New call: the exchangeEU programme is now open! European coal, lignite, peat and oil shale (“coal+”) regions are invited to apply to the Coal regions in transition's peer‑learning programme that helps regions turn ambition into real, on‑the‑ground action by learning directly from each other through tailor‑made exchanges. ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฒ๐
๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐๐จ ๐ผ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ? ✅ Peer‑to‑peer and mentor‑to‑mentee exchanges ✅ Hands‑on learning on project development, governance, skills, funding and partnerships ✅ Facilitated visits, expert input, site visits and structured follow‑up ๐ช๐ต๐ผ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐? Public authorities from coal+ regions across the EU, together with local stakeholders such as industry, social partners, civil society and research organisations. ๐ Ready to accelerate your region’s transition? Connect with other European regions facing similar challenges, and shape practical solutions for a clean energy future - apply by 23 June 2026
The 1973 oil crisis triggered a multi-faceted policy response, including first steps in 1976 towards what later became the well-known ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ⚡ ๐ 50 years ago, on 4 May 1976, a Council recommendation on the rational use of energy for electrical household appliances was adopted. It was the first time an EU measure addressed informing the public about the energy consumption of appliances. It called on EU countries to introduce standardised energy labels for refrigerators, washing machines, cookers, televisions and more.⏩ Fast forward 50 years!Europe is dealing with the second fossil fuel supply crisis within 5 years. Energy efficient product legislation is still playing its part, informing consumers, but also helping reduce our energy dependence and our energy bills. The Commission estimates that ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐ญ๐จ €317 in expenditures per year (in 2024 prices) from more energy efficient products alone!๐ The first product with an EU energy label, refrigerators, are today regulated in 80 jurisdictions around the globe. ๐ ️ Along the way, EU energy labels have accommodated also non-energy criteria, such as reparability or other consumer relevant information.
The EU’s wholesale electricity prices vary across location and over time due to several influencing factors. But, what exactly causes these price differences?⚡ Each EU country chooses its own energy mix. The cost for building and running a power plant is different depending on the chosen energy source (wind, nuclear, gas, etc.) and this directly influences the final electricity price.๐ The extent of interconnectivity between EU countries affects wholesale prices, which means that well-connected countries can import and export electricity more easily and efficiently, allowing cheaper and cleaner resources to be used first.๐ฅ Competition between producers can drive electricity prices down, especially in markets with a high share of renewable energy, where costs are typically lower. It also encourages efficiency and innovation among producers, leading to cost reductions which can be passed on to consumers.⛈️ Weather and seasonal conditions affect electricity prices. Periods of extreme cold or heat increase demand for heating and cooling, pushing prices up, while strong wind, rainfall, or sunshine can lower prices by increasing renewable energy generation.
In Thessaloniki, urban mobility now runs alongside ancient historyAfter years of delays and complex works, the city’s first metro is finally running — helping reduce congestion, improve air quality and connect people more quickly across the city.Supported by the EU, this major investment shows how EU funding can help deliver modern, reliable public transport where it is needed most.But Thessaloniki’s metro is more than a transport project. During construction, more than 300,000 archaeological artefacts were uncovered, and some stations now also serve as underground exhibition spaces — linking the city’s future to its past.With 13 stations now open on the first line, the metro is already helping make the city more accessible, more sustainable and more attractive for residents, workers and visitors alike.#EUFunds #CohesionPolicy #UrbanMobility #SustainableCities #Thessaloniki #EIB #EUinMyRegion
1 year after the publication of the EU’s Action Plan for Affordable Energy, the issues linked to high and volatile energy prices have not disappeared, influenced by external factors including global supply patterns, weather anomalies affecting wind and hydro generation, and cold winter spells.Yet progress has been made.The Action Plan tackles short-, medium-, and long-term aspects of energy costs, including⚡reliance on fossil fuels⚡market inefficiencies⚡gaps in electricity system integrationIt combines rapid-impact measures, such as reducing electricity taxes and protecting vulnerable households, with structural reforms to modernise Europe’s energy system, including grids, interconnectors, renewables, and improved governance.
The EU Global Gateway is Europe’s plan to build sustainable connections across the world. With up to €300 billion in investments, it supports projects in clean energy, digital networks, transport, health, and education, helping countries grow through fair and lasting partnerships.From the Lobito Corridor in Africa and hydropower in Central Asia to digital links between Africa, Europe, and India, Global Gateway turns shared goals into real progress. It promotes renewable energy, local vaccine production, modern transport, and education for green and digital jobs.More than investment, it’s about trust, transparency, and sustainability — working with partners, not for them. Discover how the EU Global Gateway is connecting people, planet, and prosperity for a sustainable future.
