Making the European Green Deal accessible and affordable for all is a significant challenge. However, in times of global uncertainties, affordability, and supply security are the main challenges to be overcome thanks to the implementation of the Green Deal. This is going to be enforced and achieved thanks to the new Affordable Energy Action Plan initiated by the European Commission and presented on the 26th of February, and which will lay down several implementation measures.

The first step of the implementation is planning: this is true at the national level with National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) and expected National Social Climate Plans (NSCPs). However, the experience of the NECPs has shown that most of the Member States (MS) are not yet on track to reach the EU Climate and Energy targets. Therefore, lower levels of governance, like regional and local authorities and related stakeholders, have a huge role to play. Those actors are not waiting for their national governments to take action. They seized the opportunities that the EU is laying down and synergised the tools to ensure a fair, affordable, green and participative energy transition. And this starts with a comprehensive and efficient planning process: discover how, thanks to the examples developed in the frame of the INPLAN and Regio1st LIFE CET projects.

Draft agenda

• Welcome and introduction - Jeremy Clero, IEECP

• Keynote speech - MEP Benedetta Scuderi, Greens/EFA

• Panel discussion on Energy and climate planning as a key lever for affordability in a  just transition perspective

  • Carlos Garcia, Director of FAEN (Asturias Energy Agency, Spain – Regio1st pilot region) (tbc)

  • Miljenko Sedlar, North West Croatia Regional Energy and Climate Agency (REGEA) (IN-PLAN coordinator)

  • Tim Mandel, Fraunhofer Institute for ENE1st+ (TBC)

  • Fabrizia Salvi, Area Science Park for IN-PLAN

  • Committee of the Regions (CoR) Member Joško Klisović (HR/PES), President of the Assembly of Zagreb

• Discussion with the audience

• Conclusions by the moderator