Rapporteur Talks

The European Commission identifies buildings in the EU as the primary energy consumer, accounting for 40% of our energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. In December 2021, the European Commission adopted a legislative proposal to revise the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, as part of the so-called ‘Fit for 55’ package.

In March, MEPs adopted the proposed revision of the Directive. It aims to progressively decrease greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sectortowards climate neutrality by 2050.

Specifically, all new buildings should be zero-emission as of 2030, while Member States must enact measures for energy consumption reduction and renovate a portion of poorly performing non-residential buildings. Additionally, there is a focus on decarbonising heating systems.

Improving building energy efficiency not only reduces bills and energy poverty but also enhances Europe's energy independence, stimulates the economy, and generates green jobs, particularly in construction.

Listen to this Euractiv Virtual Conference to discuss the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. Some questions to be discussed include:

- Is the Directive sufficiently aligned with the EU's climate ambitions?
- Are the measures feasible for Member States to implement?
- What existing initiatives address energy efficiency and the renovation of buildings?
- Are measures needed to support the construction industry in fulfilling the Directive's objectives?

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No 893858.

This website reflects only the author’s view and the Research Executive Agency or European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.

2024 marks the year of another significant change in the EU’s political composition. Every five years, EU leaders collectively determine the EU's political priorities, a process occurring in conjunction with the European Parliament elections and preceding the appointment of each European Commission. Kicked off by the European elections in early June, the shifts in political groups and coalitions within the EU will shape its policy agenda and future legislation.

In light of the recent farmer’s protests all over Europe, but most notably in Brussels, the future of the agricultural sector is under the microscope like no other sector at the moment. Special attention will be paid to any new developments, plans, and legislation, putting a lot of pressure on the new leaders of the EU.

Decarbonising the heating and cooling sector is central to achieving the energy transition. This is recognised in the European Green Deal and the ‘Fit for 55’ package, as without increasing the share of renewables in this sector, our energy and climate targets cannot be achieved cost-effectively.

Within the heating sector, district heating is proving particularly difficult to decarbonise, as district heating systems operate mostly on fossil fuels. However, some stakeholders argue that power-to-heat technologies could be a good solution, as they use renewable energy for heating.

By converting electricity into heat, power-to-heat technologies have the potential to help raise the share of renewable energy in the district heating sector. Power-to-heat could be particularly important in large heating systems which, due to their high heat demand, and with a lack of local renewables, are the most difficult to decarbonise.

Listen to this Euractiv Hybrid Conference to discuss the potential of power-to-heat technologies in decarbonising district heating. Questions to be discussed include:
· How can power-to-heat help in reaching the objectives of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Directives?
· What role can power-to-heat play in energy stabilisation? And what implications can this have on energy grids?
· What are the next steps to support the necessary rollout of power-to-heat technologies in district heating?

Forests play a vital role in climate change adaptation and mitigation. They act as carbon sinks and preserve biodiversity and ecosystems. Yet, climate change is increasingly causing extreme weather conditions, and damages such as wildfires, windstorms and floods are harming forests all over Europe.

To address these challenges, the European Commission introduced the Forest Monitoring Law in November 2023, a regulation on a monitoring framework for resilient European forests. This proposal is part of the EU forest strategy for 2030, which seeks to strengthen the protection, restoration and resilience of forests in the EU.

More resilient and diverse forests are essential to cope better with environmental disturbances and to adapt to climate change. This strategy also calls for adequate monitoring of EU forests to help forest owners and managers adjust management practices to forest disturbances.

While stakeholders generally support this proposal, some find it vague and call for stronger initiatives to achieve forest resilience. They also highlight the need for other key indicators to track forest evolution, and for a more unified monitoring framework across EU member states.

