Crossed interviews : Marie Donnelly & Rudolf Niessler (European Commission)

Marie Donnelly and Rudolf Niessler, respectively working at the DG ENER and DG REGIO of the European Commission exchanged their opinions on territorial cohesion and energy policy in the latest Energy Cities INFO magazine (April 2011).


Marie Donnelly is a Director ‘New and renewable sources of energy, energy efficiency and innovation’ at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy. The DG ENER is responsible for developing and implementing a European energy policy.

Rudolf Niessler is a Director for Policy Coordination at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional Policy. Already created in 1965, the mission of the DG REGIO is to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion in the regions and countries of the European Union. The Directorate General manages the three Cohesion policy funds.



Mrs. Donnelly, what is the territorial dimension of the EU energy policy?

The territorial dimension of the EU energy policy comes into play whenever we talk about energy savings and efficiency in buildings and urban transport, the use and integration of local renewables, cogeneration, heat production and distribution, energy services and of course, urban planning as well as the practical involvement of citizens and private stakeholders. While the industry can boost innovation and improve the energy efficiency of products (vehicles, insulation, etc.), local authorities are in a position to make urban systems as a whole more energy-efficient. There lies an infinite and often underestimated potential for economic growth and innovation.
Over 2200 local authorities are engaged in the Covenant of Mayors today. They need to tap into this vast potential. Contrary to what many people think, tackling energy consumption, CO2 emissions and increasing the share of renewables remains in the hands of local, ‘untraditional’ planners, architects, plumbers, farmers and, most of all, households. This requires a new model of governance, based on a territorial, rather than a sectoral approach.


Mr. Niessler, what is the energy dimension of the territorial policy?

Success in achieving Europe’s 2020 goals will for the large part depend on decisions taken at local and regional level. Regional Policy plays an essential role in driving the shift to investment in smart and sustainable growth through the actions it can support to tackle energy and climate issues.
Achieving the target of 20% of renewables in 2020 will provide additional jobs, many of them close to where investments are made. The potential for job creation in the field of energy efficiency, in particular in buildings, is also remarkable. Cities and urban areas, which consume up to 80% of energy, are at the same time part of the problem and part of the solution to greater energy efficiency. Regions and cities should see renewables and energy efficiency as drivers of development and accelerate investments according to their local energy potential, especially in rural and coastal areas, outermost regions and islands. Regional Policy can help promote sustainable energies in district heating and co-generation, as well as in local smart distribution networks.


Find the whole dossier and many other issues in our Energy Cities INFO magazine! (n.39)