EERA - The European Energy Research Alliance’s Post

As we approach a pivotal European election, let's remember: by exercising our democratic right to vote, we have the power to foster what we cherish about Europe. In my case, it's especially Europe's innovative power. Our diverse industries, universities, and research centers are a vibrant canvas of innovative ideas propelling us towards a future where green technologies and a #CircularEconomy are the norm. That's why I'll be voting on June 9th, for #Europe. 🇪🇺   Over to you Roland Busch, Thorsten Dreier, Belén Garijo, Michael Hüther, Christian Klein, Markus Krebber, Sabine Nallinger, Tijen Onaran, Katja Scharpwinkel, Günther Schuh, and Michael Vassiliadis. Looking forward to hearing your views!   #EuropeanElection #EU #FullyCircular

What will happen to the US/EU relations come November? Certain policy priorities make sense no matter who wins: ⚡ Expanding #nuclearenergy capacity 🚗 Accelerating #electricvehicle adoption 🐄 Revitalizing rural communities through sustainable agro-ecological initiatives As we navigate an uncertain political landscape, it's crucial that we continue to find common ground and advance shared goals for #TransatlanticCooperation. I believe this report provides a solid foundation for doing just that. I'm grateful to my co-authors and fellow contributors for their excellent work on this report. I'm thrilled that this report will land on the tables of policy-makers gathered to discuss US/EU collaborations, rather than remain as a decoration on the shelf. #EnergyPolicy #EnergyTransition

YES CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL AND A HUGE PROBLEM, and yes human activity contributes to it! Now what? The question is how to respond and survive the change! Those who promote Panic are fools, when has Panic ever been a good idea? A thoughtful and effective strategy would be preferred in even the most difficult situations! Ask yourself why Panic mongers are so vocal? There’s plenty of money to be made faster in the Panic! The money in a reasonable response will be great yet earned over time! I choose optimism and have confidence that we will develop methods to adapt and reduce the impact of the change in our climate! #climatechangeisreal #climatechangesolutions #economicdevelopment

EU Elections and a (new) "pragmatic" EU Green Deal 🌿 The shifting political landscape presents challenges and opportunities for the #EUGreenDeal, but a strong foundation for #climateaction remains despite gains for nationalist and conservative parties. 🌍 Election Outcomes and Political Shifts ⚖ 🇫🇷 France: Emmanuel Macron's decision to dissolve the French parliament signifies a major political shift and instability. 🇧🇪 Belgium: The dissolution of Alexander de Croo's government reflects growing political fragmentation. 🇩🇪 Germany: The defeat of socialists and the Grünen marks a significant change in one of the EU's leading nations, with implications for its green policies. 🇦🇹 Austria: The rise of the far-right FPO indicates a shift towards more nationalist policies. 🇮🇹 Italy: Giorgia Meloni's consolidation of power with a solid 28.8% vote share underscores the rise of conservative forces. Overall, the European People's Party (EPP) appears poised to retain significant influence, with Ursula von der Leyen likely to continue as Commission President, indicating some continuity in EU policies, including the Green Deal. Green Deal Under Scrutiny 🔍 While the green agenda faces scrutiny, it is far from a complete rollback. Bas Eickhout, head of the European Parliament's Greens lawmaker group, noted, "I don't think that we'll be rolling back on (climate) policies. But I do think that it will be more complicated to get new policies off the ground" (Reuters). Strategic Shifts and Industrial Competitiveness 🎯 Despite the hurdles, rolling back existing climate policies remains legally complex. Analysts predict a strategic pivot towards supporting climate-friendly projects under the guise of "industrial competitiveness." Linda Kalcher, Executive Director at think-tank Strategic Perspectives, aptly stated, "If it's about scaling up manufacturing of green technologies here in Europe, then that may be done in the name of 'industrial competitiveness' and not for the climate." This shift in rhetoric may mask the continuity of climate action, focusing instead on economic benefits. Industrial Strategy: 🔋 Technological Investment: Investment in green technologies like batteries, electric vehicles, and renewable energy is seen as crucial for competing with the US and China. 🏭 Economic Framing: Policies may be presented as efforts to boost industrial competitiveness rather than purely environmental measures, potentially making them more palatable politically. The future of the EU Green Deal will likely involve pragmatic adjustments, balancing ambitious climate goals with economic realities. Future Directions: 🌱 Just Transition: Ensuring that the green transition is inclusive and equitable, avoiding socio-economic disparities. 🔄 Policy Focus: Likely emphasis on industrial policies such as the circular economy, blue deal for water resources, critical raw materials, and transportation. #EUElections #EU2024 #FutureOfEurope

