On Wednesday 9 September, during a debate with the Committee of the Regions (CoR) on the energy aspects of the post-Covid-19 recovery, European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson emphasised the important role played by cities and regions in implementing the initiatives in the European Green Deal.
“Delivering our climate ambitions cannot be a top down instruction from Brussels. It needs cooperation between the Commission, the Member States, the regions, local authorities and the civil society!”, said the Commissioner.
She then made particular mention of the ‘Renovation Wave’ initiative (see EUROPE 12484/16). This non-legislative initiative, which is timetabled for 14 October, “ would be impossible without the engagement of our cities and regions, who are the owners of many municipal and residential buildings”, said Simson.
Opening the debate, Juan Espadas (Spain), Chair of the CoR Commission for the Environment, Climate change and Energy (ENVE), said that the cities and regions are “the political actors who know the best the reality of our territories and the needs of our citizens”. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)