What's New at FEDARENE

WHAT'S NEW

	2 days event	THINK EUROPEAN – ACT REGIONAL Following the motto "THINK EUROPEAN – ACT REGIONAL”, the European Energy Service Day is designed as a major network event at European level to bring together European decision makers, ESCOs and their associations as well as regional stakeholders with a strong focus on energy agencies. It will also be an opportunity to celebrate 20 years of FEDARENE, the premier European network of regional and local organisations implementing, co-ordinating and facilitating energy and environment policies. September, 13th • European Energy Service Day Symposium Conference on chances and challenges for energy services in Europe held at the CoR. • European Energy Service Award Ceremony Bestowal of the Awards 2009 for outstanding efforts and successful implementation of energy services in Europe. Awards presented by Connie Hedegaard, Commissioner for Climate Action. Ceremony held at the CoR. • 20 years of of FEDARENE (European Federation of Agencies and Regions for Energy and Environment). Welcome from Mercedes Bresso, President of the Committee of the Regions, Keynote Speech by Janez Potočnik, Commissioner for Environment, A review of 20 years of Fedarene by Jean-Louis Joseph, President of Fedarene. Ceremony held at the CoR. • Celebration of FEDARENE’s 20th anniversary at the Renewable Energy House . 14th of September • FEDARENE’s Annual meeting. Meeting at the CoR. • Role of the Regions within the Covenant of Mayors! Workshop held at the CoR. When: 13 & 14 /9/2010 where: Committee of the Regions (CoR) [Programme-Registration]
	Seminar	Seminar: Biogas, more than an opportunity for the European Regions! Biogas sector is growing rapidly and is certainly the most promising one; it will strongly contribute to the 320% targets defined by the Union. The mobilisation of positive synergies between the different sectors (local authorities, farmers and food processing industries) and their concrete project implication will increase biogas plants realisation. Biogas Regions chose the territorial approach facilitating partnerships between the different sectors and the elaboration of a strategic road map in each region in order to overcome the obstacles and create a biogas friendly environment. After a session on the EU regulatory frame and potential of the biogas production, a session on how biogas could benefit to the agricultural and the agri-food industry sectors will follow; and finally a session dedicated to the Biogas from the strategy to the concrete implementation at regional level June 30th, 2010* Albert Hall, Brussels/Belgium [Slides of the seminar]
	Committee of the Regions	The survey will be used to gather examples of good practice from EU regions and cities and to improve understanding of the policy options being implemented, the challenges facing local and regional authorities and the main areas of success. It will facilitate the exchange of experiences between members of the Europe 2020 Monitoring Platform and Covenant of Mayors signatories [brochure] - [survey]
	Committee of the Regions	Committee of the Regions (Presidents of regions, deputies, mayors and general advisers from all Europe) have elected their new President, the first vice-president…etc…for the next two and a half years. Mercedes Bresso, President of the Piemont Region and the new President of the Committee of the regions, has invited the Assembly to further intensify courage in the following of its political objectives. Following her election, Mercedes Bresso has introduced her priorities within her mandate, meaning the fight against climate change, launching of a reshuffled Lisbon strategy, improvement of the cohesion European politics, recognition of regional and local interests in the debate on EU financial perspectives, successful implementation of the new juridical instrument of the European gathering of territory cooperation (GECT), but as well the development of a European strategy with regards to general interest services with respect of local and regional competencies. Jean-Louis Joseph, President of Fedarene, vice-president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur Region and mayor of La Bastidonne (FR) has been renamed member of the Committee of the Regions for a new mandate. He will be member of the Commission for Natural Resources (NAV) and of the Commission for Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE). Jean Louis Joseph will keep us informed on the dossiers followed by Committee of the Regions *Photo*: Jean-Louis Joseph & Mercedes Bresso
	Jean-Louis Joseph's report on 'Energy package"	Jean-Louis Joseph report on the "Energy package"- adopted! The report on Energy Performance in Building and the Second Strategic Energy Review, prepared by FEDARENE’s President, Jean-Louis Joseph, has been adopted by the Committee of the Regions, during its 79th Plenary Session, on 21st April 2009. 27 Amendments had been submitted to the text. The amendments and compromises that were accepted do not modify substantially the text. Some of them even strengthen it in some points. A flagship amendment, which has been included in the report, requests the inclusion of Energy Efficiency projects in the 5 billion EUR investment plan supporting the EU economic recovery plan. The day after the adoption of this report, the European Parliament adopted its own report, prepared by Romanian MEP Silvia Adriana Ticau (PSE). A joint press release was prepared between Silvia Adriana Ticau and Jean-Louis Joseph. Jean-Louis Joseph Final Report on the "Energy package" (EN, FR).
	Declaration EE & RES	Declaration of the European Region on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources Launched at the initiative of the OOe Energiesparverband and Fedarene, with the support of the Assembly of European Regions, the Declaration "European Regions for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources"
		FEDARENE is Sustainable Energy Campaign associate.