As a result of the First Institutional Policy Dialogue, three policy briefs provided practical recommendations and takeaways for policy replication. In this article, the three policies are summarised, giving a chance to reflect on the importance of stakeholder involvement, integrated planning, and policy alignment with EU-level goals, laying the ground for policy replicability in other Mediterranean territories.
Enhancing the GR-Eco Islands Initiative: recommendations for a clean energy transition
This policy brief spotlighted Greece’s innovative GR-eco Islands Initiative as a pioneering model for clean energy transition, positioning the country’s island regions at the forefront of Europe’s green recovery efforts. Launched by the Hellenic Government, the Initiative seeks to transform the Greek islands into beacons of sustainability by 2030 through renewable energy, energy autonomy, digital innovation, and green economic development. The initiative is supported by a strong public-private partnership and aligns with Greece’s National Climate Law and National Energy and Climate Plan, which aims for 80% renewable energy penetration by 2030. The policy brief details how this ambitious transition is already underway on 39 pre-selected Greek islands, with small and remote islands prioritised in the initial stages.
A model of integrated sustainability
Chalki, the first island designated a GR-eco Island, has become a model for energy transformation. Thanks to a combination of public funding and private sector investment, Chalki has installed a 1MW solar plant, launched a community-owned energy cooperative, and begun electrifying its transport and municipal infrastructure. The island’s energy community, “ChalkiOn”, has resulted in significant cost savings for residents and reduced carbon emissions by nearly 1,800 tonnes annually. In addition, other islands, such as Astypalea and Poros, have followed suit with tailored projects. Astypalea, in partnership with Volkswagen, is implementing an innovative e-mobility system, while Poros has teamed up with Masdar of the UAE to integrate solar power with waste and water management solutions.
Policy foundations and replication potential
The GR-eco Islands Initiative is underpinned by Greece’s strategic legislation and policy frameworks. These include simplified legal processes for renewable energy projects and the promotion of microgrid systems to enhance energy independence. Governance is managed by a dual-committee system overseeing both strategic direction and operational implementation. The initiative’s design allows for broad replicability, not only across the 2,200 inhabited islands in the EU but also in other remote and small communities facing similar sustainability challenges. It is hoped that the GR-eco model can inspire cities and territories across Europe to adopt integrated approaches to energy, waste, mobility, and climate resilience.
Key recommendations for broader adoption
The policy brief emphasises several core principles for scaling up the model:
- Holistic planning: projects should integrate energy, mobility, waste, and water management with economic development and innovation;
- Public-private partnerships: municipalities are encouraged to engage private partners, ensuring a transparent and aligned approach to long-term sustainability goals;
- Community engagement: active participation from residents is vital. As seen in Chalki, trust and adoption grow when tangible benefits are evident;
- Monitoring and evaluation: rigorous tracking of energy outputs, emissions reductions, and social outcomes is essential to guide future efforts;
- Legal simplification: streamlining laws and permitting processes is crucial to accelerate the deployment of renewable systems and microgrids.
A blueprint for Europe
The GR-eco Islands Initiative is not only transforming local economies and communities in Greece. In fact, it is also emerging as a blueprint for Europe’s energy transition. In fact, by promoting local ownership, fostering inclusive growth, and addressing the unique vulnerabilities of island communities, the initiative demonstrates how climate action can be a powerful driver of resilience and prosperity.
As the EU intensifies its climate commitments, the GR-eco Islands Initiative stands as a tangible example of how regional and national governments can lead the way in building a greener, more equitable future.
Full policy brief available here.
Sustainable urban logistics plan (SULP) of Bologna as a model for greener freight mobility in the Mediterranean
The city of Bologna is emerging as a Mediterranean frontrunner in the movement for greener freight transport, thanks to its ambitious Sustainable Urban Logistics Plan (SULP). The city’s work on urban mobility has been recognised with the European Mobility Week Award 2025, in which Bologna’s SULP is seen as a model of innovation and replicability for cities across Europe looking to decarbonise their freight systems.
As urban areas across the continent grapple with rising greenhouse gas emissions from freight—driven largely by the boom in e-commerce—Bologna has taken decisive steps to realign its logistics infrastructure with both local sustainability targets and broader European frameworks. For example, the EU Urban Mobility Framework and the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) regulation.
Freight reform at the heart of the city
Bologna’s SULP complements the city’s broader Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) and is particularly significant given the city’s strategic role as an urban node connected to three key TEN-T corridors. The plan includes the creation of urban consolidation centres on the city’s outskirts to handle last-mile deliveries using low or zero-emission vehicles, a tighter regulatory framework for freight vehicle access and parking, and initiatives to promote night-time and electric cargo bike deliveries.
“The goal is not just environmental,” the brief notes, “but economic and social as well—reducing congestion, improving air quality, and enhancing the liveability of public spaces.”
A collaborative and data-driven approach
Central to the plan’s success has been a focus on public-private collaboration. Indeed, the municipality has worked closely with logistics providers, local businesses, and community groups to co-develop and implement solutions. Additionally, the initiative benefits from advanced digital tools and data-sharing platforms, such as those developed under the MEDCOLOURS project, which help optimise delivery routes and assess sustainability outcomes in real-time.
