The European Climate Initiative launches the 7th competition for ideas for climate action projects – accession candidates from the western Balkans can now take part The BMWK’s funding programme seeks the best project ideas to realise ambitious climate action in Europe and tackle the energy crisis

The European Climate Initiative (EUKI) launched its call for project ideas to speed up climate action in Europe on 25 November. Non-profit organisations from civil society, scientists, the business sector, education facilities and municipalities have the chance to submit their proposals for ambitious climate projects to the EUKI website until 13 January 2023. Interested parties from all EU Member States and, for the first time, the six western Balkan states, can apply.

The available funding amounts to between €120,000 and €1 million per project. The countries targeted by the EUKI are in central, eastern and south-eastern Europe, the Baltic states and now also the western Balkans. More than half of the funding will go to projects in these countries.

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck explained the background to the competition: “Germany will be climate-neutral by 2045. We have set a deadline of 2050 for this in the EU. We can only achieve these targets if we think climate action and the energy transition together in European terms. We are therefore using the EUKI to fund projects which drive the phase-out of fossil fuel and the expansion of renewable energy across borders.”

In the projects assisted by the EUKI, local authorities and organisations work on a cross-border basis on climate action with several European partners. The previous EUKI projects provide examples of how to make optimal use of energy, fund green jobs in European coal-mining regions, and enhance the cross-border policy dialogue.

Since it was set up five years ago, the EUKI has developed into a successful funding programme investing a total of €79 million in climate action 179 projects so far in Europe. More than 350 organisations, local authorities, schools, government agencies and universities contributing to the attainment of the EU’s climate targets and the Green Deal are networked in the EUKI. The EUKI Academy expands their expertise on climate policy, enabling them to speak more authoritatively in climate debates.

The EUKI aims to pave the way to climate neutrality in Europe. Here, the EUKI orients its work to the priorities set at EU level and the current challenges. The 7th competition for ideas will therefore address, for example, the Fit for 55 package, the REPowerEU plan, and the tackling of the energy crisis.

You can find further information about EUKI and its projects here: https://www.euki.de/en.