Presentation of a Feasibility Study on the Creation of a ‘European Community for Renewable Energy (ERENE)’

In the context of global climate change and energy security fears, renewable energies play, amongst others, a crucial role. As such, the European Union has signed up to a binding target to raise its current share of renewable energy (8.5%) to 20% by 2020. Setting ambitious targets, however, does not immediately promise results, and many EU Member States have indicated that it will be extremely difficult for them to achieve their respective share of the target. As such, the Heinrich Böll Foundation is presenting a feasibility study by Michaele Schreyer (former Commissioner for Budget) and Lutz Mez (Environmental Policy Research Centre) on the creation of a European Community for Renewable Energy (ERENE). Following the European Coal and Steel Community and EURATOM, such a new foundation could provide the institutional support needed to address the technological, financial, informational, and policy barriers that keep renewable energy technologies from reaching their full potential. In this vein, it could help Member States in reaching their renewable energy targets as well as bringing forth a new impetus for European integration.

Speakers:
- Dr Michaele Schreyer, former Commissioner responsible for Budget
- Dr Lutz Mez, Executive Director, Environmental Policy Research Centre

Discussants:
- Rebecca Harms, Member of the European Parliament (Greens / EFA)
- Claude Turmes, Member of the European Parliament (Greens/EFA)

Chair:
Bastian Hermisson, Director, Europe / Transatlantic Department, Heinrich Böll Foundation, Berlin