Moves towards a greener economy are a key EU policy aim. But what will such an economy look like? It will certainly put an end to greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss and pollution. Existing technologies will have to be made more sustainable, while on the labour market, new clean technology skills will be needed.

On February 22, Brittany celebrated a key digital milestone, connecting 500,000 households and businesses to high-speed broadband, advancing towards EU digital goals. This "Bretagne Très Haut Débit" project, backed by EU funds, promises enhanced accessibility and economic growth. Designated as an Operation of Strategic Importance, it exemplifies the impactful integration of digital infrastructure within regional development, setting a new standard for digital inclusivity across Europe.

With a € 12.5 billion investment for 2021-2027, cohesion policy is powering Europe’s transition to a circular economy and helping countries find innovative ways to boost their waste management for a cleaner and more competitive future focused on jobs and sustainability.

Discover the PARTIMAP initiative, supported by EU funding, and how it revolutionises public participation in urban development projects through innovative map-based surveys. Citizens have a new tool to collaborate with professionals to shape the future of their communities, fostering inclusive decision-making and transparent governance. Discover the challenges faced and future prospects of PARTIMAP, aiming to enhance community engagement and empower citizens in development processes.

Delve into the transformative world of Europe's digital connectivity through the lens of the European Broadband Awards 2023. Discover how ERDF-funded projects are bridging the digital divide, propelling rural areas into a future of technological advancement, economic vitality, and societal inclusivity

The EU set up the Just Transition Fund (JTF) to help these regions who are likely to be hardest hit by the green transition. One JTF-funded project in Sweden is showing how the steel industry can reduce its carbon emissions with hydrogen technology.

Journalists from around Europe have discovered how EU funding in Poland is helping turn coal mining areas into hubs of culture, tourism, and entrepreneurship as part of the country’s transition to clean energy sources.

The Cohesion for Transitions (C4T) Community of Practice is a novel technical assistance initiative launched In January 2023, to support and accelerate the implementation of the European Green Deal via the investments foreseen in 2021-2027 cohesion policy programmes.

The Territorial Economic Data viewer (TEDv) gathers data on different Research and Innovation funding, helping policymakers monitor EU programmes and ensuring greater transparency in the use of public resources.

Rapid urbanisation is one of society’s most pressing issues, impacting communities, economies and, of course, the environment. During its participation at the World Urban Forum (WUF11), the EU renewed its commitment to supporting sustainable urban development through a broad range of policies and initiatives.

Let’s imagine a future where scientists, entrepreneurs and civil society develop together innovative projects that come from different parts of the European Union. This is exactly what the future of cooperation looks like.

Aneta Ruzik, programme manager for Poland’s Grand Challenge – Energy, talks to Panorama about organising the competition, which was won by the Gdańsk MMB Team, led by Professor Zbigniew Krzemiński, for the best prototype of a domestic wind power plant. Grand Challenge – Energy was an open contest for innovators, inventors, researchers, students, focusing on renewable energy. The challenge was to design and present a new device that changes wind into electric energy and stores the energy in the most efficient way. The competition aims at addressing the socio-economic challenges related to the climate neutrality transition, by finding local, easy to implement solutions to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The solution developed in the challenge could provide a means to access electricity off-grid and above all contribute to savings for households. The winner was awarded a prize of PLN 1 million from cohesion policy funds (ERDF).

A wide range of EU resources is helping cities breathe new life into neglected buildings and areas, transforming them from eyesores into assets. The support is boosting urban renewal, sustainability, social inclusion and more, benefiting both people and the planet.

EU policies and projects are helping cities to roll out transport choices that improve air quality and public health.

The Interreg SUSHIDROP project – SUstainable fiSHeries wIth DROnes data Processing – is using underwater vehicles to explore the environmental status and biodiversity of the marine habitat.

A range of tools and funding support is available to help Europe’s cities transition to greener, more sustainable urban development. These include EU guidelines on a green procurement. Some cities are already making the most of what is on offer to improve their urban development planning strategies and to launch innovative projects.

Acknowledging the strengths and differences of German and Dutch actors in the agri-food sector of the Euregio Rhein-Waal yields lessons in promoting cross-border cooperation and innovation.

EU-funded projects are helping cities realise the power of harnessing data for public good.

The ‘e-Schools project’, which has attracted significant attention since its launch in 2015 as a pilot project, aims to bring Croatian schools into the digital era. An awardee of the 2020 REGIOSTARS competition in the ‘Skills and Education for a digital Europe’ category, the project set out to make a long-term impact by paying particular attention to sustainable planning and implementation, as well as the strong involvement of the beneficiaries.

Climate adaptation and energy transition as key challenges for EU cities. This is the second article of the Urban Agenda for the EU series.