First plenary session of the European Parliament in their new mandate! 🗳️ In #Strasbourg, we today saw an enthusiastic debate about the priorities of the #EU over the next years. 🗓️ Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was reelected with a solid majority after presenting her political guidelines for 2024-2029. 🇪🇺 A Clean Industrial Deal will implement the existing 2030 legal framework (i.e. the European Green Deal measures) while making business easier and creating competitive industries and quality jobs. 👷♀️ The EU leadership will also prepare for a 2040 climate target reducing emissions by 90% (compared to 1990 levels). This will channel investments in industry and infrastructure. 🔌🔋 My job in Strasbourg was to position the renewable energy sector for the coming years. Together with my colleague Sebastian Schulte-Derne, we discussed energy policy with new and experienced lawmakers from across the political spectrum. We also shared how European clean tech players such as Ørsted will contribute to sustainable competitiveness. 📈 I’m very excited to co-shape EU policy on clean technologies over the next years! 💪

[Hybrid Event] INVITATION | Will the next EU legislative mandate foster an industrial policy which combines competitiveness and sustainability? (June 19) "The commissioning of the Letta and the Draghi reports has been well-received by the European industrial sector, with the former focusing on reforming the Single Market for growth and the latter addressing the competitiveness of the EU economy in a complex global context. However, some observers noted that, while strategic legislation has already been proposed by European institutions, the EU has yet to create the actual conditions for its industries to thrive and promote growth across the continent" This event will consist of an afternoon of discussion on whether the next EU legislative mandate will foster an industrial policy which combines competitiveness and sustainability. The event will also be a timely opportunity to discuss the array of challenges with which the European industry is confronted in the current international context, with our distinguished speakers: Cristian Bulumac, ITRE Policy Advisor, Greens/EFA Group; Sasa Butorac, Energy and Climate Policy Advisor, Renew Europe Group; Andrea Cepova-Fourtoy, Deputy Secretary General, ECR Group; Silke Dalton, Head of the Working Group Economy and Environment, EPP Group; Stella Sassi, ITRE Policy Advisor, S&D Group. Frank Niederländer, Head of Governmental Affairs Europe, BMW will hold an introductory speech. The debate will be moderated by Rebecca Christie, Europe Columnist, Reuters Breakingnews This event is public and will be held both onsite and online. https://lnkd.in/eQEdteCU

The #EuropeanElections have delivered their verdict. On the basis of contrasting national results, but showing strong trends on a continental scale, the European Union is now entering an intense political phase, which will allow priorities for the next five years to be defined, particularly regarding the continued implementation of the Green Deal initiated in 2019. As visions for the future and tradeoffs will inevitably compete, what should these priorities be? While supporting business competitiveness in the face of other economic powers will play a decisive role, it will not solve all of the problems that are reflected in the votes of many European citizens who want to regain control of their future. Political debates and negotiations on these key issues cannot ignore the questions of resilience, resource dependency and sustainability. In this respect, the objectives of the ecological transition remain essential long-term guidelines. By Sébastien Treyer https://lnkd.in/eTK3CUiq

