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Within the framework of its Recovery and Resilience Facility to mitigate the economic and social impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the European Union is making EUR 723.8 billion available to support reforms and investments undertaken by Member States – EUR 385.8 billion in loans and EUR 338 billion in grants. In my previous blog from November 2020, I gave an overview of the planning phase of the national Recovery and Resilience Programmes (RRP), showing that in most countries, subnational actors were just informed, but not at all involved in the planning of this extraordinary and large financial package.

The post-COVID recovery funds need to be spent quickly by member states already struggling with absorption rates. President Ursula von der Leyen and Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans need to promote the help available, writes Brook Riley.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has called on EU member states to speed up delivery of their national spending plans in order tap into the EU's €750 billion recovery fund, but concerns have been raised over a lack of transparency on how the money may be spent.

Regional and local leaders and EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reform Elisa Ferreira discussed on 4 February how to accelerate the launch of new cohesion policy programmes, ensure their timely implementation and integrate them with national recovery plans. ​
 As a response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the European Union secured an unprecedented amount of investment for a fair, green and digital recovery. React EU, the Just Transition Fund, the European Fund for Regional Development, the Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European agricultural fund for rural development as well as the Recovery and Resilience Facility form a unique toolbox that can deliver an inclusive recovery as well as fair green and digital transitions.
Absorbing and implementing all available EU funds is a demanding challenge for national, regional and local governments. As highlighted by the plenary debate, centralisation and top down solutions risk undermine the investment impact in several member states. For this reason, CoR members and Commissioner Ferreira called for the full involvement of regional and local governments in the design of comprehensive recovery plans, in line with the partnership principle, in order to make the best possible use of the synergies between all the available instruments.

n the fifth chapter of The Wonk’s Survival Guide to the European Green Deal, POLITICO looks at efforts to help vulnerable regions, people and industries prepare for a low-emissions future.

Quarante maires et présidents d'intercommunalité plaident pour que "les plans de relance européens et nationaux actent sans attendre des investissements ciblés pour les projets de transition portés par les territoires, et soutiennent leur fonctionnement".

The Green Recovery Tracker assesses the contribution of EU member states’ national recovery plans to the green transition. The assessment is based on a quantitative and qualitative analysis conducted in partnership with local experts.

Are we building back better? Track climate and energy focused analysis of COVID-19 recovery packages, looking at support for fossil fuels and clean energy.

District Heating is an efficient way to heat homes, particularly in a country like Latvia where 58% of its primary energy consumption is used for heating. But Selīna Vancāne at Riga City Council is very concerned that the draft EU Recovery plans do not include any support under the climate goals for district heating projects. Perhaps it’s because of a blind spot: most of Europe is prioritising individual heating units powered by electricity. Meanwhile, Latvia is tacking the issue of fuel sources for district heating. There’s gas (not clean, must be imported from Russia), woodchips (plenty of local supply, but has sustainability limits), and much better solutions like solar. Vancāne offers the case study of Salaspils Siltums, built in 6 months, which provides solar district heating to 85% of a town of 18,000 people. She urges the EU to fund both district heating and the new clean solutions it can use. The results can be cost effective, sustainable, efficient and curb emissions.

Les modalités de la mise en œuvre territorialisée du plan de relance se précisent progressivement. L'un des derniers et pas des moindres à publier son modus operandi est le ministère de la Transition écologique qui vient de se plier à l'exercice à travers une instruction mise en ligne ce 25 janvier.

Regional governments across the EU are bracing for difficult times ahead as they lack technical means and have scarce financial resources, according to a joint survey conducted by the European Committee of the Regions and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. EURACTIV France reports.

European leaders need to recognise that direct investment in cities is the best way to address the immediate needs of our citizens, whilst also responding to the causes of the climate crisis, writes Rafał Trzaskowski, the Mayor of Warsaw.

The fate of our European and planetary civilisation, threatened like never before by the climate crisis, depends on the ability of cities to act and transform. The twin challenges of our age, securing a green and just recovery from the COVID crisis and keeping global heating to below the 1.5C goal of the Paris Agreement, will be decided in our urban centres.

European leaders need to recognise that direct investment in cities is the best way to address the immediate needs of our citizens, whilst also responding to the causes of the climate crisis, writes Rafał Trzaskowski.