European mayors, priority is fighting climate change

Brussels – In 2024, the main issue facing European mayors is combating climate change. This is revealed by a survey by Eurocites, which asked mayors across Europe what issues they felt most strongly about just days before the upcoming European elections (June 6-9). Participating in the statistical survey were 92 first citizens from both EU and non-EU countries, such as the United Kingdom and Turkey. The mayors of Genoa, Turin, Florence, Rome, Bologna, Milan and Verona answered Eurocites’ questions for Italy. 

Sixty-seven per cent of the first European citizens surveyed said that actions to combat climate change were at the top of their agendas. This was followed by policies to ensure social inclusion and equity (31 per cent) and access to affordable and social housing (30 per cent). For André Sobczak, secretary general of Eurocities, these results show that “mayors, unlike national politicians, maintain a focus on ecological and social needs.”

Despite the strong polarization around climate change, mayors responding to the survey emphasize their commitment to the EU’s climate neutrality goals: “The vast majority of mayors are also confident that citizens support their ambitious climate goals,” Sobczak said. At the same time, when it comes to being able to finance measures to reduce pollution, mayors say they do not receive enough support from the Union or their national governments. In this regard, Sobczak recalled how “the priorities of cities and the European Union are often very similar, but there are areas where European funding and policies are lacking and continue to be hindered by national governments.”

One of the most significant demands from mayors across Europe is the call for more funds for urban areas. First citizens complain that, even where EU funding is substantial, the bureaucracy is excessive and risks slowing down the process. According to the Eurocities research, municipalities would like a faster and more efficient flow between the EU, nation-states and local entities.

Italian mayors, in terms of their priorities for 2024, compared to the European average, place greater emphasis on sustainable mobility, culture, and new housing accessible to all.

Regarding expectations from the next European Commission, in the run-up to the elections, Italian mayors hope that it will kick-start an increased investment in sustainable mobility. However, compared to their European counterparts, Italian mayors expect more from Europe in terms of capacity building and technical assistance. Italian first citizens also demand that EU budget rules push more for investment in the local and want to promote fiscal decentralization. These points are much more heartfelt than they are among their European counterparts.