European City Facility – Eighth Call for Applications
European City Facility – Eighth Call for Applications supports local authorities in preparing sustainable energy investment concepts to mobilize investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: October 26, 2026 (Opening) | December 21, 2026, 17:00 Brussels time (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to €60,000 per investment concept (lump sum); €3,720,000 total available
Summary: Supports local authorities in developing sustainable energy investment concepts to mobilize investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Key Information: Funding supports investment concept preparation, not direct implementation of energy projects.
Description
The European City Facility (EUCF) eighth call supports municipalities, local authorities and their groupings in preparing investment concepts for sustainable energy. Supported by the European Commission through the LIFE European City Facility 3.0 project, it helps local authorities take an initial step towards fully developed business and financial plans. The goal is to facilitate subsequent investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy, including clean energy and heating and cooling actions.
The call provides preparation funding rather than financing energy project implementation directly. It operates as cascade funding: the EU-funded project runs the call and awards and pays the grants itself. Proposals are assessed on their ambition, governance, stakeholder engagement, and overall coherence and plausibility.
