Report: AER action plan on energy 2006-2012

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"The energy challenges of the 21st century require a common EU response" (European Commission President Barroso). On 8 March last, the EC set out the basis for this European Energy Policy in a Green Paper, which outlines six specific priority areas and over 20 concrete suggestions for possible new action.

Two of the key action areas of the Green paper are the setting up of a more sustainable, efficient and diverse energy mix, and the promotion of energy efficient and low carbon technologies. In that context, the development of renewable energy sources (RES) and projects for energy efficiency take a new dimension.

The achievement of these objectives can only be achieved through full commitment of all levels of government and their citizens. Regions, in particular, have the possibility and responsibility to help increase the share of RES and support rational management of energy. They can work out their own subsidy programmes, or act as leaders by favouring energy efficient technologies in public buildings, for instance.

Many Regions in Europe have already put in place such kind of projects to promote RES and energy efficiency on their territory, and a lot can be learned from them. To actively contribute to the overall goals of security of supply and fight against climate change, the AER has therefore decided to take its responsibility in the European energy strategy, by launching an Action Plan.

Main Actions

This Plan aims at encouraging each of your Regions to actively promote RES and energy efficiency measures on its territory, through concrete actions:

1. The first Action is the Declaration of the Regions in favour of RES and energy efficiency. This Declaration was launched by the FEDARENE (European Federation of Environment and Energy agency) and the Upper Austrian Energy Agency, in co-operation with the AER. Eight Regions have officially signed this document in Wels, on 3 March, at the occasion of the Green Electricity Conference, chaired by the AER, and organised in the framework of the World Energy Days. Comunidad Valenciana, and Norrbotten, in particular, have signed this document which contains quantified RES targets for each of the signatory Regions and thereby represents, beside a political statement, a concrete and visible involvement of the Regions in favour of RES. The AER warmly encourages its member Regions to sign this Declaration. An official signature ceremony will be organised by the AER and FEDARENE by the end of the year, since we hope that by then many Regions will have joined the initiative. In the meantime, we ask interested Regions to proceed as follows: Please send an official letter, mentioning the RES targets in your Region and the wish of your Region to sign the Declaration, to the AER Secretariat, Agnès Ciccarone or bring it with you in Valencia. The Declaration can be found under the AER website on its energy webpage.

2. The second Action is the setting up of a concrete interregional project in the field of RES or energy efficiency, to be co-funded in the framework of the current (Intelligent Energy Europe - Next call for proposal: May 2006) or future EU Programmes (7th Framework Programme / Competitiveness and Innovation Programme). As mentioned above, many Regions have already developed best RES practices: A common project could contribute to the dissemination of these best practices and benefit to other Regions in Europe which are less-advanced in this field. A first 'projects exchange corner' will be organised in Valencia, on Thursday 20 April, from 9.30 to 12.30, in the framework of the meeting of the AER working group on energy.
3. The third Action is the creation of an online data-base of best regional practices in the field of RES and energy efficiency, to offer a platform for permanent exchanges between Regions and interested stakeholders, and enhance dissemination of best practices. The AER Committee C has entrusted a temporary assistant, Ms Jo Schut, with the development of this project. She will run a survey among you, in order to get the raw material for the data-base. We kindly ask you to help her in her work. You will also be able to directly contribute to enriching the future data-base through an online Forum on energy, which will soon be open on the AER website. We will inform you about the launch of this Forum as soon as it is available. In the long run, we aim at applying for EU co-funding for the data-base, and/or to get it labelled as a key action of the EU Sustainable Energy Campaign.
4. The fourth Action is the drafting of an AER response to the Green Paper on energy. On the basis of the replies and comments that it will receive, as well as the conclusions of the European Spring Council and Parliament, the Commission will propose a set of measures. The AER ought to actively take part in this consultation and we invite all of you to read the Green Paper and send us your comments to Agnès Ciccarone as soon as possible.

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AER - Assembly of European Regions