Thus, the brief highlights the importance of creating cross-sectoral working groups, aligning local plans with national and EU-level strategies, and collecting robust baseline data to support evidence-based decision-making.
An example for other Mediterranean cities
Bologna’s experience is now being shared with other cities across the Euro-Mediterranean region through the Institutional Dialogue Project.
Experts emphasise that while Bologna’s context is unique, with a compact historic centre and high transit flows, many of its strategies are widely adaptable. Therefore, the key to successful replication is tailoring interventions to a city’s typology, infrastructure capacity, and governance structure.
Policy recommendations
The policy brief outlines a range of recommendations for cities looking to follow Bologna’s lead:
- Establish cross-sectoral coordination mechanisms between authorities, operators, and stakeholders;
- Invest in shared infrastructure, such as delivery hubs and multimodal logistics corridors;
- Design mobility hubs that integrate freight and public transport to maximise efficiency;
- Run pilot projects to test new models in diverse settings, from urban cores to suburban transit zones;
- Ensure community engagement from the outset to secure public support and address concerns.
The brief also calls for greater integration of SULPs into the wider framework of regional development and climate strategies, underscoring their potential not just for improving logistics but also for enhancing urban resilience, air quality, and social equity.
A roadmap for the future
In conclusion, Bologna’s Sustainable Urban Logistics Plan offers a practical and inspiring example of how cities can confront the environmental challenges of freight while improving urban quality of life. As Mediterranean and European cities alike strive to meet climate targets, this approach provides a clear roadmap for integrating logistics, mobility, and sustainability in a coherent and inclusive way
Full policy brief available here.
Enhancing the Superblock policy: recommendations for adaptability through a territorial approach
The brief sets out strategic recommendations to adapt Barcelona’s pioneering Superblock policy to diverse geographic, social, and economic contexts across the Mediterranean
First launched in Barcelona, the Superblock model transforms city blocks into pedestrian-priority zones with limited vehicle access, fostering sustainable mobility, public space revitalisation, and improved air quality. In districts such as Sant Antoni and Poblenou, the policy has delivered remarkable results: a 33% reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels, a 30% rise in bicycle use, and a boost in local business activity.
Expanding the model with equity and cohesion
Despite its success in compact city centres, experts warn that the Superblock policy risks becoming a siloed solution if not adapted to broader regional dynamics. The new brief highlights the urgent need to align Superblock implementation with surrounding peri-urban and rural territories, particularly commuting zones and economically linked regions. Without this integration, the model could unintentionally deepen spatial inequalities and limit accessibility for non-resident users.
“The Superblock is a powerful tool,” the report notes, “but one that must function as part of a wider territorial strategy to ensure it supports cohesion, sustainability, and inclusivity across all regions—not just within city centres.”
Key challenges and strategic gaps
The brief identifies several challenges that currently hinder broader adoption of the Superblock model:
- Resistance from businesses and residents worried about reduced access and economic disruption;
- Urban-rural disconnects that fragment transport systems and public service access;
- Governance fragmentation across municipal, regional, and national levels;
- The risk of gentrification, where improved urban zones drive out lower-income communities.
To address these, the authors argue for a set of guiding principles grounded in territorial equity, multi-level governance, and climate resilience.
A blueprint for adaptable and inclusive Superblocks
The policy brief offers a wide-ranging set of recommendations to help cities and regions tailor the Superblock policy to their unique conditions:
- Data-driven planning: use local transport, demographic, and economic data to inform design;
- Participatory design processes: engage stakeholders—residents, commuters, SMEs—from the outset to ensure buy-in;
- Pilot projects: introduce Superblocks gradually to test impact and reduce resistance;
- Transport integration: link Superblocks to regional public transport and mobility networks for seamless connectivity;
- Typology-based policies: adjust the model for compact cities, intermediate zones, and rural nodes alike.
In peri-urban and rural areas, for example, the policy might focus less on traffic restrictions and more on green infrastructure, affordable transport access, and equitable distribution of services.
A call for region-wide planning
The brief aligns its recommendations with established European and international frameworks, including the EU Cohesion Policy, the Territorial Agenda 2030, and the UN-Habitat Urban-Rural Linkages Guidelines. These stress the importance of region-wide planning and urban-rural coordination as key pillars of sustainable development.
The authors stress that a one-size-fits-all approach will not work. Instead, Superblocks should be viewed as a flexible, modular planning tool—one that can be customised and integrated into broader mobility, housing, and economic strategies.
Superblocks as a catalyst, not an endpoint
As cities across Europe face mounting pressure to tackle pollution, congestion, and inequality, the Superblock model offers a compelling vision of liveable urban futures. However, as this policy brief makes clear, true success lies in scaling the model outward, not just in size, but in inclusiveness, adaptability, and territorial relevance.
Overall, with the right strategies, Superblocks could become more than a mobility solution—they could be the foundation for a new generation of equitable, climate-resilient urban planning.
Full policy brief available here.
