Boosting citizen participation in the EU energy transition

Venue: TownHall Europe, Square de Meeûs 5-6, 1000 Brussels

The EU is making significant progress in its energy transition. Yet many citizens still struggle with their energy bills. How can households better benefit from renewables roll out and energy savings?

Over the past 18 months, the Green European Foundation and the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung EU | Global Dialogue have worked with experts in energy and social policy to identify key areas where the EU could act to ensure that citizens and households are able to fully experience the benefits of the energy transition, in their homes, communities and pockets.  

A Knowledge Community of experts from EU institutions, local government, industry, consumer organisations, trade unions and think tanks have examined several existing and new tools in EU legislation to facilitate citizens’ engagement in the energy transition. This work has focused on three actionable areas: affordable and energy efficient housing; benefit sharing of renewable energy projects; and fair allocation of network costs.  

This launch event will serve as a platform to discuss the main findings with policymakers from the European Parliament and the European Commission, as well as experts in energy and social policy, and give the floor to testimonials from energy transition practitioners sharing on-the-ground experience. 

Agenda 

09:30 Welcome, introduction to the event and to the project 

• Philippa Nuttall, Financial Times, moderator 
• Laurent Standaert, Director, Green European Foundation
• Roderick Kefferpütz, Director, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union | Global Dialogue

09:35 Key note: Promoting citizens’ access to the energy transition, by Anne Katherina Weidenbach, Member of Cabinet of EU Commissioner for Energy & Housing Dan Jørgensen

09:45 A Citizens Energy Package: What energy transition practitioners need: Local voices on concrete needs and expectations

09:55 Panel 1: Fair network tariffs: How can we fund grid build-out while incentivising innovation and protecting vulnerable households? 

• Bruno Tobback, MEP, S&D, Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
• Carmen Gimeno, Secretary General, GEODE Europe
• Raphael Hanoteaux, Deputy Secretary General, Council of European Energy Regulators
• Tom Lewis, Climate Action Network Europe, author of the policy brief ‘Fair network tariffs’  

10:40 Panel 2: Benefit sharing: Is sharing renewable energy profits with host communities a win-win? 

• Michael Bloss MEP, Greens/EFA, EP Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
• Vera Kissler, Policy Officer, Directorate General for Energy (DG ENER), European Commission
• Barbara Nicoloso, Director, Virage Energie (France)
• Etienne Charbit, Réseau Cler, author of the policy brief ‘Improving benefit sharing of renewable energy projects’ 

11:25 Coffee break

11:40 Panel 3: Affordable and energy efficient homes: How do we make homes warm in winter, cool in summer and financially accessible? 

• Mariangiola Fabbri, Affordable Housing Task Force, Directorate General for Energy (DG ENER), European Commission
• Ada Ámon, CEO, Budapest Climate Agency
• Mauricio Yrivarren, Senior Associate, Climate Strategy
• Emily Bankert, Buildings Performance Institute Europe, author of the policy brief "Affordable energy efficient homes"

12:30 Closing remarks 

12:40 Lunch 

For any questions, please contact Jörg Mühlenhoff.

For press and media requests, please contact Joan Lanfranco.