Listen to this Euractiv Virtual Conference to discuss how to make EU forests more resilient against climate change and disturbances. Questions to be addressed include:

- In the framework of the Forest Monitoring Law proposal, how can we guarantee effective strategic planning and progress monitoring at the EU level?
- What support mechanisms are available to assist forest owners and managers in implementing resilience-building measures? How can their forests remain economically viable?
- To what extent can the EU harmonise forest resilience management in its member states?

Life Terra is co-financed by the European Commission through the LIFE Programme (LIFE19 CCM/NL/001200).

The content of this publication represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility. The Agency does not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.

"Les rencontres européennes de la Fepem" se présentent comme un rendez-vous au cœur des préoccupations européennes. Organisé par la Fepem, cette rencontre d'une demi-journée, prévue pour le 22 avril dans les locaux du Think Tank EuropaNova et sous le patronage de la Commission Européenne, réunira une soixantaine de participants, dont des candidats tête de liste ou leurs représentants aux élections européennes, des acteurs majeurs du secteur de l'emploi à domicile, ainsi que des représentants des institutions européennes.

Cet événement a pour ambition de mettre en lumière les enjeux cruciaux liés à l'emploi à domicile, en particulier dans le contexte de la prochaine législature européenne. Face au vieillissement démographique, aux défis du care et aux métiers en tension, il s'agit de sensibiliser les décideurs politiques et les acteurs du secteur aux défis et opportunités de ce domaine souvent méconnu mais essentiel pour l'avenir de nos sociétés.

À travers un format interactif, les participants auront l'opportunité d'échanger leurs visions, leurs propositions et leurs engagements autour de thématiques telles que l'emploi, l'égalité de genre, l'immigration, la professionnalisation, la protection sociale et les soins à domicile. Chaque candidat ou représentant aura l'occasion de présenter ses projets pour le secteur, tandis que les intervenants des institutions européennes apporteront un éclairage sur le rôle de l'Europe dans ces domaines.

Le débat sera modéré par un expert de chez Euractiv, garantissant neutralité et dynamisme. Ce forum s'inscrit pleinement dans la dynamique de la campagne européenne, visant à sensibiliser les citoyens et à encourager une participation active aux élections.

The European Single Market - one of the EU's greatest achievements - is stuttering, according to several industry stakeholders. Their concerns include too much fragmentation, excessive bureaucracy, and lack of harmonised rules. Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta was tasked with preparing a report on the future of the Single Market, set to be discussed by European heads of government in the coming months.

In today's geopolitically tense landscape, the Single Market is designed to ensure European economic power and industrial strength. But the impact of this varies across EU Member States and European companies, particularly SMEs. Recognising these disparities is crucial, especially when considering the cost burden of the green and digital transitions.

With the upcoming EU elections and a new European legislature on the horizon, significant shifts are anticipated in the Single Market and its development. Some industries, like the mechanical and plant engineering sector, even call for a radical masterplan to deepen the Single Market. How this could look is still uncertain. But the new setup of the EU institutions could influence integration levels, cooperation dynamics, and competitiveness among Member States, shaping the market's future and its ability to confront evolving economic challenges.

Expanding organic farming and agricultural lands in the EU is at the heart of the European Green Deal’s initiatives. Organic farming uses natural substances and processes to produce food and brings environmental, economic and social benefits.

To support European green ambitions, the European Commission launched the Farm to Fork Strategy in 2020. One of its aims is to bolster organic food sales and production with a focus on a fair and sustainable supply chain. This initiative was reinforced through the Organic Action Plan which seeks to achieve 25% of organic agricultural land by 2030. However, currently, only 10% of EU agricultural land is organic.

Organic farming is more labour-intensive and produces lower yields than conventional farmers, while generating similar income. Despite receiving economic support through the CAP, organic farmers feel they remain inadequately remunerated because their selling prices are lower than the retail prices.

While the EU seeks to boost organic farming and food supply, some stakeholders argue that the EU needs a more robust implementation to transition towards fair and organic food systems. Others believe that the text on new genomic technologies (NGTs) approved by the European Parliament could help reach the target on organic agricultural lands.

