Porto Receives EU Mission Label at European Mayors Summit

05/11/2024

The EU Mission City Seals were awarded in Strasbourg, France, recognising 20 examples of innovation and sustainability. The session took place alongside the European Mayors Summit at the European Parliament, where Porto was represented by its Deputy Mayor.

According to Filipe Araújo, ‘the development and alignment of the Climate Contracts of various cities shows the European Commission what the priorities for decarbonisation are, as well as the necessary amounts required to turn ambition into reality’.

Believing in the ‘power of cities’, the Deputy Mayor emphasises that ‘the future of the European Union is played out in cities, where relevant policies are materialised closer to citizens’.

At this high-level meeting, mayors and deputy mayors from various European cities were welcomed by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.

With the presence of several Members of Parliament, this was also an opportunity to discuss relevant issues affecting urban areas in Europe. The local leaders aim to influence the priorities of the new European commissioners by sharing common concerns and objectives on issues such as climate action and access to affordable housing.

The event also reinforced the need for a long-term strategy and vision, promoting greater collaboration between local authorities and European institutions.

Therefore, Porto also reaffirms its commitment to being a driving force in urban transformation and in implementing policies that can benefit its residents.

Climate Contract Makes Porto a Leader Among European Peers

As a result of a thorough evaluation of the Porto Climate Contract, the awarding of the Mission Seal places the city among the leaders in the ambition for decarbonisation, with the ultimate goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.

This framework, which includes a Commitment Document, an Action Plan, and an Investment Plan, was evaluated by the Mission Cities Secretariat, the Joint Research Centre, and the European Investment Bank.

The content and methodology of the Porto Climate Contract were developed complementarily, under the Be.Neutral project, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).

The ceremony was attended by the new European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Iliana Ivanova, and the Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira.