DANUTA HUBNER TELLS THE CPMR: REGIONAL POLICY WILL NOT BE NATIONALISED

The role of local and regional authorities will be even more crucial in facing the challenges of globalisation, Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner said on Friday 18 January 2008 during the co-organised CPMR-CoR Seminar 'What Future for Regional Policies After 2013?”

According to the Commissioner, the EU's cohesion policy was playing an essential role in addressing these challenges, and local and regional authorities had a vital part to play in tailoring policies to each region's needs.

Enrico Mayrhofer: Mrs Hübner, Regions have underlined today the importance of cohesion policy. How will the Commission maintain a current EU cohesion policy after 2013, with such strong pressure from some member states to reduce the EU budget and to nationalise cohesion policy?

Danuta Hübner: Fortunately, we have agreed that we will first discuss the European Union policy agenda and only after that will we be working on the budget. Therefore, I think, at this stage we should agree on what the challenges are that Europe is facing, what responses coming from the European Union we can prepare, which policies are the most efficient and providing the best value added in these responses. Thus, I believe the cohesion policy is very well placed, because it is a policy with an excellent history, with great contribution to European growth, to the development of the European continen. ...

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BIOMASS AND HEAT PUMPS ARE THE FUTURE OF ENERGY IN EUROPE

The European Commission, the Slovenian Presidency and major energy stakeholders organised Sustainable Energy Week* in Brussels from 28 January to 1 February 2008.

The CPMR Energy Working Group, chaired by the Region of Navarra and coordinated by Jean-Didier Hache, took part in this event by organising a workshop on “Sustainable Energy Policies in Peripheral and Maritime Regions of Europe” at the Committee of the Regions.

Many distinguished speakers took part in the event, including experts and regional representatives.

The European Commission was represented by Mr Samuele Furfari** from DG Energy and Transport.

EM: Mr Furfari, what was the outcome of the energy week?

SF: It was extremely positive. The enthusiasm of participants proved it. I was also impressed by the strong presence of local and regional bodies, which proves that Regions, provinces and cities all over Europe are committed to sustainable energy. ...

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IF A REGION HAS POWER OVER ENERGY POLICY, IT WILL BE ABLE TO MAXIMISE ITS UNTAPPED POTENTIAL…

Alyn Smith participated as Member of the European Parliament in the Conference “EU Sustainable Energy Policies in Peripheral and Maritime Regions of Europe” organised by the CPMR during the “EU Sustainable Energy Week” held in Brussels from 28 January to 1 February 2008. Mr. Smith is the youngest Member of the European Parliament, is Scottish and has joined the Group of the Greens-European Free Alliance. He is both a member of the Committee on Agriculture Rural Development and of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.

EM: For 2020, the European Union has a target: 20% of global European energy will be produced by renewable energies. Do we not risk this target being a bit too ambitious?

AS: I must be honest there, I am perhaps being a little too cynical that "20% by 2020" sounds more like a “sound-bite” than a scientific assessment of our potential, but I think it is achievable, so long as we get serious about using all our chances. We shall see.

EM: The energy package introduces the “transfer” system for guarantees of origin of renewable energy sources. Peripheral regions welcome this idea. Indeed, as these regions have considerable renewable energy potential, they could “sell” their guarantees of origin to countries that are less well-equipped. However, could this mechanism not have perverse effects by encouraging certain member states to use the market for guarantees of origin to meet their quotas rather than making the necessary investment at home? ...

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21st CENTURY GALLEONS

The European Commission recently launched the European Maritime Day.

Every 20 May from now on, Europeans will annually celebrate the seas which surround our continent and which have always been a source of economic and cultural richness.

The European Maritime Policy is no longer a dream for the CPMR, but a reality guaranteed by the Council of Ministers in December 2007.

Maritime transport is destined to increase in Europe as well as elsewhere, as it is considered to be less polluting - per tonne transported - than air, road or rail transport. In addition, some private enterprises are starting to look into making maritime transport even more tenable and significantly reduce costs.

Beluga SkySails is a cutting-edge experiment which explores new technologies to reduce costs and carbon dioxide emissions. It is not a sailing boat with masts, a boom and a rudder like in the XVII and XVIII centuries, but a cargo ship equipped with a motor which can be towed by a sail ...

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