The ultimate objective is to build a substantial pipeline of sustainable energy investment projects across municipalities, local authorities and local public entities aggregating municipalities/local authorities in Europe. Delivering this will require organisational, technical and financial innovation, in particular to bridge the capacity and capability gap for small and medium-sized municipalities.
The specific objectives of the EUCF are to:
- Provide hands-on locally rooted technical and financial expertise, inspired by ‘best in class’ European practice, to municipalities, local authorities and local public entities aggregating municipalities/local authorities to deliver credible and scalable investment projects, which should trigger public and private investment;
- Build the capacity of municipal staff to develop substantial project pipelines and provide them with tools, networking and knowledge transfer opportunities, which will facilitate and accelerate the IC implementation, including via innovative financing mechanisms and project aggregation.
- Facilitate access especially for small and medium-sized municipalities, to private finance, EU funding streams and similar facilities, such as the European Structural and Investment Funds, EU Project Development Assistance programmes and the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) European Local Energy Assistance) and advisory services such as the EIB Advisory Hub to realise and amplify the expected investments.
- Use the successful investment concepts and the knowledge of EUCF beneficiaries to reach out to more than 10,000 local governments, encourage replication and catalyse further action across European cities.
Set up under the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation of the European Union, the EUCF will unlock this local potential and support municipalities, local authorities, their groupings and local public entities aggregating municipalities/local authorities in Europe with tailor-made, fast and simplified financial support (in the form of EUR 60,000 lump sums) and related services to enable them to develop relevant investment concepts related to the implementation of actions identified in their climate and energy action plans.
Successful applicants to the EUCF will use the lump sum to develop their investment concepts, which represents an initial step towards a fully-fledged business and financial plan. The ultimate objective is to build a substantial pipeline of sustainable energy investment projects across local authorities and local public entities in Europe.
Vision & Mission
The vision of the EUCF is one where European cities have their say on how the EUCF financial and technical support will be used to meet their needs and help them overcome the barriers they face in financing and implementing their ambitious energy and climate strategies.
We would like to encourage cities to be as bold as possible in addressing the fundamental changes that are needed to accelerate the energy transition.
