EU Commissioner Simson: This year’s EUSEW is most important one so far

The European Sustainable Energy Week started today with top EU officials urging for the energy transition toward a clean and green energy system to be accelerated. Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said it is the only way to achieve security in the spheres of energy, economy and climate and called this year’s edition of EUSEW the most important one since she took office.

The European Sustainable Energy Week – EUSEW brings together public authorities, private companies, nongovernmental organizations, participants in the European Union’s projects, researchers and consumers. This year’s slogan is ‘Going green and digital for Europe’s energy transition’.

“We are facing the greatest energy crisis in generations. That’s why this is such an important moment for this year’s EU Sustainable Energy Week. Last year, in my opening speech, I talked about the clean transition as our guiding light, directing all of our reactions towards one goal, reaching net zero by 2050. A lot has changed since then, as I said. Our energy reality might look very different now than a year ago, but our aim remains the same: becoming climate neutral,” European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said at the kickoff ceremony in Brussels.

The aim is still for the EU to become climate neutral, Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said at the EUSEW opening ceremony

A clean and green energy system is the only way to achieve energy and economic security as well as security from the impacts of the changing climate, she pointed out. Simson asserted that the current EUSEW is the most important one since she took office.

“Thirteen EU countries have had disruptions in their energy supply. Prices across the union for energy are higher than we could have imagined,” she stressed.

Striving for energy independence using green technologies

EUSEW Awards highlight projects and individuals that transform the energy landscape and the role models that inspire the next generation of energy actors. The event includes a high-level policy conference, the third European Youth Energy Day and opportunities for meetings, exhibition stands and other networking activities.

Keynote speakers agreed the EU has to work on energy efficiency measures and strive for energy independence using green technologies. EUSEW is organized by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) in close cooperation with the EU’s Directorate-General for Energy.

 EU energy ministers are meeting on September 30 for talks on the European Commission’s proposals to tackle energy price volatility

Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Jozef Síkela said the energy sector is the priority for his country’s current Presidency of the European Council. The war in Ukraine dramatically affects energy markets, he warned.

Síkela expressed confidence the Energy Council would agree at its extraordinary meeting on September 30 on energy legislative proposals from the European Commission. He said he believes in an ambitious outcome that would reduce energy import dependency and thus lower energy bills. “It must be fair and socially acceptable even for the most vulnerable citizens,” the minister underscored.

Differences in energy mixes to get EU through crisis

Member of the European Parliament Pernille Weiss noted that EU member states have different energy mixes, where some are ahead when it comes to wind power and others in nuclear energy or hydrogen production projects. “Our differences are also what will get us through the crisis,” she said, calling for cooperation.

Energy savings are the quickest and the cheapest way to address the energy crisis and reduce energy bills and also to achieve the green energy transition, said Weiss, who is the shadow rapporteur on the Energy Efficiency Directive and sits on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE).

Energy savings are the quickest and the cheapest way to address the energy crisis and reduce energy bills, MEP Pernille Weiss said

Weiss said the EU would benefit from the introduction of climate partnerships that would engage citizens and companies in sector-specific climate dialogue. She has proposed a pilot project on the establishment of an EU forum for boosting energy-efficient behavior that would provide tools and training on a local and regional scale.

The idea is to make energy-efficient behavior “more convenient, easy and attractive,” according to Weiss.