PROSPECT+ Policy Event: Moving beyond subsidies to fast-track the energy transition 

This in-person event draws on the results of the PROSPECT+ consultations, which explored public authorities’ attitudes toward innovative financing instruments. The event will provide an overview of the project journey, emphasising the value of peer learning in strengthening cities’ and regions’ capacities to achieve their goals. 

 Why Attend? 

• Learn What Cities Need: Hear the findings of PROSPECT+ consultations, where cities shared their experiences with innovative financing instruments such as Energy Performance Contracts, Green Bonds, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and crowdlending. Understand the barriers they face, from restrictive regulations to limited capacity, and the support they require. 
• Gain Practical Insights: Hear how policies, support initiatives, and funding mechanisms can be better aligned with cities’ needs to accelerate their progress toward climate neutrality. 

Who Should Attend? 

This session is designed to inform and engage: 

• EU Institutions & Policymakers: Those responsible for designing policies and funding mechanisms that can better support cities. 
• Financial Institutions & Investors: Stakeholders looking to understand the needs of cities and explore opportunities for public-private collaboration. 
• City Networks & Advocacy Groups: Organizations amplifying the voices of local authorities to ensure their needs are heard. 
• Municipal Leaders & Energy Agencies: Representatives seeking practical tools and strategies to access financing and overcome challenges. 

Take part in the discussion:

You still have a unique opportunity to share your city’s or region’s needs, postulates and recommendations.

Fill in a short survey to contribute to the issues the speakers will highlight during the final event: add your contribution.

Venue: Comics Art Museum, Rue des Sables 20, Brussels, Belgium, Belgium

Date: 11 March 2025, 14:00 – 17:00

---

AGENDA

14:00-14:30   Registration
Moderator: Diana Prsancova, Senior Project Officer, FEDARENE
14:30    Opening

• André Sobczak, Secretary General of Eurocities 
   

14:40   The PROSPECT+ journey: Why it is important to keep investing in strengthening local and regional authorities’ capacity through impactful peer-learning. 

• Giulia Pizzini, Senior Energy Expert, The Institute for European Energy and Climate Policy (IEECP) 

14:55   Public authorities’ attitudes toward innovative financing instruments: barriers and postulates (presentation of the results of the PROSPECT+ consultations highlighting priorities, needs and barriers on the local level raised by local authorities and their universality across Europe). 

• Sylwia Słomiak, Senior Climate Finance Advisor, Eurocities 

15:10   Panel Discussion – Addressing local needs: Exploring current and future support opportunities that address the needs on the local level. 

Speakers: 

• Bianca Faragau, Institutional Policy Officer, European Investment Bank
• Andries Gryffroy, European Committee of the Regions
• Pierluca Merola, Policy Officer, European Commission: Energy Efficiency: Policy and Financing Unit, European Commission, Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER)
• Andrzej Urbanik, Policy Officer, European Commission: European Commission, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO)
• Anna-Maria Spyriouni, Head of EU Affairs, Climate Bonds Initiative

16:00   Panel Discussion – Reality at the local level: What cities need to accelerate the energy transition while public funding is not enough for the scale and urgency of the transformation and what strategies have been most effective so far. 

Speakers: 

• Alicia Villazan Cabero , Project Manager, Valladolid City Council, Spain 
• Marco Costa, AESS The Agency for Energy and Sustainable Development, Italy (TBC)
• Marcin Gradzki, Director of Climate and Air Quality Department, City of Warsaw, Poland 
• Vlasta Krmelj, Mayor of Selnica ob Dravi and CEO of ENERGAP, Slovenia
• TBC
   

16:50   Closing  

• Cristina Mestre Martínez, Project Advisor, European Commission: European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)

17:00-18:30   Cocktail reception and networking 

---

About the organisers

PROSPECT+ consortium: Adelphi, ENERGAP, Energy Cities, ESV, Eurocities, Fedarene, IEECP, SEMMO, Tipperary Energy Agency, UPRC and Valladolid City Council. 

PROSPECT+ enhances public authorities’ capacity and fosters dialogue about accelerating the energy transition, addressing the challenging scale of the needed climate action by focusing on innovative financing instruments.