On 5 May, European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simsonparticipated in an Energy Solutions high-level debate focused on the role of industry in the implementation of the European Green Deal and the European Climate Law.

In her intervention, Simson stressed that the COVID-19 crisis has shown Europe’s strength and resilience but has also raised a necessity and an opportunity to fast-forward the transition towards a sustainable economy for Europe. Therefore, the green agenda needs to be at the core of the EU’s post-pandemic recovery plan.

“The green agenda must be our strategy for growth and the guiding light to our work going forward,” Simson underlined.

Moreover, Simson presented her working programme for the following months, which can be divided into three main sections: energy efficiency, renewable energy and energy system integration.

Energy Efficiency:  a renovation wave, aimed to boost economy and green the energy systems, is at the core of the European Green Deal. In this context, Simson will present a Renovation Wave plan to minimise potential regulatory barriers and stimulate a faster pace of building renovation across the EU. The plan is expected for September 2020.

Renewable Energy: in the frame of recovery plans, renewable energies present a great opportunity for growth. As part of her priorities, Simson will present a Strategy on Offshore Renewable Energy to upscale this sector until 2050 and to put the consumer at the centre of the clean energy transition.

Energy System Integration: the energy system integration brings the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy together in a connected system. Simson will present a Strategy for Energy System Integrationin June.

“We have clear plans, we have significant ambition, the final piece of the equation is determined action to push us forward onto the road to recovery and towards our destination of a climate neutral 2050,” she concluded.

You can read Simson’s speech in full here

The debate was attended by several MEPs, including Morten Helveg Petersen from Danish ALDE member Radikale Venstre, as well as by relevant organisations working on topics related to energy.

Thank you Morten Helveg Petersen for inviting me to the Energy Solutions High Level Debate. It is important to discuss the future of energy in these difficult times. My message is that green🌿agenda must be our strategy for growth & the guiding light going forward #Enersolutions pic.twitter.com/rm6N9gnAFc

— Kadri Simson (@KadriSimson) May 5, 2020