The Jean Monnet Chair in EPP was in Cyprus, and the “Climate Neutral Blue Cities by 2030” Conference that was organised by the Municipality of Limassol in the framework of the EU Mission for 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030, with the support of the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters.
Under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026, the conference brought together European and local leaders, policy-makers, and experts to explore how port and coastal cities can rapidly advance towards climate neutrality.
Participants included representatives from the European Commission, municipalities, national authorities, research institutions, industry, investors and civil society, fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and strategic partnerships.
Following the launch of the EU Agenda for Cities and the EU Ports Strategy, the two-day conference addresses key themes such as port–city decarbonisation, sustainable urban mobility, renewable energy systems, financing climate-neutral cities, smart grids and energy communities, coastal restoration and resilience, social cohesion, energy justice, affordable housing, integrated urban planning and the New European Bauhaus.
In his intervention on better port-city integration, Prof. Thanos Pallis, holder of the Jean Monnet Chair in EPP, focused on the importance of embracing and implementing circularity in ports and related supply chains, the existing mechanisms toward this direction, and the role of leadership in advancing circularity.
The JMC in EPP will continue research on how to accelerate transformative action and strengthen cooperation towards climate-neutral, resilient, and liveable blue cities across Europe.
For more on ports & the circular economy, visit the handbook & online project: Port Economics, Management and Policy: