How cities and national platforms can shape the National and Regional Partnership Plans to ensure funding for urban climate transitions?

The European Commission’s proposal for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) introduces National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs) as the main framework for programming a broad range of EU funds. As Member States begin preparing these plans, cities and national platforms have a crucial opportunity to help shape investment priorities and ensure that urban needs are reflected in national funding strategies.

This is particularly important for urban climate transitions. Cities are responsible for delivering many of the investments needed to achieve Europe’s climate goals, but their success depends on access to adequate EU funding. This webinar will explore how cities and national platforms can engage in the NRPP process, influence national priorities, and strengthen support for investments that accelerate the transition to climate-neutral and resilient cities.

Learning from Poland and Portugal

A central feature will be two country cases—Poland and Portugal—where cities and national platforms are actively contributing to draft NRPPs through their participation in working groups and dialogue processes. Speakers will share why they chose to get involved, how their stakeholder processes (including Better Funding Dialogues, regional workshops, and working groups) are structured, and what lessons they’ve drawn so far.

Programme highlights

Moderated by Olga Krajewska (ICLEI), the session opens with an introduction to NRPPs by Goksen Sahin (ICLEI), covering why climate-ambitious cities should get involved, how cities are currently positioned in the MFF process and what the Local Alliance advocates for at EU level, and the timeline and thematic scope ahead.

The Poland case will feature Katarzyna Redzinska (WUT), Justyna Wieczorkiewicz (CKIC), and Anna Sokolowska (Eurocities), while the Portugal case will be presented by Maria João Rodrigues (Cities for Climate Network) and Francisco Gonçalves (Energy Cities). A comment from the European Commission’s Mission Team is also expected.

The webinar closes with practical tips for getting engaged—identifying a coordinating entity such as a national platform or national city network, understanding which ministry leads the NRPP process, determining the best way to contribute, and connecting concrete city projects to the process—followed by an open discussion.

Date: 13 October 2026
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 CEST

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/DxHwA-t7TziNHbJoF8LQTg#/registration 

The webinar is co-organised by CapaCITIES and NetZeroCities.