Join this Euractiv Virtual Conference to discuss the sustainability of organic farming and its implications for reaching European green ambitions. Questions to be addressed include:

• How can the EU strengthen the position of organic farmers in the supply chain?
• How can the gap between organic produce selling prices and retail prices be addressed?
• How compatible are the NGTs and organic farming in light of the target for agricultural lands set by the European Commission?
• What steps are needed to further develop organic food supply and demand?

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Nuclear power is seen as part of the solution to tackle climate change and meet growing energy needs to decarbonise our economy. Following the Nuclear Energy Summit, jointly organised by the IAEA and Belgium on March 21, 2024, EDF, Fortum, and Vattenfall, in partnership with Euractiv, are preparing an insightful event. We will delve into the central role of nuclear energy, in partnership with renewable energy technologies, in achieving the European Union’s climate, social, and strategic objectives. The event will explore the need for a neutral approach to net-zero technologies, and define the key steps that the nuclear industry will have to take to achieve these goals. Taking up this significant challenge includes the need to inspire and cultivate emerging talent. We should motivate them to eagerly pursue a career path in net zero technologies, contributing to a greener future. Do not miss this opportunity to contribute to shaping the future of net zero energy and making a positive impact on the world. Nuclear Energy 2.0 is more than just a conference. It is an exploration of the next phase in the evolution of the European energy landscape. Get ready for an interactive debate on the potential of nuclear energy!

For the last three decades, the availability of cost-effective generic medicines has driven increased access to life-saving treatments for millions of patients in Europe. Today, generic medicines are an integral part of the healthcare system and demand for these products continues to increase worldwide.

While increased usage of generic medicines has led to unprecedented savings for healthcare systems, many perspectives on this segment remain focused solely on their cost saving potential. This perception can underplay the range of generic medicine contributions to added societal value. Neglecting these contributions can exacerbate the challenges that healthcare systems are facing today.

A case where generic medicines contribute to societal value is by ensuring access, thus helping to reduce disease burden in underserved markets, such as in most Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries.

The report “Beneath the Surface: Unravelling the True Value of Generic Medicines” presented in this online panel explores the broad spectrum of contributions of generic medicines to European health systems, through an examination of their critical role in increasing access, financial sustainability, supply chain resilience and better outcomes for patients.

During this event, panellists and the audience will exchange ideas on:

• Creating a regulatory environment that promotes access.
• The functioning of national markets in ensuring the availability and sustainability of medicines for patients.
• Coordination at European and National levels to mitigate shortages.
• Supporting innovation to achieve better health outcomes.

In a new era marked by climate disruptions, geopolitical conflicts and economic tensions, fundamental questions arise: do we still need industry in Europe? Or can the EU rely solely on fragmented value chains for its strategic autonomy? As the EU strives for peace, prosperity and security for its citizens in the next five years and beyond, can it afford to depend on third countries for critical clean technologies essential to the green transition?

Consider nickel, lithium, ferrous scrap, steel, renewables, hydrogen, batteries, electric vehicles, high tech machineries, defence and medical equipment, transportation and energy infrastructure, and more. Though seemingly disparate, all these components share a vital link: each is integral to a unified value chain, wherein the strength of the whole hinges on the resilience of its individual parts.

Can the EU’s resilience be imported or only come from within?

Listen to this EUROFER Conference to discuss thought-provoking questions with high-level EU representatives and policymakers tasked with aligning industrial policy to the green transition, CEOs, business leaders and leading researchers, representing the entire manufacturing value chain - from raw materials and steel to renewables and automotive.

At a crucial time just before the commencement of a new EU cycle, panellists will exchange views on:

• The urgent need for a new industrial policy ensuring a robust business case for decarbonisation investments in the EU across the full value chain;
• The key ingredients to maintain European industry’s competitiveness on global markets, starting from access to affordable clean energy;
• The critical role of robust trade measures to tackle overcapacity, ensure a level playing field and avert deindustrialisation.