Croatia: when historic castles become living places againWhat happens when heritage is not just preserved, but used?In Istria, two historic castles are showing how cultural heritage can drive local life and sustainable tourism. Once abandoned, Morosini-Grimani Castle in Svetvinฤenat is now a lively community hub, welcoming around 45,000 visitors a year and hosting everything from concerts and medieval nights to food markets, escape games and family activities.Nearby, the more remote Petrapilosa Fortress, dating back to the 10th century, has also found a new role. Despite its isolation, it now attracts visitors through poetry festivals, treasure hunts, meditation workshops and music events — proving that even lesser-known sites can thrive when reimagined with care.Behind this transformation is KulTERRA, a project that combines heritage preservation with cultural tourism and local economic development. By keeping these sites active and meaningful, the project helps ensure they are maintained, respected and passed on to future generations.A reminder that heritage survives best when it remains part of everyday life — with EU support.
Hungary and Serbia: when a shared river demands shared solutionsFloods, droughts and pollution are reshaping the behaviour of the Tisza River — the largest tributary of the Danube and a lifeline for communities across five countries.Through the ADAPTisa project, Hungary and Serbia are working together to better understand and anticipate these changes. Researchers, universities, water authorities and citizens are pooling data to build a shared digital platform for integrated river basin management. The goal is simple but ambitious: improve flood and drought forecasting and support faster, better-informed responses.On the ground, this cooperation takes many forms. Volunteers clean riverbanks, researchers collect water samples, and local memories of past floods are recorded — all feeding into models that combine historical data, real-time measurements and AI-based simulations.When climate risks don’t stop at borders, cooperation can’t either — with EU support.
Porto’s Bolhรฃo market: when renovation keeps a place aliveSome renovations erase the soul of a place. Bolhรฃo did the opposite. Reopened in 2022 after four years of work, Porto’s historic Bolhรฃo market shows how a city can modernise infrastructure without losing what makes a place matter. Behind the restored Art Nouveau faรงade, everything has changed: better logistics, hygiene standards, cold storage, underground deliveries — all designed to make daily life easier for traders.And yet, the spirit is the same.The same voices, the same products, the same human connections that make Bolhรฃo the heart of the city, visited by around 20,000 people every day. Financed with EU support, the renovation proves that investing in heritage isn’t about freezing the past — it’s about keeping it useful, welcoming and alive for the people who rely on it every day.
EU funding isn’t just for “big players” — it’s already helping SMEs, cities, researchers and innovators turn good ideas into real projects.This first 2026 funding overview brings together:• EU calls open now or opening soon• Opportunities in clean tech, digital, circular economy, skills and innovation• Clear deadlines to anticipate• Concrete examples of projects already delivering results on the ground• A practical focus on intellectual property, often overlooked but essential to scaleWhether you work in a public authority, SME, research centre or project partnership, this is designed to help you spot the right opportunity and move from idea to action.๐ Read the full newsletter and stay tuned — more funding opportunities, more impact, with EU support.
Where learning science means touching, playing and experimentingWhat if learning science didn’t start with formulas, but with curiosity?At the Luxembourg Science Center, children and adults learn by doing: feeling electricity through a plasma ball, playing table football against a robot, reshaping landscapes in augmented reality or travelling through the universe in a planetarium.What stands out isn’t the technology alone — it’s the joy of discovery. Students laugh, experiment, ask questions and remember what they’ve learned because they experienced it first-hand.With EU support, this centre shows that science doesn’t have to be intimidating. When people can touch it, play with it and explore it together, learning becomes something everyone can enjoy.#ScienceForAll #LearningByDoing #STEMEducation #EUFunds
Could seaweed be part of Europe’s future diet? What if part of the answer to climate-friendly food was already growing in the sea? In Denmark, seaweed farmers, researchers and students are discovering that edible seaweed can be nutritious, sustainable — and surprisingly versatile. Grown offshore with minimal inputs, it offers a new way to rethink protein, food production and coastal livelihoods. What makes this initiative stand out is its hands-on approach: from seaweed farms to school kitchens, people are learning by doing — tasting, cooking and experimenting. With EU support, Denmark and Germany are showing that changing what we eat doesn’t start with rules, but with curiosity, education and practical alternatives. Sometimes the most sustainable solutions are closer than we think — just beneath the surface. #SustainableFood #Seaweed #FoodInnovation #ClimateAndPeople #EUFunds
I recently learned a new word: paludiculture.It’s not an easy one — but in Ireland, it might just be a game changer.Instead of draining peatlands and watching them pollute the atmosphere, farmers are learning how to farm with water, not against it. Herbs, vegetables, fruits, even building materials — all grown on wet peat.What struck me most is this:the fight against pollution becomes a source of income.With EU support through the Just Transition Fund, farmers can restore their land, cut emissions — and even earn carbon credits for the CO₂ they no longer release. Climate action stops being a burden and starts becoming part of a viable rural future.This project isn’t about theory. It’s about testing, learning, failing sometimes, and showing other farmers what’s possible.Sometimes the most powerful transitions start with a strange word — and the courage to try something new.#JustTransition #Ireland #ClimateAndPeople #RuralFutures #EUFunds
