Mayors, local councillors, and regional leaders from across Europe gathered in Brussels for the EU Covenant of Mayors to discuss how cities and regions are driving the clean energy transition through concrete actions and long-term planning — shaping a future that is affordable, prosperous, and crisis-ready. They reaffirmed their commitment to building a resilient and climate-neutral future for the EU.
Hanna Zdanowska, Mayor of Łódź and member of the European Committee of the Regions, underlined: “Political ambitions only become tangible when backed by clear funding and effective support instruments. As the Covenant, we have the right ambition — now we must intensify our cooperation with national and EU levels to deliver bigger impacts. Climate and energy actions can become an engine for Europe’s sustainable prosperity only if all regions and cities have access to EU funds. Europe’s economic, social, and territorial cohesion depends on this.” She warned against over-simplification and over-centralisation of the EU budget, stressing that “Europe should see cities and regions not only as beneficiaries but as strategic partners and key planners in delivering investments on the ground.”
Tanya Hristova, Mayor of Gabrovo, highlighted that energy affordability is integral to the clean energy transition: “When speaking about energy poverty, we must remember that the lack of energy affordability is itself a form of poverty. In Gabrovo, our energy-efficiency strategy is closely aligned with affordability policies. By renovating multifamily buildings, we’ve helped residents cut their energy bills and directly experience the benefits of efficiency. These projects show how European solidarity translates into tangible improvements in people’s lives.”
She noted that infrastructure alone is not enough — people must be active participants. “That’s why Gabrovo became the first city in Bulgaria to establish energy communities — groups that not only save energy but also produce it. When citizens are informed, empowered, and equipped with clear rights, they become true drivers of change.”
Hristova also presented the ‘Net Zero Hero’ project, which transforms an entire neighbourhood through innovative models of energy use and citizen participation: “It turns technical progress into community-led projects where people learn from one another and share experiences. This is exactly the kind of support the Covenant of Mayors provides — turning European ambition into tangible, shared results for every household.” She called for sustained support to protect cohesion funding and strengthen administrative capacity at the local level: “Addressing these constraints will be essential if cities and regions are to become true partners in Europe’s energy transition.”
Addressing the event was also, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen who remarked: “It is in your local communities that the pulse of Europe can be felt. You hear citizens’ hopes and concerns — in the streets, markets, and schools. This closeness helps guide Europe’s direction. By the end of this year, we will present a new EU Agenda for Cities, creating a direct link between your initiatives — Climate City Contracts, Energy and Adaptation Plans — and EU funding. This approach simply makes sense. We set our direction together, but you bring it to life — in ways that work at home, for every community.”
A critical moment for local climate action
Since its launch in 2008, the EU Covenant of Mayors initiative has mobilised over 10,000 cities and towns of all sizes to commit to the EU’s climate and energy goals. It demonstrates how local leadership and bottom-up climate action are propelling Europe’s green transition while ensuring that no community is left behind.
This year’s Ceremony — gathering over 150 mayors and 700 participants from across Europe — marked a pivotal moment: ten years since the Paris Climate Accords, one year into a new EU mandate, and just 25 years away from the EU’s climate-neutrality target.
Mayors, regional leaders, and local actors came in force to show how, guided by a long-term vision, they are implementing the EU’s ambitious climate targets on the ground while responding effectively to today’s challenges. From securing energy independence through clean, home-grown power to preparing for increasingly severe climate impacts, local climate action is helping Europe remain resilient in an unstable world and protect its citizens from future crises.