On 8 October, the European Commission revealed the next 20 European cities to be awarded the EU Mission Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities label for their plans to reach climate neutrality by 2030. The first 10 cities received their Mission Label in October 2023, followed by 23 more cities that were awarded in March 2024. This brings the total number of cities with the label to 53.  

The EU Mission Label marks a significant milestone, not only acknowledging the cities' comprehensive strategies to achieve climate neutrality by 2030 but also acting as a gateway to public and private funding to support these ambitious goals. With the label, cities gain access to the Climate City Capital Hub, an international finance resource launched in June 2024, with a strong focus on engaging private capital. Additionally, the cities qualify for a €2 billion lending envelope from the European Investment Bank (EIB). 

Among the new group of 20 cities that received the label, ERRIN is pleased to see that 8 cities are located in ERRIN member regions: 

• Aachen (Germany) 

• Münster (Germany)  

• Bologna (Italy) 

• Bergamo (Italy) 

• Milan (Italy) 

• Prato (Italy) 

• Gothenburg (Sweden),  

• Suceava (Romania). 

Other cities that received the label are: Trikala (Greece), Miskolc (Hungary), Eilat (Israel), Turin (Italy), Liepāja (Latvia), The Hague (the Netherlands), Porto (Portugal), Bucharest 2nd District (Romania), Ljubljana, Kranj (Slovenia), Gävle, Umeå (Sweden). 

The Mission label award ceremony will take place during the European Mayors Summit on 22 October 2024 in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The cities will receive the Mission Label from the EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Ms Iliana Ivanova. A number of Members of the European Parliament will also be present. 

Additionally, the NetZeroCities project, in which ERRIN is a partner, is currently reviewing the final set of Climate City Contracts (CCCs) that were submitted by Mission Cities in September 2024.