This in-person event draws on the results of the PROSPECT+ consultations, which explored public authorities’ attitudes toward innovative financing instruments. Building on the project’s extensive experience as it concludes, the event will explore actionable recommendations to enable cities to access the resources required for energy transition and climate neutrality, such as aligning regulations, improving communication about existing support, and fostering coordinated capacity-building efforts tailored to cities' needs. These insights are particularly relevant for policymakers, investors, and stakeholders shaping support for cities’ energy transition.
Finally, the event will provide an overview of the project journey, emphasising the value of peer learning in strengthening cities' and regions' capacities to achieve their goals.
Why Attend?
-
Learn What Cities Need: Hear the findings of PROSPECT+ consultations, where cities shared their experiences with innovative financing instruments such as Energy Performance Contracts, Green Bonds, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and crowdlending. Understand the barriers they face, from restrictive regulations to limited capacity, and the support they require.
-
Gain Practical Insights: Hear how policies, support initiatives, and funding mechanisms can be better aligned with cities’ needs to accelerate their progress toward climate neutrality.
AGENDA
Moderation: Diana Prsancova, Senior Project Officer, FEDARENE
13:30-14:30 Registration and welcome coffee
14:30 Opening remarks
- André Sobczak, Secretary General of Eurocities
14:40 The PROSPECT+ journey: Why it is important to keep investing in strengthening local and regional authorities’ capacity through impactful peer-learning.
- Giulia Pizzini, Senior Energy Expert, The Institute for European Energy and Climate Policy (IEECP)
14:55 Public authorities’ attitudes toward innovative financing instruments: barriers and postulates (presentation of the results of the PROSPECT+ consultations highlighting priorities, needs and barriers on the local level raised by local authorities, and their universality across Europe).
- Sylwia Słomiak, Senior Climate Finance Advisor, Eurocities
15:10 Panel Discussion: Addressing local needs: Exploring current and future support opportunities that address the needs on the local level.
Speakers:
- Bianca Faragau Tavares, Institutional Policy Officer, European Investment Bank
- Andries Gryffroy, European Committee of the Regions
- Pierluca Merola, Policy Officer, European Commission: Energy Efficiency: Policy and Financing Unit, European Commission, Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER)
- Andrzej Urbanik, Policy Officer, European Commission: European Commission, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO)
- Anna-Maria Spyriouni, Head of EU Affairs, Climate Bonds Initiative
Moderator: Giulia Pizzini, IEECP
16:00 Panel Discussion - reality at the local level: What cities need to accelerate the energy transition while public funding is not enough for the scale and urgency of the transformation and what strategies have been most effective so far.
Speakers:
-
Petra Bijvoet, Senior Strategic Advisor Energy Transition & European Affairs, Department of Urban Development, City of The Hague, The Netherlands
-
Marco Costa, Renewable Energy Communities and One Stop Shops Team Lead, AESS: Energy and Sustainable Development Agency, Modena, Italy
- Marcin Gradzki, Director of Climate and Air Quality Department, City of Warsaw, Poland
- Vlasta Krmelj, Mayor of Selnica ob Dravi, Member of the European Committee of the Regions and CEO of ENERGAP, Slovenia
- Ryan McManus, Vice President, Bankers Without Boundaries (BwB)
Moderator: Sylwia Słomiak, Eurocities
16:50 Closing
- Cristina Mestre Martínez, Project Advisor, European Commission: European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)
17:00-18:30 Cocktail reception and Networking
Who Should Attend?
This session is designed to inform and engage:
-
EU Institutions & Policymakers: Those responsible for designing policies and funding mechanisms that can better support cities.
-
Financial Institutions & Investors: Stakeholders looking to understand the needs of cities and explore opportunities for public-private collaboration.
-
City Networks & Advocacy Groups: Organizations amplifying the voices of local authorities to ensure their needs are heard.
-
Municipal Leaders & Energy Agencies: Representatives seeking practical tools and strategies to access financing and overcome challenges.
Take part in the discussion:
You still have a unique opportunity to share your city's or region's needs, postulates and recommendations.
Fill in a short survey to contribute to the issues the speakers will highlight during the final event:
add your contribution.
About the organisers:
PROSPECT+ consortium: Adelphi, ENERGAP, Energy Cities, ESV, Eurocities, Fedarene, IEECP, SEMMO, Tipperary Energy Agency, UPRC and Valladolid City Council.
PROSPECT+ enhances public authorities’ capacity and fosters dialogue about accelerating the energy transition, addressing the challenging scale of the needed climate action by focusing on innovative financing instruments.
More information:
Project website: www.h2020prospect.eu
#h2020prospect | PROSPECT+ on Linkedin
Please kindly note that the registration will start at 14:00 CET and we kindly ask you to arrive on time.
Please kindly note that this is an in-person event in Brussels and a hybrid format has not been foreseen.
The PROSPECT+ project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101023271. The content of this page is for information purpose only. The relevant legal instruments and the text of the call shall take precedence over the information contained in this page. The European Commission or CINEA does not accept responsibility for any use made of the information contained therein.