Your EU – Your projects in France: connecting people

As the year draws to a close, moments of togetherness take on a special meaning. In today’s Europe, connection is no longer just about distance. It is about people working, learning and innovating side by side. 

From sustainable transport to coastal cooperation and clean energy, EU programmes are helping people across Member States stay closer – socially, economically and environmentally. In France, three projects show how this ambition is being turned into reality. 

SMILES – greener public transport in Nantes 

In Nantes, the Sustainable Mobility Infrastructures for Low Emissions and qualitative Service (SMILES) project is reshaping urban mobility through EU support under the Just Transition Mechanism’s Public Sector Loan Facility. A €30 million EU grant, combined with a €200 million European Investment Bank loan and national and local contributions, is financing over €400 million of investment. 

Nantes Métropole is using the funding to modernise tram lines, introduce new trams, build a multimodal transport hub and develop 38 kilometres of new cycling paths. By 2030, the project is expected to cut about 21,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year and reduce car use from 44% to 28%, supporting cleaner air and quieter streets for everyone. 

SMILES’ innovative and sustainable approach to upgrading the city’s metropolitan transport network was recognised with a special award at the 5th anniversary of the Just Transition Platform conference, underlining its role as a model for fair and green urban mobility.

ecoRoute – discover underwater heritage, from shipwrecks to nature

Funded under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) with a grant of almost €1 million, ecoRoute is helping outermost regions such as Martinique diversify their economies through sustainable tourism. It focuses on underwater cultural and nature tourism, blending digital innovation, local training and environmental protection. ecoRoute aims to extend the tourist season, stimulate new investment and create jobs. 

By promoting responsible tourism that respects both nature and local heritage, ecoRoute offers new prospects for communities that often face seasonal challenges, giving them fresh opportunities as visitors seek warmer winter destinations and meaningful travel experiences that preserve marine ecosystems.

MASTERPIECE – connecting people through local clean energy

MASTERPIECE, funded by Horizon Europe Energy with a grant of almost €6 million, brings together citizens and technology to create stronger local energy communities. In France and three other countries, the project is developing a digital platform that helps residents cooperate, share renewable energy and manage local consumption more efficiently. These communities allow citizens, local authorities, companies and associations to join forces and invest in clean energy.

By integrating technical, social and business innovation, MASTERPIECE turns the energy transition into a collective effort. Its user-centred approach encourages people to become active participants in local energy systems.

At a time of year when many households focus on warmth and togetherness, this project reminds us how shared innovation can power both homes and communities.

Shared journeys for a greener, closer Europe 

From urban mobility in Nantes, the coastal ecosystems of Martinique and the new frontiers of clean energy, these projects embody a shared European goal: connection. They demonstrate how EU programmes support tangible improvements in mobility, energy and environment, for both today’s travellers and for future generations. 

As the lights of the festive season brighten towns and villages across Europe, these projects remind us that connection, cooperation and care for our planet are the real common threads that unite Europeans at the year’s end and beyond.

Your EU – Your projects: where EU support makes a difference

These examples show how EU programmes managed by CINEA translate European ambitions into concrete results and impact. By combining funding with expert advice and cross-border cooperation, the EU helps innovative projects scale up, deliver benefits for citizens and businesses, and support a more sustainable, resilient Europe. Discover more stories in other countries!

More information about the projects 

Learn more about SMILES

Learn more about ecoRoute

Learn more about MASTERPIECE