A deal is a deal! --"Signatories of the call specifically request the EPP Group and all parties to continue to stand by the European Green Deal as the Spitzenkandidaten process unfolds and parliamentary coalitions are sought. (...) This is not and cannot be about party politics." say The Club of Rome & partners, urging key parties in the #EuropeanParliament to stand by the #EuropeanGreenDeal. Read and sign this open call! Following years of research and of multi-stakeholder and #leadership engagement on the #EGD, let me add a few thoughts to the Club of Rome's and partners' initiative. The #EGD is a framework and as such deserves #strategicunity through good times and bad. For sure, singular policy projects shall be disputed in a democratic political space and polity. If seen and treated shrewdly by politicians, the #EGD is a remarkably HOLISTIC framework for the #EUs path to #netzero in 2050. As an #Austrian, I allow myself to even call the EGD "orchestral" in its design. Seen from a #generationaljustice #climatejustice point of view, there are quasi-constitutional traits to this transition framework that deserve a maximum of cross-partisan support and safeguarding. The #EGD also differs from the IRA with its built-in potential to foster societal, inclusive and rights-based #resilience and #cohesion over time: ➡ The #EGD describes and foresees a thoughtful all-of-economy and all-of-society approach. ➡ The EGD exhibits the #EUs 'sui generis' fundamentals as a governance actor "in word and in spirit", insisting e.g. on a #justtransition (Laurence Tubiana calls it a 'New Social Contract' for Europe) and rolling out different #regionalinnovation #rural #placebased programmes. ➡ The EGD links up the Horizon Europe R&I programme with the policy agenda, and even signs up the #creativeindustry, #culture #arts #design #architecture worlds to this comprehensive path of transition through the NEBA: New European Bauhaus Initiative It is well possible that future historians, with the benefit of hindsight, might remember the #EGD as the #EU's far-reaching Signature Project in this 21st century world. Kurt Vandenberghe Virginijus Sinkevičius Manfred Weber Cristina Gallach Julia Kirchweger Gianluca Esposito Labinot Hoxha Agron Bajrami Aphrodite Bouikidis Alexandra Lieben Karolina Begusch Pfefferkorn Elmar Pichl Leonore Gewessler Beate Meinl-Reisinger Helmut Brandstätter thomas waitz Othmar Karas Renate Rogi-Kohlenprath Barbara Joshua Hubert Rhomberg Verena Konrad Christoph Thun-Hohenstein Dr. Katharina Reuter Sudha David-Wilp Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff Daniela Schwarzer Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook Iliana Ivanova Corinna Milborn Melanie Whittaker Thomas Oberreiter Henriette Spyra Verena M. Ehold Wolfgang Petritsch Ivan Vejvoda #sustainabilitymatters

✨ The European Council has published its Strategic Agenda for the period 2024-2029, painting a quite favourable picture about the EU’s role and achievements in solving the world’s most crucial issues. 📈 📰 In our blog post, written by Martin Csirszki, we offer some additional thoughts on the Agenda. ✍ After introducing the basic tenets of the document, three particular issues are highlighted: 1️⃣ energy sovereignty, 2️⃣ the aspiration of the EU to become a technological powerhouse, 3️⃣ the agricultural sector and sustainability. Read more ⬇

A sense of reality in Berlin and what happens next?   The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), headed by Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck (Alliance 90/The Greens), can also be described as a key ministry in the EU context. This is where EU policy is made. This is demonstrated by our appointment as part of the WKO Strategic Capital Networking with the important Department for Fundamental Policy Issues, Coordination, COREPER I and the European Parliament. Their experts know best how much new legislation has come out of Brussels in recent years.   Like the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO), the BMWK is in favour of more coherence and less duplication in the implementation steps that are now to follow. When it comes to reducing regulation, the ministry speaks of "good governance". It is not a question of less or more, but of better. There is already a joint Franco-German initiative on this. The ministry is working on a practical check for companies. The issue of the rule of law is also directly linked to fair competition.   Enrico Letta´s report is seen as a valuable policy contribution, although we are only at the beginning of the discussion. In terms of measures, the proposals go very far. It is difficult to imagine that the necessary majority of the Member States will be able to agree on all of these areas. Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen's announcement that the reporting requirements for companies will be reduced by 25% over the next few years is to be welcomed. The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber has already prepared a paper with 88 concrete recommendations for action.   We would like to thank Corinna Boelhoff, Jörn Rauhut, Michael Merkel, Doreen Hanisch and colleagues for the open and committed discussion! It has shown that many of the concerns of the business community have been recognised in Berlin. We will continue to work on solutions. We stay tuned - Christian Mandl, Michael Scherz, Karolina Klemm, Christina Labschütz, Barbara Schennach, Karin Jessernigg-Putz, Marlene Lales, Yasmin Soetopo, Edda Knittel, Ulrike Hassmann-Vorbach, Heinz Kogler, Iris Marlovits, Claudia Stowasser, Michael Saxl, Christian Krimbacher, Lisa Rilasciati, Lara Condell, Marko Pavlovic, Clara Baumgartner, Christian H. Schierer, Gudrun Hager, Jürgen A. Streitner, Axel Steinsberg, Renate Kepplinger and Verena Gartner. #StrategicCapitalNetworking #GermanyEU #WorkingProgramme