“Will the Just Transition Fund deliver the Green Deal?”
Energy Post Panel Discussion
Sponsored by the Polish Energy Group
Date: June 17, 2020 – 13.00 to 14.00 CEST
Background
Certain Member States and industry players are calling for a significant increase in funding of the Just Transition within the context of the European Green Deal.
Recently, the Commission presented its proposal to increase the original budget of the Just Transition Fund from €7.5 billion to €40 billion to take account of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fund, which is to be supplemented with resources from cohesion policy funds and national co-financing (up to a total of €30-50 billion), will be part of a revamped Just Transition Mechanism which also includes resources from InvestEU and loans from the European Investment Bank. Total funding mobilised under the mechanism is now expected to reach €150 billion according to the Commission. However, according to those affected, it remains unclear how much actual fresh money will be made available, to whom and on what terms?
The European Parliament is entering a crucial phase of work on the JTF file. The dossier is highly political with many Committees providing their input. The discussion will provide a good opportunity to find answers to questions such as:
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Is the new flagship Green Deal initiative fit-for-purpose and does it provide an adequate response to the post-pandemic challenges?
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Who should be the main beneficiaries of the fund and why?
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What could be improved to achieve the desired impact in coal-dependent regions?
Register Here for Event
Programme
Date: JUNE 17, 2020
Time: 13.00 to 14.00 CEST
Location: Online
- 13:00 – Opening address: Wojciech Dabrowski, CEO, PGE
- 13:05 – Moderator’s opening remarks and positions of speakers
- 13:30 – Q and A
- 13:55 – Moderator’s summary
Meet the Panel
Jerzy Buzek – European Parliament
Mr. Buzek MEP is chief rapporteur to the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) for the Just Transition. He has served as Prime Minister of Poland from 1997 to 2001 and since being elected to the European Parliament in 2004, he has served as President of the European Parliament between 2009 and 2012.
Aleksandra Tomczak – European Commission
Aleksandra is an energy expert responsible for the internal energy market and the Just Transition. In particular she is responsible for the Just Transition Fund within the cabinet of the Commissioner for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans.
Corinna Zierold – IndustriAll
Corinna Zierold is Senior Policy Advisor at European Trade Union IndustriAll. Her main areas include energy and sustainability and European social dialogue in the gas, extractive industries, electricity and paper sectors. She has been working with the Trade Union movement since 2008. Corinna holds a Masters’ degree in European Studies from the University of Leipzig in Germany.
Wojciech Dąbrowski – Polish Energy Group
Mr. Dąbrowski is President of the Management Board at the Polish Energy Group (PGE Poland). He has been working as a manager in the energy sector for ten years. From November 2017 to February 2020, he was the President of the Management Board of the PGE EC, where he completed the process of the Polish heat industry assets integration, acquired by PGE from the French company EDF. From January 2016 to November 2017, he was President of the Management Board of the PGNiG Termika S.A., where he completed the process of acquisition in PEC Jastrzębie and SEJ Jastrzębie, strengthening the market position of PGNiG Termika.
Henrike Hahn – The Greens
Ms. Hahn is a member of the Greens/EFA and a full member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Ms. Hahn is the rapporteur on the Opinion on the Just Transition Fund in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Green shadow rapporteur in the ITRE Committee.
Andrei Marcu – ERCST (Moderator)
ERCST’s founder and Executive Director Andrei Marcu has vast experience in managing policy-focused organisations. His focus has been on sustainable development, climate change and energy. Former roles include Sr. Vice President at Mercuria Energy Group; Managing Director for Climate and Energy at WBCSD, and Founder and CEO of IETA.