This Breakfast Briefing, kindly hosted by both North Sweden and Mid-Sweden Regions,  took place on 27 November and focused on the following topic :
Energy policy : Regional answers to climate change

Rising oil prices and energy supply issues have highlighted Europe's dependence in the field of energy. Europe also has to face the effects of global warming and climate change, which are directly linked to energy consumption.

The main objective of this Breakfast Briefing was to highlight the role for European regions to reduce the effects of climate change and prepare for the decline of the oil-age. European regions play a key role in promoting, developing and implementing renewable energy sources (RES) combined with energy efficiency strategies.

AER will relied on the expertise of keynote speakers to cover the issue at hand.

Mr. Martin PETRTÝL, LIFE Unit - DG Environment from the European Commission, gave us an overview of EU funded pilot regional projects dealing with energy issues; including a short presentation of best LIFE projects as good practices.

This intervention was followed by Olivier Soumeryn-Schmit, FEDARENE (European Federation of Regions and Agencies for Energy and Environment), which launched with the AER the Declaration of European Regions for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources.

After having presented the FEDARENE’s objectives and activities, Mr Soumeryn-Schmit explained how the federation is fostering interregional exchanges of best practices. Underlining the role of the regions as key actors of EU energy policy, FEDARENE is also involved in  “Covenant of Mayor” lauched bu the European Commission, and the Committee of the Regions’ report: the 2nd strategic energy review & the recasting of the Energy Performance in Building Directive.

Then, Céline DAWANS, AER Policy Coordinator, presented regional initiatives in the field of energy through the "MORE4NRG" project. This INTERREG IVC project aims to strengthen the delivery of regional strategies for Renewable Energy Sources and energy efficiency by exchanging best practices on sustainable energy policies and jointly developing an integrated monitoring tool for measuring the effect of regional sustainable energy strategies.