Held on 10-11 of March 2025, the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) training in Madrid, Spain, attracted 23 urban transport specialists for an excellent capacity building opportunity. The event included a total of 9 training modules (3 core and 6 electives) on SUMP-related topics. These modules offered an in-depth exploration of the challenges and best practices in SUMPs. The training began with introductions by the Deputy Director General for Planning, Trans-European Network and Logistics - Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Transport of Spain, along with a representative from JASPERS, -an initiative part of the EIB advisory services-, followed by a virtual tour de table. During the first day trainees enjoyed training on the basics of SUMP methodology and practice, explored the link between strategic plans and project preparation, and discussed the interface between local and strategic transport. The day continued with sessions on demand management and active modes and micromobility. The second day covered sessions on SUMPs for organizational and institutional aspects, climate change adaptation and resilience, and, indicators, targets and monitoring. The final training module on Freight and Logistics was successfully delivered, followed by the concluding wrap-up and remarks.

Held on 27-28 of February 2025, the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) training in Nicosia, Cyprus, was an excellent capacity building opportunity for 29 enthusiastic urban transport specialists. The event included a total of 9 training modules (3 core and 6 electives) on SUMP-related topics that provided an in-depth look at the challenges and best practices in establishing SUMPs. The training began with introductions by the Director of Public Works Department, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works of Cyprus, along with a representative from EIB-JASPERS, followed by a virtual tour de table. During the training participants could also enjoy an intervention from an EIB Vice President and the Mayor of Nicosia Municipality. During the first day trainees enjoyed training on the basics of SUMP methodology and practice, explored the link between strategic plans and project preparation, and discussed on multi-modal plan scenario building. The day continued with sessions on active modes and micromobility and concluded with a focus on inclusive and accessible mobility. The second day covered sessions on SUMPs for small and medium sized cities, spatial planning and environmental aspects. The afternoon offered a detailed review of road safety and street design, before the final wrap-up and remarks.

In 2024, JASPERS, the EIB's largest advisory initiative, continued to provide essential support for the preparation and implementation of EU-funded projects under the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), and Just Transition Fund (JTF). Throughout the year, our efforts were dedicated to building capacity, enhancing project quality, and offering support across a wide range of sectors. This demonstrates our alignment with EU and EIB priorities and our adaptive approach to addressing evolving challenges.

The training was delivered over a period of two weeks in four half-day morning sessions, on 3, 7 and 10, 14 of February 2025. The event attracted 61 participants from 27 major cities, several regions and ministries involved in implementation of SUMPs across Italy. The training included three core modules on SUMP methodology and six selected modules that provided an in-depth look at specific SUMP-related topics specifically relevant to the country. The training began with introductions by representative from the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, along with a representative from EIB Advisory -JASPERS, followed by a virtual tour de table. Participants then engaged with presentations and interactive exercises covering the training modules selected, with high participation rate demonstrating a major interest in the topic and future challenges in implementing SUMPs.

**SEO Description:** on 28 January 2025, JASPERS, in collaboration with the Polish Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy and the Ministry of Climate and Environment, organised a webinar focused on climate proofing of infrastructure projects for beneficiaries of EU funding in Poland This webinar was an introductory event on the topic of climate proofing and will be followed by further capacity building activities.

The Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) training session in Portugal, hosted by JASPERS from the European Investment Bank (EIB) advisory, provided urban transport planners and stakeholders with hands-on experience in developing and implementing SUMPs. Participants enhanced their expertise in multimodal transport systems, decarbonisation strategies, urban nodes and the interface between local and strategic transport collective passenger transport, and sustainable urban mobility solutions. This event significantly contributed to advancing urban mobility planning and promoting efficient, low-emission urban transport networks in cities and regions.

The EIB Advisory JASPERS has developed an Excel tool with the aim to support beneficiaries of small water & wastewater projects to complete a climate resilience assessment that is proportionate to the size of the projects. The Excel tool has been designed for the climate resilience assessment of small projects that need to comply with the climate proofing requirement of the Common Provisions Regulation Art. 73 point 2 (j).

