Guidebook: Methodology for the selection of a representative sample of SECAPs and a feedback procedure for cities

The Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy – Europe supports local authorities in developing and implementing Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs). The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is responsible, among other, for the evaluation of SECAPs and the provision of feedback to CoM signatories. Under the previous Administrative Arrangements (from 2010 to 2024), JRC was giving feedback on all SECAPs after analysing them either individually or, when applicable, under a grouped evaluation approach with the involvement of Covenant Territorial Coordinators (CTCs). The current Administrative Arrangement (AA), which started on 9 July 2025, foresees that JRC will analyse on a one-to-one basis a selected sample of SECAPs, while continuing to apply the CTC-grouped approach whenever relevant. The aim is to provide constructive recommendations to municipalities, identify good practices, and support continuous learning and improvement within the CoM EU, while ensuring efficiency, transparency and scalability.

This document represents deliverable 1.6 of the AA and describes the methodology to select the sample of SECAPs for individual analysis and the feedback procedure. It also outlines an approach to provide automated feedback to the municipalities whose SECAP will not be reviewed by JRC.