Smart cities are the future, says head of Energy Union

The concept of smart cities is a response to the growth of Europe's urban population, which is linked to economic, environmental and social issues, stated European Commission Vice-president for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič in a video presented at an international conference called 'Slovakia on Its Way to Smart Cities'. The conference is taking place in Bratislava with some 45 municipal representatives in attendance. Šefčovič considers smart cities to be key for the EU's future. "Cities are incubators for innovation and new technologies, but also for challenges that the European Union is facing. When supporting and building smart cities, it's necessary to listen to mayors and the cities themselves," said Šefčovič. He further added that EU-funded urban climate projects as well as modern transport projects should be launched in both the short and medium-terms.