Sustainable Energy Policies by EU Regions and Cities

EUROPEAN UNION

Committee of the Regions

SURVEY

Sustainable energy policies by EU regions and cities:

Good practices and challenges

with the support of

Fighting climate change is a confirmed EU priority policy, whereregional and local authorities are key players. The purpose of this survey is to highlight the role of local and regional authorities in facing the challenge of climate change.

The survey will be used to gather examples of good practice from EU regions and cities and to improve understanding of the policy options being implemented, the challenges facing local and regional authorities and the main areas of success. The results will contribute to the Committee of the Regions' political messageto the special session of the European Councildevoted to energy policy in early 2011,thereby helping to define future EU action in this area.

The Committee of the Regions, with the support of the Covenant of Mayors initiative, is asking EU cities and regions to contribute to this survey by describing their policy onsustainable energy practices.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Only onlineresponses to the consultation can be accepted. This translated version is provided for informationonly.
The survey can be completedin any of the EU official languages.
The questionnaire is available at:
Contributions can be accompanied by one photo or graphic, and the logo of the regional and local authority, in JPG format and 300 dpi resolution.
This survey will be openuntilWednesday 30 June 2010

Further information can be found at

Contact e-mail:

CONTRIBUTORIDENTIFICATION:
Name and surname
of sender: / ......
Complete contact details:
(address, phone, fax, e-mail) / ......
On behalf of:
(name of local or regional authority) / ......
Authority'swebsite: / ......
Authority'se-mail: / ......
Member of the EUROPE 2020 Monitoring Platform (formerly Lisbon Monitoring Platform): / Yes
No
Signatory to the Covenant of Mayors / Yes When?
No
Country: / ......

Privacy Disclaimer

In order to follow-up your contribution, your personal data (name, contact details etc.)will have to be held in a file. Should you require further information, or wish to exercise your rights under Regulation (EC) 45/2001 (e.g. to access or rectify data), please contact the data controller (Head of the Networks and Subsidiarity Unit) at . If necessary, you can also contact the CoR Data Protection Officer (). You have the right of recourse to the European Data Protection Supervisor at any time ( Note that your personal data will not be published online.

About the Europe 2020 Monitoring Platform

If you are interested in joining the Europe 2020 Monitoring Platform, please visit:

BASIC INFORMATION
Complete title of the initiative: / ......
Website of the initiative: / ......
Summary of the initiative. (max. 1000 characters)
Please summarise the initiative, including its specific objectives and goals, expected outcome, actions, innovative technological or organisationalaspectsand public participation.
......
Is this initiative part of a larger programme or policy action plan?
Yes No If "yes": Title of the programme: ......
Start date:
End date: / From:
To: Indefinite
Status of implementation: / Starting Ongoing Ended
Sector involved:
Several choices allowed
1. Energy supply and distribution (e.g. co-generation plants, renewable energy sources, intelligent grids).
2. Mobility
2.1. Private transport (e.g., cycling, car-pooling, eco-driving, sustainable freights)
2.2. Public transport (e.g., incentives to use public transport, procurement of green vehicles)
2.3. Transport infrastructure
3. Buildings
3.1. Residential
3.2. Services
3.3. Public premises
4. Industry (products, processes and manufacturing facilities in sectors relevant to local policymaking)
5. Agriculture, forestry.
6. Waste management (including water treatment).
7. Urban or spatial planning.
8. Horizontal measures (e.g., policy planning,training, communication and awareness)
9. Other (specify): ......
POLICYMAKING ASPECTS

Type of actions undertaken in the initiative

Tick the category of instruments used to reach the objectives.
Several choices allowed.
a)Regulatory actions (e.g. specific legislation)
b)Use of market-based instruments, except public procurement (e.g. ecolabels)
c)Investment in public sector, including public procurement
c.1) Buildings and public premises(e.g. photovoltaic devices in schools)
c.2) Infrastructure (intelligent grids, power plants, new public lighting, etc)
c.3) Equipment (including supplies and public fleets)
d)Fiscal measures(e.g. green taxes, tax exemptions).
e)Financial measures (e.g. subsidies, credit lines).
f)Spatial planning
g)Communication and awareness-raising
h)Training
i)Research and innovation
j)Other (specify): ......

