Lambert Van Nistelrooij (EPP/Christian-Democrats) is a member of the EU Parliament’s REGI Committee - Committee on Regional Development.
Kathleen Van Brempt (Socialists) is a member of the EU
Parliament’s ITRE Committee - Committee on Industry,Research and Energy.
"Mr. Van Nistelrooij, what is the energy dimension of the territorial policy?"
"Under the Lisbon Treaty, the scope of the Union’s action in terms of economic and social cohesion is expanded by adding the territorial dimension. In the policy for EU 2020 we seek stronger local and regional partners.
In our common effort to achieve the European energy and climate goals, the participation of regional and local actors is the key. Therefore, territorial policies will more than ever include bottom-up initiatives for enhancing energy efficiency and the promotion of sustainable energy. Regional funds will, to a larger extent, be used for energy issues. In the revised regional policy, energy efficiency will be a precondition for funding the regions.
The Public Forum, proposed by Energy Cities, stimulates examples of best practices and multilevel governance. This is a subsidiarity approach to which Europe is committed. It creates chances and solutions close to the urban environment. I am of the opinion that initiatives such as the Covenant of Mayors are perfect for direct participation in a European policy."
"Mrs. Van Brempt, please tell us, what is the territorial dimension of the EU energy policy?”
"In order to achieve our goals regarding climate protection through renewable energy, energy efficiency and reducing the CO2 emissions, we need to act now, today, and all together. This means that the correct and ambitious decisions need to be taken by the European and national authorities, but there is an important role to be played at the local level as well. A lot of this has to do with the fact that our energy reality is changing. Before, we had a very centralised energy landscape, with the needed energy distributed from a huge power plant through the top down network towards the consumers. This hierarchical model is no longer the model of the future. The more we will use renewable energy, the more decentralised the model will become. This new situation generates enormous opportunities for local authorities, which go hand in hand with new responsibilities as well. This requires support, money and guidance from higher levels."
@ photo European Parliament 2010, @ photo sp.a
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