Gabrovo Municipality, the Municipal Energy Efficiency Network EcoEnergy and the Center for Energy Efficiency EnEffect are organising a discussion forum under the title "Mayors Talk", with the central theme "Innovations for Sustainable Energy". The event will take place on 10-11 July 2023 in the Ritual Hall of the Gabrovo Municipality and is organized with the kind support of the Gabrovo Regional Information Centre and the media partnership of 3e-news.

To make Europe's transition to climate neutrality a reality, municipalities have a leading role to play in implementing sustainable energy and climate policies locally. However, in its assessment of the latest national energy and climate plans (NECPs), the EC reports that this is still only happening in theory but not in practice. 

Under the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on the governance of the Energy Union, each Member State is required to produce updated drafts of its NECP (submission of the preliminary version is due 30 June 2023 and for final plans 30 June 2024) and to define a monitoring and control system that will report on them by 2030.

For this reason, the Integrated Energy and Climate Plan will be a leading topic for the “Mayors Talk” forum, which foresees speakers from the European Parliament, as well as relevant institutions and professional associations and experts from other public sectors, to respond in a timely manner and facilitate the public consultation process related to the NECP’s update.

What is the potential of the plan for the implementation of innovative sustainable solutions and what is the role of local authorities will be among the issues to be discussed in separate panel discussion sessions, while the first day will also address the lessons learned from the energy crisis and opportunities for optimising the many related processes. Good examples and the necessary knowledge and skills for energy efficiency in the context of the European Year of Skills will be the focus of the second day of the event, with local government representatives having the opportunity to share concrete successful practices and challenges they face in working towards better management of energy and available local resources.

Registration: https://forms.gle/XqhgPax8TaR8TUQNA