Our experts have developed an Excel tool to help beneficiaries of small building projects complete a climate resilience assessment tailored to the project's size. This tool aligns with the climate proofing requirements specified in the Common Provisions Regulation, Article 73, point 2 (j). The tool offers a simplified qualitative assessment of potential climate threats to the project, with the analysis and effort scaled to the size of small projects. It employs an indicator-based approach to identify potential climate hazards and risks. Although this method is simple and subjective, it is grounded in empirical evidence, making it accessible to non-experts. However, it does not provide the detailed analysis of a quantitative risk assessment, which uses probabilistic metrics to evaluate potential losses on exposed elements. This tool is specifically designed for small building projects and should not be used for larger projects. The definition of small-scale building projects varies by country and should be determined by the National Managing Authorities. The Excel tool includes a recommendation from JASPERS on what constitutes a small-scale project for this type of infrastructure. Please read the disclaimer in the PDF file or the first tab of the Excel tool. Reporting Bugs: If you encounter any bugs in the tool, please report them to jaspersnetwork@eib.org with "Excel tools bug reporting" as the subject.

**SEO Description:** The EIB Advisory JASPERS Webinar on Decarbonisation of District Heating Systems ( DH) , focused on upgrading district heating systems to meet EU energy policy objectives, enhancing energy efficiency, and reducing carbon intensity. The event highlighted the challenges faced by fossil fuel-based systems due to stricter emission standards and rising costs under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Many existing systems need upgrades to comply with EU energy policies and the EU Strategy for Energy System Integration emphasizes investing in smart, efficient, renewable-based district heating to meet climate targets. Participants learned about the latest EU financing instruments, including the Modernisation Fund and Recovery and Resilience Facility, and discovered systematic approaches to project preparation. The webinar was ideal for managing authorities, line ministries, municipalities, and district heating companies. Attendees engaged in expert-led discussions, case studies, and Q&A sessions, advancing their knowledge in district heating decarbonisation and contributing to the EU's environmental targets.

This JASPERS’ practical guidance document on climate change resilience proofing is meant to provide further technical support and concrete advice for the implementation of the European Commission Notice — Technical guidance on the climate proofing of infrastructure in the period 2021-2027, with a specific focus on the sectors of Energy, Municipal Solid Waste Management, and Transport. The document serves as a comprehensive resource for stakeholders involved in the development of infrastructure projects that are to be co-financed by the Cohesion Fund and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the EU Member States and therefore need to be climate proofed according to the requirements of Article 73(2)(j) of the EU Common Provisions Regulation. Climate proofing has two pillars of analysis that integrate (1) climate mitigation and (2) climate resilience/adaptation considerations into the development of infrastructure projects. This document addresses the second pillar of climate resilience. Overall, the guidance also aims to serve as a general reference on good practices for climate change resilience proofing. The document will be revised as necessary to ensure it remains current and relevant.

The EIB Advisory JASPERS has developed an Excel tool with the aim to support beneficiaries of small water & wastewater projects to complete a climate resilience assessment that is proportionate to the size of the projects. The Excel tool has been designed for the climate resilience assessment of small projects that need to comply with the climate proofing requirement of the Common Provisions Regulation Art. 73 point 2 (j).

Discover how Lajes das Flores island, in the Azores archipelago, Portugal, is strengthening its flood and disaster risk management infrastructure with the reconstruction of its port. Beneficiaries received support from JASPERS, part of the European Investment Bank (EIB) advisory services. Our support focused on climate proofing port infrastructure, integrating advanced technical measures for climate mitigation and resilience. Learn about the engineering solutions, risk assessments, and adaptation strategies that are being implemented to safeguard communities against extreme weather events and enhance overall disaster preparedness.

Learn in this seminar delivered by JASPERS, EIB's largest advisory programme, about the National SUMP Support Programme (NSSP) Introductory Workshop. The purpose of the event is to discuss NSSPs, to showcase best practice examples and to identify additional NSSP training needs for national and regional authorities and for the 432 urban nodes on the TEN-T network.

Explore Bulgaria's strategic initiatives to enhance its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Delve into the technical aspects of the deployment, including grid integration, charging station specifications, and network scalability. Understand the engineering challenges and innovative solutions driving the expansion of Bulgaria's EV ecosystem, and how these advancements are set to revolutionize the nation's transportation sector. Our comprehensive support aimed to create a well-structured and effective funding facility that would facilitate the development of EV charging infrastructure. Learn how JASPERS, as part of the EIB advisory services, can support your projects.