EU Funds Granted for Urban Renewal in Slovenian Cities Ljubljana and Celje

Brussels, Ljubljana, and Celje – Brussels has unveiled the most innovative urban renewal projects, with Ljubljana’s EffiComfort project being among the 20 winners. This initiative, designed to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings, will secure 4.7 million euros in European funds for the Slovenian capital. Additionally, the municipality of Celje will lead the UrbanGreenLeap project, focusing on improving green infrastructure in small and medium-sized towns.

The third round of the EUI initiative attracted 110 submissions from 23 EU member states, with a total of 94 million euros in cohesion funds to be distributed among the 20 chosen projects.

EffiComfort is aligned with Ljubljana’s goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2030, as well as boosting energy efficiency in both public and residential buildings. This project aims to address the shortcomings of traditional energy renovation approaches.

Project leaders anticipate that energy consumption in selected pilot buildings will decrease by up to 25%, indoor environmental quality will enhance, and energy experts will receive training to ensure the model’s sustainability beyond the project’s duration.

Each awarded project is set to receive up to five million euros from the European Regional Development Fund, which will cover 80% of eligible costs. The EffiComfort initiative is projected to receive 4.7 million euros in support.

The municipality of Celje has also achieved success in the European Interreg Euro-MED call and will take charge of the UrbanGreenLeap project, aimed at enhancing green infrastructure in smaller towns. This project has a total value of 2.4 million euros, with the EU funding contributing 1.9 million euros.

Running for 33 months, from April 1, 2025, to December 31, 2027, this initiative will enable Celje to formulate strategic solutions for climate change adaptation and bolster the resilience of urban areas against extreme weather conditions.

As the project leader, Celje will manage a budget of 440,000 euros, with 352,000 euros sourced from European funds. (March 31)