Commission calls for know-how for European regions The European Commission has published a call for proposals for the implementation of a specific action for facilitating access to the Structural Funds supporting clean energy actions in European regions and urban centres. The Commission is inviting the submission of proposals... The European Commission has published a call for proposals for the implementation of a specific action for facilitating access to the Structural Funds supporting clean energy actions in European regions and urban centres. The Commission is inviting the submission of proposals for the provision of know-how and information to European regions and urban centres willing to be involved in projects funded by the Structural Funds in the field of clean energy. This is following the Council Decision, 96/737/EC, concerning the promotion of energy efficiency in the European Union and the opinion of the SAVE Committee of 17 November 1998 on the need to implement a specific action with the above mentioned title, The principal activities may include: - Enhancing the capacity of local and regional actors to develop and implement innovative clean energy projects in the framework of the Structural Funds; - Supplying expert assistance to help regions and urban centres to prepare, launch and operate transnational networks for exchanging experience and good practice in key subjects of energy management; - Offering expert advice to help interested regions and urban centres to prepare, launch and operate transnational projects to develop, apply and disseminate new and improved methods for rational energy management in selected subject areas; - Encouraging exchange of experience between local and regional authorities in order to: -- Promote energy management at local level; -- Improve policy analysis on energy efficiency; -- Integrate energy efficiency in other programmes; -- Support non-technological elements of energy management; - Organising workshops, thematic seminars and conferences in cooperation with the Commission; - Developing and disseminating information on energy management; -Creating a series of databases, publications and an Internet site, which will offer practical information on access to the Structural Funds and key energy measures being implemented, contact information about key-energy operators in the regions and urban centres, examples of good practice in rational energy management as well as related methodological guides. Legal entities, organisations, public and private enterprises of the Union, as well as Community-wide networks or temporary groupings or organisation and/or enterprises formed to accomplish the specific action are invited to submit proposals. The proposals should specify the objectives and parameters of the action with emphasis on "capacity-building". It should also take into consideration the requirement to involve in the action both national energy agencies and the most relevant actors of the supply side in Member States. For further information, please contact: European Commission Directorate-General for Energy - DG XVII Unit A2 Avenue de Tervuren 226-236 B-1150 Brussels
