The initiative
The Covenant of Mayors was launched in 2008 in the EU Today, the initiative engages more than 11 000 local governments. Not only did the initiative introduce a first-of-its-kind bottom-up approach to energy and climate action, but its success quickly went beyond expectations.
Through the Covenant of Mayors Office in Brussels, the European Commission provides technical support and guidance on financial instruments for cities and regions willing to set up sustainable energy and climate action plans.
The CoR’s role in the initiative – Political Board
The Covenant of Mayors is steered by a Political Board composed of mayors and other local leaders. Board members regularly meet and are invited to discussions with EU institution leaders on how to advance local energy and climate actions.
The CoR is officially represented in the Political Board by two members: CoR President Kata Tüttő (HU/PES) and Rafał Trzaskowski (PL/EPP).
The role of the CoR’s Covenant of Mayors national ambassadors
In 2021, the European Committee of the Regions formed the Chamber of National Ambassadors of the Covenant of Mayors, composed of 27 members (one per Member State) who act as national ambassadors of the Covenant of Mayors.
The primary goal of the national ambassadors is to endorse and reinforce the initiative in every Member State, to take part in country-specific activities and to reinforce links and cooperation with Members of the European Parliament and national governments. The Chamber of National Ambassadors also aims to establish contact with cities and municipalities that could benefit from technical support and financial guidance and become active agents in delivering climate action.
Getting involved in the EU Covenant community
The EU Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy is open to all democratically constituted local authorities consisting of elected representatives, regardless of their size or the stage of implementation of their energy and climate policies.