4.11.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 421/37
Regions will be involved in the implementation through the future national cancer hubs in each Member State.
These will facilitate: (1) integration of the mission’s activities by identifying synergies in cancer related policy initiatives and investments between EU, national, regional and local level; (2) engagement of relevant national actors and stakeholders going beyond the R&I and health systems to cover relevant areas in cancer control (such as employment, education,); (3) policy dialogues on cancer; and (4) citizen engagement activities.
EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters The mission’s strategic objective is to restore the health of our ocean and waters by 2030 by protecting and restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, preventing and eliminating pollution of our ocean, seas and waters and fostering carbon-neutrality and circularity of the EU’s blue economy.
There is a special focus on regional engagement through area-based ‘lighthouses’.
These are conceived as research and innovation project portfolios for the development and deployment of transformative solutions in four major European basins: Atlantic and Arctic basin; Baltic and North Sea basin; Mediterranean Sea basin; Danube River and Black Sea basin.
The mission will be implemented in two phases: developing and piloting of solutions (2021-2024) and deployment and upscaling (as of 2025) of these activities.
While the Commission has earmarked almost EUR 350 million from Horizon Europe for the period 2021-2023 to support the first phase, the mobilisation of additional commitments and budgets from public and private actors, including through the ERDF will be crucial for achieving the mission objectives.
The concept of ‘associated regions’ is embedded in all relevant activities of the Mission Work Programme.
‘Associated regions’ are areas with ecosystems that can benefit from the demonstration activities (e.g. neighbouring regions and/or regions in a different sea basin) and/or less-developed regions, with the need to build capacity to implement the innovative solutions developed under the different projects.
These regions will benefit from financial support to showcase the feasibility, replicability and upscale of innovative solutions.
ERDF could bring forward the implementation of innovative solutions at regional level.
A Mission Charter will collect pledges/actions and bring together all interested parties, from Member States and Associated Countries to regions and local authorities, private entities, NGOs and citizens.
EU Mission Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities The mission aims to deliver at least 100 European climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030 and to ensure that these cities act as experimentation and innovation hubs to put all European cities in a position to become climate-neutral by 2050.
With its city-driven approach and focus on place-based solutions, it contributes to the EU ERDF policy objective of a greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility.
It also contributes to the policy objective of a Europe closer to citizens by fostering the sustainable and integrated development of all types of territories and local initiatives, supporting tailor-made investment strategies at territorial level, in cities and local communities, to address their diverse challenges, and tapping into their development potential.
Through a Call for Expression of Interest, the mission invited cities to register their intention to become climate-neutral by 2030.
The expressions of interest were evaluated based on the cities’ ambition, their levels of preparedness, their ongoing and planned commitment to climate neutrality and reducing pollution, and their commitment to involving citizens and relevant stakeholders in the city climate plan.
The selected cities are invited to set-up a Climate City Contract (CCC) with support of a Mission Platform.
The CCC, not being a legally binding instrument will be developed through an innovative process of co-creation involving the cities, national/regional authorities, relevant stakeholders and the Commission.
It aligns with the regional smart specialisation strategy, put cities in the driver’s seat, based on their actual needs.
It will be a cross-sector, demand-based and bottom-up approach, with specific commitments to deploy and scale-up innovative and smart solutions in relation to climate neutrality across all relevant sectors.
The CCC includes an agreed baseline; how the city plans to implement these commitments by 2030; and an investment plan with relevant funding and financing sources.