Sofia has been chosen as one of the 100 climate-neutral and smart cities of the future in the EU

The European Commission has announced Sofia as one of the 100 EU cities that will participate in the EU mission for 100 climate-neutral and smart cities of the future by 2030.

The Bulgarian capital submitted its candidacy on January 31 this year as part of Mayor Yordanka Fandakova's program to develop Sofia as a green city, using innovative solutions and attracting investors in the information technology sector. Benefits for Sofia include personalized advice and assistance from a special Mission Platform managed by NetZeroCities. It is important to note that the approval of Sofia as one of the leaders unlocks access to additional funding and the opportunity to join major innovation activities and pilot projects. The mission also provides networking opportunities, exchange of best practices between cities, support for citizen involvement in decision-making and high visibility - an increased political profile of Sofia and attractiveness for investment and skilled workers.

The Cities Mission will receive € 360 million in funding from Horizon Europe 2022-23 to pave the way for innovation towards climate neutrality by 2030. Research and innovation will focus on clean mobility, energy efficiency and green urban planning and will offer the opportunity to build joint initiatives and strengthen cooperation in synergy with other EU programs.

Text and image: Sofia Municipality