On 7 February, DG REGIO published a call for expression of interest for their collaboration with the World Bank Group’s Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation Global Practice (World Bank FCI GP) on a project aiming to develop an evidence-based toolbox that enables EU Member States (MS) to better target reforms and investments, at national and subnational levels, to reduce emissions through improving firms’ energy efficiency.
- 11 April 2024
A pilot initiative will be launched that will help deepen the understanding of firm-level drivers of energy consumption and emissions in the private sector, and identify policy actions aimed at aligning firm competitiveness with the climate agenda, including through the grants and financial instruments of the EU Cohesion funds. The pilot will be launched in two countries, producing outputs specific to the countries while also testing the tools, surveys, approaches, and methodologies that would eventually become fully replicable across any EU Member States and subnational regions (see Overall Project Description for a detailed description of the project).
DG REGIO and the World Bank were looking for public authorities/agencies from up to 2 EU Member States (MS) interested in collaborating in the understanding of the firm-level drivers of energy consumption and emissions, the binding constraints to energy transition of firms, the sectors and types of firms that should be priority targets to accelerate decarbonization, the subnational regions where policy actions would deliver highest returns in terms of energy efficiency, the barriers that distort markets and prevent gains in energy performance at firm or sectoral level, the institutional gaps in support mechanisms, and the programs with the highest potential to support the energy transition of firms.
DG REGIO and World Bank are now pleased to announce the selection of Romania and Poland as pilot countries. Their selection is the result of a selection process based on the expressions of interest submitted and after a careful assessment based on selected MS’ eligibility, access to data and award criteria.
DG REGIO and World Bank FCI GP wish to express their high appreciation for the expressed interest in the initiative and to all the applicants in particular.