European information

  • Directorate - General Energy and Transport (DG TREN) - The European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy and Transport manages work in these two fields. Given the close links between these two policy areas, the Commission aims to ensure that its work across them takes advantage of all possible synergies. Get updated from DG TREN about their people, mission, call for tenders and newest developments!
  • Executive Agency for Competitiveness & Innovation (EACI) - Energy, transport, environment, competitiveness, innovation - Europe today is up against extraordinary challenges but also great opportunities. Whether it is about promoting smart energy use and renewables, creating markets for eco-innovative technology, switching to more sustainable freight transport, or getting better information to SMEs, environmental improvement and commercial success can actually work together. To deliver efficiently high-quality European programmes and initiatives in these areas, the European Commission has set up the Executive Agency for Competitiveness & Innovation (EACI) to manage on its behalf. 
  • The Intelligent Energy - Europe programme is the EU's tool for funding action to improve these conditions and move us towards a more energy intelligent Europe. 
  • Aalborg Charter - The Charter of European Cities & Towns Towards Sustainability was approved by the participants at the European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns taking place in Aalborg, Denmark on 27 May 1994.
  • The Aalborg Commitments were adopted by delegates to the June 2004 Aalborg+10 Conference and have been signed by hundreds of Local Governments. They support European Local Governments in their implementation of the Aalborg Charter agreed at the 1994 Aalborg Conference and set important policy guidelines for local sustainability. 
  • The Covenant of Mayors is a commitment by signatory towns and cities to go beyond the objectives of EU energy policy in terms of reduction in CO2 emissions through enhanced energy efficiency and cleaner energy production and use.
  • ManagEnergy is an initiative of the European Commission Directorate-General for Energy and Transport, which aims to support the work of actors dealing with energy efficiency and renewable energies at the local and regional level. 
  • Sustainable Energy Europe is a European Commission initiative in the framework of the Intelligent Energy - Europe Programme, which will contribute to achieve the European Union's energy policy targets within the fields of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, clean transport and alternative fuels.
  • The European Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Campaign forms part of a world-wide movement started in 1993, which aims to address climate change mitigation (reducing the human impact on global warming, by reducing the release of harmful emissions caused by our day-to-day activities) and also adapting to climate change at a local level.
  • The European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign (ESCTC) seeks to meet the mandate established for the local level in Chapter 28 of the Agenda 21 document, aiming to translate to the European level the outcomes of the Rio World Summit 1992. The Campaign combines the expertise of eight local government networks, supporting local governments in their local action towards local sustainability. Get to learn more about how to achieve your local sustainability targets!  
  • A new report has been released that explores the role of local and regional authorities in achieving sustainable growth after the Lisbon Strategy.
    The report commissioned by the Committee of the Regions to Ecologic Institute, ICLEI and REC, investigates the potential role of regional and local authorities in a new, post-Lisbon strategy for sustainable growth and better jobs. The study considers potentials of a future European strategy's compatibility with principles of environmental sustainability and social cohesion and sheds light on the role of cities and regions in achieving this objective.
    The second part of the study analyses the opportunities for cities and regions to cooperate in the development and implementation of Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs). Eight communities from different European countries were analysed in detail, including ICLEI members Burgas (Bulgaria) and Province of Siena (Italy).