On our journey towards a successful implementation of the Paris Agreement and the EU’s strategic vision for carbon neutrality by 2050, we need to mobilise a significant amount of finance and private investments. Despite their tremendous potential for building substantial pipelines of investment projects across Europe and their key role in aggregating smaller projects into sizeable packages, municipalities, local authorities and their groupings as well as local public entities aggregating municipalities/local authorities often face financial constraints, as well as a lack of capacity.

The EUCF is here to help municipalities, local authorities and local public entities aggregating municipalities/local authorities in bridging the following barriers.

LIMITED HUMAN RESOURCES AND CAPACITY

• Simple and fast-track application process 

• Strong technical and financial expertise and support in national language

• Easy access to pool of EU experts, investors, financiers and other key actors

• Benchmarks and standardised investment packages

LACK OF EXPERIENCE WITH INNOVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

• Capacity building on blending of funds, innovative financing schemes, procurement, climate mainstreaming in municipal budgets, etc.

• Communities of practice, access to experienced experts

• Financial support to develop investment concepts and to prepare sustainable energy projects for financing

RELUCTANCE TO INVEST IN PROJECT PREPARATION

• Financial support for pre-feasibility studies, in-house and external expertise

LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING INVESTMENT PACKAGES

• Capacity building on prioritisation of investments

• Supporting multi-level governance approach at the pre-application stage