The geopolitical context and the energy market reality that it creates have made it even more challenging for not only energy-poor consumers but all EU citizens to cope with soaring energy prices. The pressing need for just energy transition is now more needed than ever. REPowerEU is the EU’s new plan aiming to diversify gas supplies, speed up the roll-out of renewable gas and replace gas in heating and power generation with the ultimate goal of phasing out the dependence on fossil fuels from Russia before 2030. The ambiguous plan comes as a response to soaring energy prices and as a complementary plan to the European Green Deal, the EU’s overarching growth plan to reach climate neutrality by 2050.

This shift towards a faster and more sustainable energy transition for all can become an opportunity for mitigating energy poverty. What are the lessons learnt from the current geopolitical crisis and how can the EU, national and local governments work together in turning this challenge into an opportunity for tackling energy poverty and ensuring just and sustainable energy for all?

During the conference, we brought together local governments, EU representatives, policymakers, energy agencies, civil society organisations and all stakeholders active in energy poverty. The agenda included a mix of keynote speeches, debates, interactive workshops and field visits that allowed the participants to debate, learn from each other, and share practices as to how the EU, national and local actors can work together to contribute to the rapid energy transition and reduce energy poverty for all including energy-poor and vulnerable consumers.

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Agenda: 

28 June 2022

15:00-15:30 - Welcome speech and official opening by the hosts.

Dunja Magaš, State Secretary, Ministry of Construction, Physical Planning and State Property, Croatia

Kristina Čelić, Director of Energy, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Croatia

Baiba Miltovica, President of the Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN), European Economic Social Committee

Danijela Dolenec, Deputy Mayor of Zagreb, Croatia

15:30-16:00 - Keynote speeches and inspiration to take action.

The EU energy poverty policy landscape:

Eero Ailio, Adviser for Energy Transition and Local Governance at the Directorate-General Energy, European Commission

Local conditions, impacts and solutions:

Louise Sunderland, Senior Advisor for the Regulatory Assistance Project

16:00 - 17:30 - Debate "Energy autonomy - Challenges and policies at different levels of governance".

Moderated by:Jeppe Mikél Jensen, Climate Alliance, Energy Poverty Advisory Hub.

Speakers

• Baiba Miltovica, President of the Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN), European Economic Social Committee
• Giorgos Koukoufikis, European Commission, Joint Research Centre
• Thais Gonclaves, DG Employment, European Commission
• Andreea Vornicu, Romanian Energy Poverty Observatory, Centre for the Study of Democracy
• Ivan Ivankovic, Head of the Office for Energy and Climate in the City of Zagreb
• Manuela Ojan, Director of Environmental Transition of AMAT

19:30 - 21:00 - Networking dinner.

29 June 2022

09:00 - 09:30 - Welcome speech by the event organisers.

09:30 - 11:00 - Parallel interactive sessions (include group work).

• Session 1: How to convert energy poverty challenges into opportunities: Brainstorming based on real case studies.

Moderated by Alba del Campo Martínez, Ecoserveis, Energy Poverty Advisory Hub

• Session 2: Energy offices at the local level: How to develop local energy efficiency, energy poverty and renovation services – obstacles and solutions

Moderated by Anamari Majdandžić, DOOR - Society For Sustainable Development Design and Masha Tarle, Climate Alliance

• Session 3: Innovative finance: Is reducing energy poverty really just a cost? Direct and indirect costs, cost of a lost opportunity.

Moderated by Paula Damaška, Green Energy Cooperative (ZEZ)

11:30 - 13:00 - Parallel interactive sessions (include group work).

• Session 4: Ensuring the participation of vulnerable consumers in energy communities: Challenges and opportunities.

Moderated by Marta Garcia, Ecoserveis, Energy Poverty Advisory Hub

Speaker: Heleen Schockaert, REScoop

• Session 5: In the frontline of energy poverty: Who is most affected by soaring energy prices and what are the potential protection measures?

Moderated by Patrycja Płonka, Polish Network „Energie Cités” (PNEC).

• Session 6: Building renovations as a key solution to energy poverty reduction.

Moderated by Joao Pedro Gouveia, FCT Nova University, Energy Poverty Advisory Hub

13:00 - 13:30 - Closing remarks by the event organisers.

14:30 - 19:30 - Field visit at the Development Center and Technology Park at Križevci.

Guided by: KLIK Energy Cooperative and Green Energy Cooperative (ZEZ).

Speakers: Mario Rajn, Mayor of Križevci, Croatia

Dijana Marković, Advisor on public relations and protocol, City of Križevci

Sanela Mikulčić Šantić, KLIK Energy Cooperative Manager

Ivana Dubravec, Energy Expert at KLIK and President of KLIK assembly