10 cities get EU Climate-Neutrality Mission label

This is in acknowledgement of their successful Climate City Contracts, which pave the way to the 2030 horizon

Today, ten European cities were awarded the Label of the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, one of the EU Missions in Horizon Europe. The EU Mission Label is an important milestone as it recognises the cities' plans to achieve climate neutrality already by 2030 and aims to facilitate access to public and private funding towards that objective.

The ten cities that have received the label are: Sønderborg (Denmark), Mannheim (Germany), Madrid, Valencia, Valladolid, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Zaragoza (Spain), Klagenfurt (Austria), Cluj-Napoca (Romania) and Stockholm (Sweden).

What’s the significance of the label?

These ten cities are paving the way for others to move faster towards a fair green and digital transition, and they set an example for inclusive co-creation of policy at the local level.

The EU Mission Label is an acknowledgement of the successful development of Climate City Contracts, which outline the cities' overall vision for climate neutrality and contain an action plan as well as an investment strategy. Cities co-create their Climate City Contracts with local stakeholders, including the private sector and citizens.

Following a positive review of the contracts by the Commission, EIB and JRC, cities receive an EU Mission Label, which is intended to facilitate access to EU, national, and regional funding and financing sources, in particular private investment.

All cities that have submitted their Climate City Contracts, whether or not they are awarded the EU Mission Label, are receiving feedback on the areas that may be further developed, with the support of the Mission Platform. The Commission expects to receive more contracts for review in October 2023.

The Commission, through the Mission Platform, will continue to support cities with hands-on advice and funding programmes, such as a 32-million-euro pilot programme combined with a twinning programme. Another call for pilot cities with a budget of 20 million euros is currently open until 6 November.