Chapter 1: Urban renewal and revamping vacant properties

Welcome to the first article of our “Funding Digest” series, where we try to make more accessible the understanding of EU funding opportunities available for a specific topic! 

Looks complicated, but we’ll make it easier together.

The main scope of this series of articles is to bring closer the EU funding opportunities, which most often are not easy to spot especially when not familiar in navigating the EU Funding & Tenders portal. The EU funds will be explained in an easy language, with dedicated “quick zoom(s)” to break down the touched topics. 

You can also express your interest in preparing or joining a project, if you’re interested in one of the calls identified. You will find a questionnaire prepared at the end of the article, so keep on reading!

We are mapping EU-funding opportunities, mainly call for proposals, on the main EU funding Programmes under the EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027. We will investigate funds directly managed by the EU, such as Horizon Europe, LIFE, CERV, Erasmus+, the Single Market Programme, the InvestEU Programme and the Just Transition Fund, as well as shared or indirectly managed funds such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The research and mapping of funds are targeted towards the specific topic addressed by each chapter.

Quick zoom: What is the difference between direct, shared and indirect management funds?

“Direct management” defines all funds that are directly managed by the European Commission, which is directly responsible for all steps in a Programme’s implementation (launching calls for proposals, evaluating submitted proposals, signing grant agreements, monitoring project implementation, assessing the results and managing payments). No third parties are involved. Programmes implemented in direct management account for around 20% of the EU budget 2021-2027. Horizon Europe and LIFE are two examples of direct management funds.
“Shared management” identifies funds co-managed by the EC and national authorities in the Member States, such as ministries and public institutions. The Member States’ administrations (at the national, then regional and local levels) choose which projects to finance and take responsibility for day-to-day management. This type of management includes around 70% of EU Programmes, such as ERDF funds.
“Indirect management” identifies funds for which the Commission entirely delegates budget execution tasks to different types of implementing partners (national authorities or international organisations). These funds account for around 10% of the overall EU budget. 

Thematic focus

Our first chapter is focused on funding opportunities for the renewal of urban areas, and more specifically for revamping vacant properties, in line with the recent necessity to bring new life to cities and improve the liveability of spaces with an eye on the environment.

As society evolves and priorities and ambitions shift, citizens strive for cities where all the necessary services are provided, with increased accessibility and more support for daily life, while implementing environmental-friendly solutions such as electric mobility, energy-efficient buildings, greener spaces and digitalised cities.

In general, the concept of urban renewal is a comprehensive strategy involving all public spaces, and its scope goes beyond the simple renovation of buildings. Indeed, it impacts many aspects of the citizens’ lives, and a renewed urban area can be a solution to several complex problems connected to urban decay, from deficient or obsolete housing, inefficient transportation systems, and heavy traffic conditions, to societal challenges such as crime and personal security. 

Different urban renewal projects include the construction of new areas, the clearing out of blighted areas and the renovation of occupied or unoccupied buildings to bring them again to the real estate market. Over the years, many neighbourhoods in different cities underwent a “gentrification” process, which is directly connected with urban renewal measures. It is, as in the case of complex challenges, a double-edged sword, as the urban renewal processes most often negatively impact the citizens’ pockets due to the increased costs of living. EU funding plays an essential role in compensating for this effect.

The framework

All EU-funding opportunities stem from the MFF 2021-2027, which allocated funds to specific Programmes reflecting the EU political priorities.

Quick zoom: What is the MFF 2021-2027?

It is the long-term EU budget, covering seven years at a time. Every 7 years, the financial framework is renovated (the previous one covered 2014-2020). The main goal of the long-term budget is to support the long-term objectives of sustainable and inclusive growth, and the twin climate and digital transitions, investing in the EU’s regions, farmers, companies, researchers, students, and citizens as well as in the neighbouring countries. It has a total amount of €2.018 trillion, of which €800 billion from the NextGeneration EU (NGEU) recovery fund to combat COVID-19 impacts. More than 50% of the funds are allocated to the new priorities: research & innovation, fair climate, digital transition and preparedness, recovery and resilience. Around 30% of the total budget is dedicated to fighting climate change.

As the global priorities shifted towards environmental protection to fight climate change, the EU answered with a broad strategy to shift economies and societies towards a greener future, the EU Green Deal. The main goal is to transform Europe into the first climate-neutral continent, and to contribute to this achievement a specific set of measures was approved, the “Fit for 55” package. In this regulation, Member States are committed to reducing emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. All sectors of the economy and industries are involved in the transition, from mobility to energy sources, from maritime transport and aviation to building renovation. 

Quick zoom: What is the difference between “climate-neutral”, “net zero emissions” and “carbon neutral”?

The definition “climate-neutral” refers to the reduction of all greenhouse gases (GHGs) to zero, while completely removing all other negative environmental impacts caused by an organisation/a nation.
The definition of “net zero emissions” refers to the action of balancing the whole amount of GHGs released and the amount removed by the atmosphere.“Carbon-neutral” defines the balance between emitting carbon in the atmosphere and absorbing carbon emissions or eliminating all carbon emissions.

In the field of building renovation, a great part in lowering carbon emissions and increasing energy efficiency is played by buildings. Indeed, around 40% of the energy in the EU is consumed by buildings. The measures to renovate and renew existing buildings, as well as setting new energy performance and climate certifications are set by the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

Nested within the EU Green Deal, the New European Bauhaus is an initiative developed by the EU connecting the Green Deal with the citizens’ daily lives and living spaces. Getting creative, involved and connected are some of the keywords of this initiative. To foster the creation of sustainable, inclusive, and beautiful places, the initiative aims to directly involve citizens in the creation of new urban spaces, by rethinking them and sustaining their evolution into greener and more liveable spaces. The overall aim is to provide all citizens with access to goods that are circular and less carbon-intensive, supporting the regeneration of nature and protecting biodiversity. 

Current funding opportunities

Access our mapped opportunities at this link!

The file prepared contains an overview of the main calls for project proposals. The mapped ones are mainly directly managed by the EC, as you will find Horizon Europe, InvestEU, LIFE, funds from the Just Transition Mechanism and other initiatives.

You can access for each call the direct link to the EU website, the description, the funds available and the timeline. For this specific topic, we identified 12 open calls accessible for you.

In addition to these, we described and linked some shared management grants (mainly ERDFs) that you can refer to through your region/central management at national level.

Next steps

Stay tuned for our next EU Funding Digest chapter, foreseen by the end of July!

If you are interested in the “energy side” of the green transition, the next chapter might be your perfect match…

We prepared a short questionnaire for you to express your interest in developing or joining a project on this specific topic with us, and to give your opinion on the topics for the next chapters. Access the questionnaire here!

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