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Limassol is the only Cypriot city participating in EU’s Cities Mission
The European Commission has recently unveiled the list of 100 EU cities that will take part in the EU Cities Mission, which aims to create 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030. The Cypriot city of Limassol has been selected among the 100 cities.
Mayor of Limassol Nicos Nicolaides stated on social media: ‘’This is a major success for our city, which is essentially representing Cyprus in this pioneering European mission.’’
Mayor Nicolaides said that Limassol was examined by independent experts after expressing interest, and then satisfied the Commission’s additional requirements to maintain geographic balance and a diverse group of cities in terms of size, influence, and innovative ideas.
The Cities Mission will receive €360 million in Horizon Europe financing from 2022 to 2023 to begin developing innovative solutions to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. 377 cities applied to be part of the cities mission in total. The 100 European cities picked account for 12% of the EU’s population, the European Commission stated.
The research and innovation actions will focus on clean transportation, energy efficiency, and green urban planning, and will allow for the creation of joint initiatives and increased interactions with other EU programs.
Mayor Nicolaides is a strong supporter of various projects and initiatives aimed at modernizing the infrastructure in Limassol, and making the Cypriot city more environmentally friendly in general. Thanks to his outstanding efforts, the city has found its place on the list of cities that will be able to work even harder on their green transformation in the upcoming period.
Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans, quoted by the European Commission website, said: “Cities are at the forefront of the fight against the climate crisis. Whether it’s greening urban spaces, tackling air pollution, reducing energy consumption in buildings, or advancing clean mobility solutions: cities are often the hub of the changes Europe needs to succeed in our transition to climate neutrality.’’
‘’My congratulations to the cities selected today, I look forward to the solutions you will develop to guide your inhabitants and businesses towards a greener future,” he further stated. (photo credit: Gerd Altmann/Pixabay)
