European City Facility: €60,000 for town halls preparing energy investments

The eighth European City Facility (EUCF) call opens on 26 October 2026 and accepts applications until 21 December 2026, at 17:00 CET (18:00 Romanian time). The budget is €3.72 million. From this, 62 town halls, local authorities or associations of authorities each receive a fixed sum of €60,000, which they use to prepare the concept of an investment in energy efficiency, clean energy or heating and cooling. Local authorities in Romania are eligible.

In brief

• Programme: LIFE European City Facility (EUCF), eighth call
• Beneficiaries: municipalities, local authorities, groupings of local authorities and local public entities that bring together several municipalities, from EU Member States (including Romania), Iceland, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro and North Macedonia
• Total budget: €3.72 million, for 62 beneficiaries
• Value per project: fixed sum of €60,000
• Submission period: 26 October – 21 December 2026, 17:00 CET
• Status: call announced, opening on 26 October 2026

What does the European City Facility actually fund?

EUCF does not pay for works, equipment or construction. The €60,000 covers the preparation of an investment: the local authority develops an investment concept for a sustainable energy project. The concept is then used to attract public or private funding for the project itself.

The grant can pay for, for example:

• feasibility studies;
• legal analyses;
• consulting and involving local stakeholders.

The proposed investment may concern energy efficiency, the production and use of clean energy, heating and cooling systems, or a combination of these.

Who can apply and what conditions must be met?

Municipalities, other local authorities, groupings of local authorities and local public entities that bring together several municipalities can apply. In Romania, besides town halls, this includes associative structures such as ADIs (inter-community development associations), if they bring together several localities. No minimum population threshold is imposed.

The main condition is political commitment to the energy transition, proven by an official plan. Any of the following is accepted:

• a Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP);
• another climate or energy plan with emission reduction targets;
• a local sustainable heating and cooling plan. This is accepted as proof of commitment for the first time from this call onwards.

How and by when do you submit the application?

The application is submitted online, in two stages:

1. a self-assessment of eligibility, with five yes/no questions;
2. an online form in four parts: identification of the applicant, political commitment, the proposed investment project and how the grant will be used.

Submission is possible between 26 October 2026 and 21 December 2026, 17:00 CET, i.e. 18:00 in Romania. According to the European Committee of the Regions, this is the first call in a new series of EUCF calls. The series totals up to 185 beneficiaries, and the following calls are planned for spring and autumn 2027, each open for two months. The exact dates of the 2027 calls have not yet been announced.

What this means for your business

The call is aimed at local public authorities, not businesses. However, it also matters for energy solution providers, because the projects prepared now become the investments tendered in the coming years. Our recommendations for town halls:

• Check your plan now. Without a SECAP, a climate plan with reduction targets or a heating and cooling plan, your application will not pass the eligibility check. If the plan exists, check that it has been officially approved and that the document can be presented.
• Choose a concrete investment. The form asks for a description of the proposed project, so a general idea ("energy efficiency in the commune") is a weak starting point. A clear package works better: public buildings to renovate, a district heating system, a solar plant with storage.
• Small communes can apply together. Groupings of local authorities are eligible. A few neighbouring communes can thus prepare a joint concept, which is easier to finance later.
• Think of the concept as a step towards other funding. A solid investment concept can later support an application under the regional programmes, the Modernisation Fund or a loan. Our recommendation: align it from the outset with the conditions of the targeted programme.

The competition is European, and 62 grants for all eligible countries means very few places. The quality of the form and the maturity of the proposed project matter. You can quickly check other funding sources through the eligibility check.

Frequently asked questions

Can town halls in Romania apply to the European City Facility?

Yes. The call is open to local authorities in all EU Member States, including Romania, as well as in Iceland, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro and North Macedonia.

Can the €60,000 be used for works or equipment?

No. The sum covers the preparation of an investment concept, through feasibility studies, legal analyses and consultation of local stakeholders. The investment itself must be financed later from other sources, public or private.

Which document proves the political commitment required by EUCF?

A Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP), another climate or energy plan with emission reduction targets or, from this call onwards, a local sustainable heating and cooling plan is accepted.

What is the submission deadline?

Applications are submitted online between 26 October 2026 and 21 December 2026, 17:00 CET, i.e. 18:00 in Romania.

If I miss this call, will I have another chance?

According to the European Committee of the Regions, after the October 2026 call, further calls are planned for spring and autumn 2027, each open for two months. The exact dates have not yet been announced.

Official sources

• European City Facility – calls page
• FEDARENE – announcement of the eighth EUCF call (15 October 2026)
• FEDARENE – LIFE European City Facility: calls, eligibility, application procedure
• European Committee of the Regions – Green Deal Funding Alert, September 2026

Information checked on 18 October 2026. Conditions may be changed by the managing authority — check the guide in force before you submit.