European Commission awards the EU Mission Label to 39 new cities, including more POLIS members!
At the Cities Mission Conference 2025 in Vilnius, city leaders, mobility experts, and EU representatives gathered to accelerate Europe's path toward climate neutrality by 2030.
With 92 cities now awarded the EU Mission Label, the momentum is unmistakable: local ambition is being backed by national funding, smart governance, and private capital.
POLIS members on the path
Still from the sessions 'Getting Things Done! Successful measures ready for replication in Mobility and Transport'
Today, 39 additional cities received the EU Mission Label, bringing the total to 92 out of 112 Mission Cities. These include POLIS members Antwerp, Sofia, Aarhus, Dresden, Cork, Dublin, Paris, Riga, Budapest, and Glasgow.
This label is more than symbolic—it unlocks access to the Climate City Capital Hub, expert advisory services, and a €2 billion lending envelope managed by the European Investment Bank.
Meanwhile, some of our other members have featured in the programme of the Conference and thus highlighted how they are translating climate ambition into concrete action on urban mobility—with finance, governance, and public trust at the core.
Cedric Aubouin (Île-de-France Mobilités) shared how the Paris region finances sustainable transport through a dedicated mobility tax, which covers over 50% of IDFM’s revenue. 'This tax helps ensure equitable access to public transport while funding an ambitious electrification plan backed by green bonds,' he explained. On the other hand, Björn Hugosson (City of Stockholm) reflected on the evolution of congestion charging: 'Initially unpopular, it became accepted once people saw improvements in public transport and traffic. Trust follows real change,' he noted.
Françoise Guaspare (Île-de-France Europe) called for proactive local action: 'Cities must engage their national governments early. Much of the EU funding flows through national channels—timing and alignment are critical.' From a governance standpoint, Ivo Cré (POLIS Network) emphasised collaboration beyond city boundaries: 'We have homework to do. Climate neutrality demands coordination across functional urban areas—from freight hubs to shared data systems.'
The session, much as the overall event, underscored a common thread: cities are not waiting—they are designing integrated solutions rooted in political will, technical expertise, and creative finance to walk the path to climate neutrality.
- Related Members
Dublin (NTA)
