The implementation of the Covenant of Mayors initiative in European cities: A policy perspective

This paper offers a policy-making perspective on the Covenant of Mayors (CoM) initiative, a tool launched in 2008 by the European Commission to help cities of any size or population implement the 2020 EU Climate and Energy package. By adopting the conceptual framework of implementation research it provides insights into the CoM planning process, in particular the implementation phase, which has reached a critical period according to ongoing public and scientific debates. A set of in-depth interviews with selected key informants forms the basis for a discussion of the main barriers and difficulties (technical, financial, and political) that cities face as they attempt to implement the initiative. We argue that a closer collaboration between EU policy-makers and national governments could overcome some critical barriers and diversify the goals of the initiative, making it possible to accommodate the varied capacities of national and local contexts. Future improvements to financial and technical assistance could advance the implementation of several actions proposed by various actors.

Automated summary

This paper provides a policy-making perspective on the Covenant of Mayors initiative and examines the barriers and difficulties faced by cities in implementing the initiative. The study suggests that closer collaboration between EU policy-makers and national governments can overcome barriers and diversify the goals of the initiative, while improvements in financial and technical assistance can advance the implementation of proposed actions.