Local authorities are in the driver’s seat to put the Green Deal into practice. Their mobilization capacity should be embedded in the heart of the EU Green Deal initiatives to facilitate the best possible participation of our citizens, enterprises, and local community organizations.

Holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2024, the government of the Flanders region of Belgium is inviting 550 mayors ‘Fit for 55’ to highlight the way forward for EU Green Deal’s supportive initiatives for local governments, based on practical experiences. As a concrete example, Flanders has launched a Local Energy and Climate Pact as a contractual basis for tangible targets and support, per number of inhabitants, between the regional and local governments.

 The Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU wants to explore how to create more impact by building a bridge between these, serving better the needs of all local governments, creating stronger synergies, and integrating with regional supportive frameworks across the Union to make the Green Deal thrive in our communities.

The ways of implementing solutions to reach the Green Deal’s ambition are countless, but they all have in common that they do take concrete shape locally: in our cities and municipalities. It’s high time to bring these local governments together. To learn how other cities and municipalities are making a difference through an unprecedented mobilization of all local partners. By analysing and scaling up mutually reinforcing partnerships between local governments, regions, and European initiatives. By matching ambitions to regulations and investment plans.

The conference will present inspirational initiatives, policies, and methods from Flanders and abroad. As a participant, you will be able to choose from a range of plenary sessions and panels with inspiring, high-level political representatives of all levels of government, and in-depth sessions with experts from across Europe.

Save the date now. An invitation along with a full programme will be sent out in autumn 2023.