Northumberland County Council forward thinking on being "green" says North East MEP Fiona Hall

11.00.00am GMT Mon 9th Feb 2009

A group from the North East representing all twelve major councils in the region will put their pens to paper today as they sign up to a new EU environmental scheme.

The Covenant of Mayors, as it is officially known, will promote co-operation between environmentally active councils right across Europe with the aim of reducing their carbon footprints.

And the popularity of the idea has delighted Euro-MP Fiona Hall, who will meet the group at the ceremony in Brussels today, as it came to light that the North East is the first region in the UK and EU to completely commit itself to the scheme.

Lib Dem Fiona first welcomed the proposed Covenant of Mayors initiative in the Parliament's response to the EU Action Plan on Energy Efficiency which she authored in March 2008. More recently Fiona was closely involved in the negotiations on the new EU climate change legislation.

"The fact that all 12 major North East councils have signed up is fantastic news, particularly as the North East is the first region in the UK and EU to take this step. It is therefore a really great opportunity for the North East to take a leading role in being more 'green,' said Fiona.

"The initiative gives local councils a chance to work together with other councils from across Europe, exchanging ideas and sharing experience about which energy saving schemes work best.

"Importantly however, this scheme is not just about councils setting targets from above, but also requires the participation of the North East's many civil groups and community projects.

"Given that all EU countries are committed to achieving binding targets for reducing carbon emissions, Northumberland County Council's decision to sign up is admirably forward thinking."

A special signing ceremony for the Covenant of Mayors in the North East will take place on the 12th February at The Baltic in Gateshead.