SUPPORT tackles the difficulties encountered by many cities and towns of partner regions in the implementation of sustainable energy policies. 

Lack of funding, obstacles in making financial strategies, scarce integration of energy policies, poor involvement of private sector: these are why, nevertheless EU support for local authorities, since the adoption of the Climate and Energy Package in the framework of the Covenant of Mayors, local plans in Energy Efficiency didn’t produce effective results, particularly in the administrations’ own building stock. 

SUPPORT aims to improve the coordination and performance of policy instruments to implement national and regional energy efficiency programmes at local level, through:

• the reduction of the implementation gap and a more effective use of available funding opportunities (including Structural Funds)
• reinforcing the coordination and support role of regions 
• focusing on the development of more cost-effective and wide-range action

To achieve these aims, SUPPORT combines different kinds of interregional learning activities, to foster exchange among partners and between partners and stakeholders.

Partners will work both separately and jointly (and with the collaboration of key regional stakeholders and the technical support of the advisory partner) to analyse their regional backgrounds in the field of energy policies, identify and transfer good practices, and define Action Plans to improve the performance of their energy policy instruments and the spending of Structural Funds in their regions, also through a more effective implementation of local plans.