The European Commission has launched five EU missions, a new and innovative way to work together and improve the lives of people in Europe and beyond. EU missions aim to tackle big challenges in health, climate and the environment, and to achieve ambitious and inspiring goals in these areas.

They are a new tool that includes a set of actions, such as research and innovation projects, policy measures and legislative initiatives, to achieve concrete goals with large societal impact and within a specified timeline. The five missions will aim to deliver solutions to key global challenges by 2030:

• Adaptation to Climate Change: support at least 150 European regions and communities to become climate resilient by 2030;
• Cancer: working with Europe's Beating Cancer Plan to improve the lives of more than 3 million people by 2030 through prevention, cure and solutions to live longer and better;
• Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030;
• 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030;
• A Soil Deal for Europe: 100 living labs and lighthouses to lead the transition towards healthy soils by 2030.

With a new collaborative approach, the missions provide a mandate to achieve specific goals in a set timeframe. They will also deliver impact by putting research and innovation into a new role, combined with new forms of governance and collaboration, as well as with a new way of engaging with citizens, including young people.

For example, in the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities mission, selected cities will involve their citizens in drawing up 'Climate City Contracts' to help reach climate neutrality by 2030 (cf. Implementation Plan & Factsheet).

You can download the full text of the EU Communication here.

Source: European Commission © European Union, 1995-2021