About EUKI
Arcaion / Pixabay
Arcaion / Pixabay
EUKI is an initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) to strengthen cooperation in the EU in the further development and implementation of its ambitious climate policy. Through EUKI, climate actors can learn from each other; the initiative supports inner-European dialogue, the exchange of good practice, awareness raising, and knowledge transfer.
Background
The overarching goal of the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) is to support the path towards climate neutrality in Europe by advancing the green transformation through climate action and collaboration across Europe. Since the EUKI is guided by the priorities at the EU level, funded projects should relate to the “Fit for 55” package and/ or the REPowerEU plan and contribute to strengthening of civil society’s role in climate action, climate protection at the local or regional level as well as trans-border European cooperation.
EUKI funds creative solutions and projects on the ground that are essential to lead the way and shape cleaner, healthier, fair and prosperous economies, societies and policies. Projects should contribute directly, if possible, even quantifiably (e.g., emissions reductions), to the achievement of European climate goals or deepen the understanding of EU climate and energy transformation and its instruments.
Idea
EUKI finances and connects climate action projects in Europe to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote cross-border cooperation. The initiative enables intensive dialogue as well as the exchange of knowledge and experience in the European Union in orderto jointly promote the implementation of the Paris Agreement. EUKI supports the transition towards climate-neutral economies and societies in Europe.
Europe has recognised the great opportunities offered by climate action. Climate action is not only essential from an ecological point of view but also promotes Europe as an industrial base and fosters European technological leadership: climate action boosts innovation, it opens up new markets, attracts investments and ultimately creates jobs. Furthermore, climate action has many positive side effects, such energy-cost savings by households and companies or better urban air quality, which in turn leads to citizens enjoying a better quality of life. Last but not least, many citizens, especially the young ones, identify with the EU due to the pioneering role that Europe plays in climate action.
Conceptual approach and target groups
The conceptual approaches of the European Climate Initiative are as follows:
- Climate change mitigation
- Capacity development
- Creation of networks
- Implementing policies and measures, developing strategies, and conducting feasibility studies
- Awareness raising, education, media, dialogue formats, and dissemination measures
The target groups are governments, municipalities, civil society, educational institutions, consumers and – if permissible under state aid law – enterprises. Projects are international, however, within project countries, activities can be active at national, regional, or municipal level, or at multiple levels. The target countries of EUKI are in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe (POL, CZE, SVK, HUN, ROU, BUL, SVN, HRV, GRC) including Baltic states (LVA, LTU, EST) and six Western Balkan states (ALB, BIH, KOS, MNE, MKD, SRB). The majority of an EUKI-project funding must be allocated to a target country or countries. Overall, EUKI finances projects in EU Member States, some EU candidate countries as well as potential candidate countries from the Western Balkan states (ALB, BIH, KOS, MNE, MKD, SRB).
Procedure
The EUKI is based on two pillars: As part of the annual EU-wide selection procedure, organisations are selected that put forward promising ideas for climate action in Europe. In addition, projects that pursue predefined climate objectives, are commissioned directly by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).
Key Topics
Climate action in the European Union is a diverse challenge. The European Climate Initiative (EUKI) therefore covers a wide range of sectors. EUKI finances climate action projects pertaining to seven key topics: climate policy; energy policy; socially just transition; climate-neutral mobility; climate-friendly financing; sustainable economy and CO2 removal and sinks.
Numbers
In our calls for project ideas in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, 613 project outlines were submitted. The EUKI choose 118 of them for funding. In conjunction with direct funding from the ministry, 157 projects were selected for funding.
In 2021, 178 project outlines were submitted, 25 of which were selected for funding. Including direct funding from the related ministry, a total of 29 projects were financed in 2021. Well over 300 implementing and partner organisations are currently working in 25 EU countries and in 6 countries in the Western Balkans. There are also project activities in Switzerland, Monaco and Liechtenstein.
Contact
European Climate Initiative (EUKI) – Project Financing
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Potsdamer Platz 10,
10785 Berlin
Germany
E-Mail: info∂euki.de
Phone.: +49 (0)30 338424 570
EUKI publications
2022
2021
EUKI Brochure Climate Action Connecting Europe
2019
EUKI Brochure EN