The project began by setting up the appropriate framework for collaborative work among different levels of the public sector (local, regional, national and European) in the implementation of energy efficiency measures in urban regeneration. Existing policies, regulation framework, planning, management and financial mechanisms in each of the national clusters of FosterREG participating countries (Spain, Netherland and Croatia) at European, national, regional and local levels were analyzed to identify the barriers as well as identify potentials for integration. This part also included the identification and mapping of the main public stakeholders as well as a significant sample of the related private and civil sectors in each country to be engaged during FosterREG activities.
Once the framework was stablished a collaborative analysis process was carried out to build a collaborative understanding of the main challenges, and formulate a collective strategy to overcome the barriers to integrate energy efficiency objectives in urban regeneration plans.
Three national clusters in Croatia, the Netherlands and Spain, completed this process. Main findings developed in the national clusters were later discussed in an EU wide workshop held in Brussels to help formulate the conclusions on where to focus upon in the next project WP capacity building.
Last period, FosterREG focused on raising civil servants’ capacity and skills, at national, regional and local level, in relation with policy design, planning, financing and management of integration of energy efficiency measures within urban regeneration plans. Different approaches from national clusters in the capacity activities allowed embracing the wide range of realities in the whole of Europe. Some countries have the urban regeneration as one of their priorities while others’ main interest is focus on energy systems transition with a new sustainability perspective.
One of the main conclusions from these capacity building activities is that in any case all approaches need of an integrated district scale approach and there is not a one generic way to do it but requires a lot of effort from all government levels. Different methods have been used to achieve this interdisciplinary approach during the capacity building activities incorporating new stakeholders to the FosterREG networks.
All these activities are widely documented in the English version video and partners’ national languages videos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9d8JB5Bz9s )
