On March 17, 2026, a national conference titled “Financing for Energy Efficiency: The National Renovation Plan and the Role of Local Authorities” was held in Sofia, bringing together representatives of institutions, municipalities, and the expert community. The National Trust EcoFund (NTEF) hosted a thematic session dedicated to the NetZeroCities initiative and European policies for climate change adaptation.

The session sparked active discussion among participants and outlined several key conclusions for the future development of local policies in the field of energy and climate.

First, the discussion clearly highlighted the need to move from a sole focus on energy efficiency toward a broader concept of sustainability, which includes climate change adaptation and ensuring energy security. In this process, municipalities play a key role as primary implementers of measures in the building stock, where a significant share of the potential for reducing energy consumption and emissions is realized, as well as for ensuring the sustainability of investments through the introduction of climate adaptation measures. The topic was discussed based on a presentation by Svetlana Zhekova, a member of the European Commission’s Mission Board on Adaptation.

Another important emphasis was the need for innovative and flexible financial instruments that meet the real needs of local authorities and facilitate project preparation and implementation. Participants stressed that sustainable solutions require not only funding, but also better coordination between institutions at different levels of government, as well as access to appropriate support mechanisms. The topic of improved dialogue on financing was professionally presented by a representative of the Technical University in Frankfurt and received strong support from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation within the Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities.

Last but not least, the importance of experience exchange among municipalities—both at national and European level—was highlighted. The sharing of good practices and solutions was identified as a key factor in accelerating local action and overcoming challenges.

In conclusion, the session confirmed that building an active community of experts among Bulgarian municipalities and drawing on the experience of their European counterparts is a key prerequisite for the successful implementation of climate and energy policies at the local level.

The participation of the National Trust EcoFund in the conference once again underscored the Fund’s role as a partner to municipalities in the energy transition—through support for capacity building, exchange of experience, and connection with European initiatives such as NetZeroCities.