The ManagEnergy Reflection Group has, by the end of 2004, become well-established as an effective and efficient forum for communication between the European Commission and the main networks of local and regional energy stakeholders.

Set up by the Directorate General for Energy and Transport in 2002 to obtain more strategic advice from the major local actors, the ManagEnergy Reflection Group is made up of representatives of associations of Local & Regional Energy Agencies in Member States and candidate countries, along with representatives from the European networks: Energie-Cités, FEDARENE, ISLE-NET, the Council of the European Municipalities and Regions, and EnR-the network of National Energy Agencies.

The Reflection Group supports the process of 'valorisation', i.e. reinforcing and adding value to EU political and legislative initiatives through facilitating their proper implementation in practice. The process of local and regional action extends from demonstrating best practice 'beacon' projects right across to dynamising penetration of markets by sustainable energy and transport initiatives.

The activity of the Reflection Group has focused thus far on the following key areas:

• action with the new Member States and candidate countries
• action with new EU Directives in the building sector
• ex-ante consultation on the future programme "Intelligent Energy - Europe" in the period 2007-2013
• action on communication between the Commission and the local level actors.

Ongoing practical actions are already producing results in these areas.

With regard to the challenges facing the 2004 enlargement of the European Union, the new Member States are actively participating in the work of the Reflection Group. The group members share an ethos of collaboration and networking, which facilitates the exchange of know-how between local energy actors in the old EU-15 and those in the new Member States.

In considering the environment for local energy actors in the new Member States, the group has concluded that "One of the pre-conditions has been that local decision-making structures [in the old Member States] have been in place and that energy topics could be tackled by local administrations. The picture is different in the new Member States, where local decision-making structures have largely been developed during the process of EU Accession" - Extract from 'Concept paper on Actions in New Member States and Candidate Countries' , Ralf Goldmann, Reflection Group, October 2004.

This paper on the new Member States concludes that the concept of "think globally - act locally", as described in the IEE Programme, is equally valid for the old and new Member States. The principal aim is to give added value to the society at the local level, having in mind global challenges and threats that can only be solved through local actions. This is especially true for the implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at the local level.

Already, in Poland and Bulgaria, National Associations of Energy Agencies/Actors have been created which are represented in the Reflection Group. In addition, two of the networks in the Reflection Group, Energie-Cités and FEDARENE, have members in the new Member States, which they are actively supporting.

Another important objective of The Reflection Group is to advise the Commission on Community legislation, local initiatives, partnerships and good practice that can help identify policy priorities of the EU. Reciprocally, the local actors can expect to benefit from better formulated Commission proposals and measures.

In this respect, the work programme of the Reflection Group has focussed initially on Directives related to energy in the Buildings Sector, for two reasons: First, because buildings are generally managed at the local level and, second, because there is a significant untapped potential for major energy savings in buildings right across the EU.

Specifically, the group has examined the new 'Energy Performance of Buildings Directive' (2002/91/EC) and, also, the proposal for a 'Directive on Energy End Use Efficiency and Energy Services' (COM(2003) 739 final), which is currently in process towards adoption by the Council of Ministers and European Parliament (the joint legislator of the EU) . The work in progress is steering the attention of the local actors towards the Directives, identifying what kind of action can be delivered by the energy agencies, and making recommendations, including as to what kind of support is needed.

The Reflection Group, as representing major stakeholders in local and regional action, was invited by the European Commission in May 2004 to participate in the ex-ante consultation of key stakeholders on the need and opportunity for renewing the Community programme "Intelligent Energy - Europe" programme for the period 2007-2013. In response, the group prepared a submission "Consultation of the ManagEnergy Reflection Group on the need and opportunity for renewing the Community programme 'Intelligent Energy- Europe' in the period 2007-2013", (17 May 2004). This identifies key issues for local energy agencies and other actors, including those in the new Member States. It responds to specific questions on different possible configurations for the future, as well as on alternative delivery options.

Communication between the European Commission and the local level energy actors is another key area for the Reflection Group. The group underlines the importance now for the 450 million citizens of the EU (25) to keep in touch with the work of the Commission. In such a context, the use of IT combined with language, translation and localisation is considered important for energy agencies/actors whose job it is to promote intelligent energy use at local and regional levels.

"Engaging people in policy is important, but the European Commission has failed in communicating many of the facts to its citizens in the past. Promoting Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy technology - according to the Lisbon Agreement - can be achieved through intelligent use of the information at a local level - as local actions can contribute more to these European-wide objectives than action at any other level" - Minister Dick Roche, TD, Round Table Discussion with Reflection Group, Arklow, 3 June 2004.

ManagEnergy provides real support for the energy actors in the EU and the Internet facilities developed since 2002 offer a valuable tool for the local energy actors. Any parts of the web pages that can be provided in all official EU languages will be especially valuable.

The Reflection Group members are actively contributing to the promotion and dissemination of DG TREN programmes and initiatives. The Reflection Group could assume additional tasks in the further dissemination of energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean transport inside the Member States. For example, by assisting in national information days for the IEE Programme and, also, through being the nucleus from which additional national associations could be developed.

The Reflection Group concludes the year 2004 with a forward-looking perspective on future opportunities and challenges for its constituent local and regional energy agencies and other actors. It is envisaged that there will be valuable opportunities for local energy projects to be supported through the EU Regional Development Fund, in addition to the existing opportunities provided under the "Energy Intelligent- Europe" Programme, and these will be especially opportune among the new Member States.

It is also likely that there will be new opportunities, and challenges, arising from a renewed EU emphasis on the Lisbon Strategy which aims to make Europe the most competitive world economy by 2010. The ManagEnergy Reflection Group can thus help to integrate local sustainable and intelligent energy actions within an evolving framework for competition and innovation, as driven by the objectives of the Lisbon Process.

Dr Gerry Wardell,
AIEA - Association of Irish Energy Agencies

Chairperson 2004, ManagEnergy Reflection Group