Cities in Transformation: National Priorities, European Perspectives, and Financing Pathways for Bulgaria’s Energy Transition
During the 19th conference of the Association of Bulgarian Energy Agencies and Centres, organised on November 27th by the Center for Energy Efficiency EnEffect and National Trust EcoFund, over 90 representatives of institutions, municipalities, and expert organisations discussed the role of sustainable energy in improving quality of life in cities. The forum “Cities in Transformation: Strategic Vision, Building Renovation Solutions, Energy Communities and New Skills” emphasised national priorities, good municipal practices, financing opportunities, and the potential of the Net Zero Cities platform to support local authorities.
Deputy Minister Dora Yankova noted that 2026 will be important, as Bulgaria launches a national debate to formalise its LTRS and redesign housing policy, including support for single-family homes and energy-poor households. Members of the European Commission’s Net Zero Cities team added that the real barrier to climate transition is not technology or funding but the administrative capacity to implement large-scale solutions in sync with national governments.
At the conference, attention was also given to accessible financing for municipalities, including new mechanisms, opportunities for blended financing, and instruments of the European Investment Bank. The second part of the event featured professional discussions on energy planning and management, the development of urban heating and cooling networks, one-stop shops, energy communities, and new educational trends. A dedicated session on “The Role of Sustainable Building Stock in the Energy Transition” reflected a growing need for more structured and data-driven approaches to managing the building stock in Bulgaria. The session was organized within the EUKI-funded project OUR-CEE, putting the accent on renovation roadmaps, the upgrading of worst-performing buildings, with a dedicated presentation of the emerging MEPS framework where insights from the project REDESIGN were shared.