Relationship between different administrative levels

2.1.Is this initiative managed in partnership with other levels of government?
Yes No
2.2.If yes, which levels of government are involved and what is their role?
Tick the different governmental levels and their functions, including your own.
Several choices allowed.
Government Adopts Provides Provides Implements Other
level legislation funding other resources concrete actions
1. EU a. b. c. d. e.
2. National a. b. c. d. e.
3. Regional a. b. c. d. e.
4. Local a. b. c. d. e.
2.3.Does this initiative involve any cross-border agreement?
Yes No

Challenges addressed

3.1What are the main obstacles toimplementation?
Indicate a maximum of 3 obstacles that the initiative has met during its implementation. Rank themin order of increasing importance from 1 (less important) to 3 (most important).
Maximum 3 choices, one choice per column.
Problems: Less Most
important important
a)Legislative framework 1 2 3
b)Political will 1 2 3
c)Timetable 1 2 3
d)Budget 1 2 3
e)Human resources 1 2 3
f)Infrastructure 1 2 3
g)Technology 1 2 3
h)Involvement of the public and the stakeholders 1 2 3
i)Problems among partners 1 2 3
j)Continuity of the project 1 2 3
k)Other: ...... 1 2 3
3.2What impact is the current economic crisis having on the initiative?
Only one choice
No impact at all Fairly low impact Fairly high impact High impact
0 1 2 3

Financial support measures:

4.1Is the initiative receiving external funding?
Several choices allowed
a) EU support scheme. Which one? ......
b) National support scheme.
c) Other (specify): ......
d) None.
4.2Have you experienced any gap in financial support measures?
Yes No
4.3If yes, what is the main gap in financial support measures?
Mention what you consider to be the main missing element in financialsupport measures for this initiative.
Only one choice
a)Excessive bureaucracy
b) Lack of information and dissemination about the programmes available
c)Problems to build trans-national consortia
d) Specific legaland eligibility restrictions . Which one? ......
e) Lack of financing for key aspects: Which ones? ......
f) Other (specify): ......

Network support:

5.1Doesthis initiative receivesupport from a network?
Examples of networks are associations of local and regional authorities, and formal or informal groups.
Yes No
If yes, specify which network: ......
5.2If yes, what kind of support has the network provided to this initiative?
Several choices allowed.
a) Information about supportprogrammes and available funding
b) Ideas of possible actions and good practices implemented by other members
c) Partner search
d)Dissemination and visibility for the initiative
e) Technical support
f) Political support
g) Other. Specify: ......
5.3Is this initiative being developed in the framework of the Covenant of Mayors?
Yes No

Expected outcome:

6.1Have quantitative and qualitative indicators been foreseen?
Yes No
Documentsonindicators for this project may be attached to responses.
6.2Do you expect any further impacts?
Please indicate if the initiative foresees other specific impacts on the economy and society.
Several choices allowed.
a) Generation of direct income (e.g. selling a surplus of electricity from a local wind farm).
b) Creation of new jobs (e.g. demand fornew workers specialised in installing solar panels).
c) Support to SMEs (e.g. training activities oriented specifically to SMEs).
d) Gender approach (e.g. workshops specially oriented to women).
e) Impact on other disadvantaged or under-represented groups (e.g. involving disabled or aged people, youth, Roma).
f) Other (specify): ......
No specific further impact foreseen.
6.3.What aspects qualify this initiative as an example of good practice?
(max. 250 characters)
......
If this initiative is fundamental to reaching the 20-20-20 targets[1] in your region, please indicate this below:
Yes, this initiative is fundamental to reaching the 20-20-20 targets.
6.4.Is this practice intended to become a benchmark of excellence of the Covenant of Mayors[2]?
Yes already.
Yes.
Not necessarily.

______

Thanks for your contribution!

[1]In 2007, EU Heads of State and Government set a series of climate and energy targets to be met by 2020. These are: reducing EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% vis-à-vis 1990 levels; 20% of EU energy consumption to come from renewable resources; a 20% reduction in primary energy use compared with projected levels, to be achieved by improving energy efficiency. Collectively they are known as the 20-20-20 targets.

[2]Benchmarks of Excellence are proposed as relevant examples of local initiatives which Covenant Signatories and Supporting Structures have implemented in their territories and feel particularly proud of. Moreover, they are endorsed as useful actions for other local authorities to replicate.

See: