The role of civil society in the European Energy Union: Ensuring secure, sustainable, competitive and affordable energy'

On 27 October 2016, the Various Interests Group organized a conference on 'The role of the civil society in the European Energy Union: ensuring secure, sustainable, competitive and affordable energy' in Bratislava.

The aim of the conference was to obtain a better grasp of the role civil society has to play in energy security and the transition to renewable energy at both national and regional levels. The challenge is to channel civil society involvement and expertise towards creating more links, partnerships and dialogue between local, national and regional players.

Mr Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-President in charge of Energy Union of the European Commission was the key note speaker of the opening panel and introduced the European Commission's point of view regarding the role of the Civil Society in the European Energy Union.

More specifically, the conference explored the following themes:

  • Energy security and efficient supply
  • Effective management of the transition to renewable energies
  • An Energy Union with a forward-looking climate change policy
  • Ways that energy policy can lead to national and regional development
  • The new electricity market's design and impact on vulnerable consumers