Report on the Forum Europe Towards a Progressive Energy Policy in Central Europe Prague, September 18/19 2012
“We are in a moment of change and we don’t know how much time we have” – these were the words of Vladimir Špidla, President of Czech social democratic think-tank Masaryk Democratic Academy at the opening of “We are in a the Forum Europe of the Friedrich-Ebertmoment of change Stiftung in Prague on September 18. and we don’t know how much time we have”
Twenty-five politicians and experts from the Vladimir Špidla field of energy policy were invited by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, in order to come up with ideas on how to move “Towards a Progressive Energy Policy in Central Europe”. Špidla asserted that besides technical innovations, political will is needed in order to initiate a shift to a more progressive energy policy including the use of renewable energies. This, he emphasized is important not only within the Czech Republic but also beyond its borders. The former prime minister and EUCommissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities also stressed that from his view, a change in energy policy is a matter of principal social innovation.
"Cooperation on a regional level is needed." Dusan Petrik
Mr. Dusan Petrik, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovakian Republic, presented his view that the question of energy security relies on numerous factors that are transnational in nature. Therefore “cooperation on a regional level is needed”. He called on the Visegrad Group of countries in Central Europe to exploit its full potential in debating energy security issues in the region. The opening event set the right tone for the following workshop on the second day which was introduced by a Talk Show on En-
ergy Supply and Trans-European Networks. Panelist Oliver Geden from the German Institute for International and Security
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Affairs asserted that a convergence of energy systems will be inevitable in the European Union which will feature a more intertwined energy market in the near future. For Beata Maciejewska from the Green Institute in Poland “the question of energy policy is right in the centre of the debate on de“The question of energy policy is right in the centre mocracy”. While countries in Central of the debate on democracy” Europe currently take a very heterogeBeata Maciejewska neous stance on future options for their energy supply it was agreed by the Forum that renewable energies do not only provide new market chances but also present opportunities for more equitable participation of its citizens as energy producers and consumers. On the second day of the workshop the participants found themselves in a World Café setting, where they intensively debated the Potential for Progressive Energy Policies and Green Growth. The following questions were discussed in a participatory roundtable setting:
World Café 1) What potential for green growth exists in my country? 2) What are the risks, challenges and stumbling blocks for a move towards renewable/green energy? 3) What potentials does green energy have for Central Europe?
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The discussions on the five roundtable groups can be summarized as follows: 1) In general, a change in thinking and a new public debate are needed in order to move away from an energy policy that is based on the logic of the markets and an understanding of “no alternatives�. 2) Instead, a new understanding of the benefits of a more progressive energy policy has to be created, substantiated by positive examples and results for green growth in (neighboring) Central European countries. Thus, a new narrative would highlight the economic benefits of renewables. 3) By challenging the existing growth models the question of (re-)distribution could gain more traction in the debate. A de-monopolization of the energy sectors would result in a more decentralized, just and transparent energy supply system. 4) The expansion of renewable energies bears a social dimension – affordability of energy costs should be guaranteed for low income groups. 5) Creative solutions are needed to improve technology and education simultaneously. With a more rationalistic approach, more support for energy alternatives can be gained. 6) Before considering a wide expansion of renewable energies, the question of adequate power grids and storage has to be tackled. 7) Subsidies for all energy sectors but especially for fossil and nuclear energy must be revised. A just pricing of ecosystem services requires an internalization of external costs. This would prevent an often noted contortion in the energy pricing debate. 8) A progressive energy policy in Central European countries is seen as a chance for transparency and participation and thus for the democratic culture within the countries.
How should a progressive social democracy energy policy look like?
In the final Plenary Discussion on A Social and Democratic Energy Policy participants were asked how a progressive social democratic energy policy should look like. It was
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recognized that positions on energy policy vary largely in Central European social democratic parties. These differences persist irrespective of whether the parties are in power or in opposition. While some are supportive of nuclear energy as a “clean” source of energy, or are still favoring “old” or fossil energy others are more sympathetic to “green” energy concepts or even on track to put a social green agenda into their party or election programmes. The workshop ended on a positive note with a common understanding that social democrats could and should be more vigorous in promoting a progressive energy policy in Central Europe.
Please find the FES studies on Green Growth under this link: http://www.fes-sustainability.org/en/sustainable-economy#studien
Please send you feedback and ideas for a follow-up to Stefanie.Elies@fes.de.
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