

The European Commission and the Mission Platform NetZeroCities, will continue to support the implementation of Climate City Contracts and provide funding opportunities. A call for pilot cities with a €20 million budget is open until 6 November 2023.  

All cities that have submitted their Climate City Contracts will receive feedback on their Climate City Contracts for further development, with more contracts expected for review in October 2023. 

Learn more here.