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EPE New initiatives
EU 2020 Strategy
We support the Objective. After the Lisbon Strategy 2010, the EU needs a new strategy offering a new vision and "transformational agenda " to secure a European flourishing and competitive economy and a well being society in a globalised world, while protecting the natural resource base.
The Commission working document makes the right analysis: "The challenge of becoming a smarter, greener economy will require increased policy coordination to make the economy more competitive. Our social, economic and environmental objectives must go hand in hand if we are to deliver on our thematic priorities for 2020"
Today, and in particular after the Copenhagen Climate Conference, the European Union stands at a crossroads. The European Union will be faithful to its vocation, and it will remain a "major" actor if it adopts a "transformational agenda" and "system Innovation" to make Europe more resilient, shape globalisation in the emerging new world and the direction of technological and societal change within the carrying capacity of ecosystems.
We need a new era of "political innovation" resulting from an "open innovation process", in a knowledge society, involving the State, the Market and Civil Society. But citizens' empowerment in an inclusive society requires a clear message regarding what is asked and what is expected form Citizens.
EPE is facilitating think tanks joint meeting to accompany the design and adoption procedure of the EU 2020 Strategy as far as resource efficiency and "open innovation process" are concerned. Second meeting: January 26, 2010.
Value Chain Management
The focus is on communication and cooperation between the various actors along the value chain when searching for increase of resource efficiency, implementation of the EU Objectives 2020 and reduction of environmental pressure. The multi-stakeholder laboratories are addressing the production, consumption and disposal/recycling chain and how to influence that system, possible control mechanisms and instruments. The purpose of the laboratories will be to identify possible interventions in the system to mobilize partners and create cooperation along the value chain to be more efficient.
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Value Chain and Waste Recycling. Two Laboratories EPE/Wuppertal Institute within the framework of a contract with VROM.
(i) Concrete. The background paper is available. The first workshop has been taking place on December 15th. A second workshop will take place on March 30.
(ii) Construction Wood. The first workshop is fixed for March 9. -
Bioeconomy. After a workshop on the Finnish Natural Resources Strategy in September 09, we are now planning with the Wuppertal Institute, a similar meeting 2010 with German Regions.
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Co-processing. The first workshop Holcim and ACR+ has been taking place by December 9 in Torino. A new workshop should take place in Spain.
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European Forum on Retrofitting Buildings. An exploratory meeting will take place on January 19, 2010. The purpose is to encourage exchange of view to accelerate the implementation of EU Objectives and target of 28% cost-effective savings potential by 2020.
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Greening logistics. In the framework of his contract with the French Ministry of Ecology 2010, EPE would host a laboratory on "Door to Door Value Chain Mobility" - Partnership between the Value Chain stakeholders and Railways.
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Green Procurement. EPE is a partner of a project "Pro-EE", project leader Climate Alliance of European Cities, focused on cities procurement initiatives in support to EU Objectives 2020. EPE is also partner of a project "ITC21", project leader ACIDD, focused on the role of information technologies to foster energy efficiency.
The European Platform on Finance & Eco-Innovation
President of the Commission, J.M. Barroso, proposes a ‘transformational agenda' for the European Union for the coming five years. This program concentrates on establishing greater awareness regarding the leverage of the banking sector in the effort to be part of this ‘transformational agenda' to reach the 2020 Objectives.
The banking crisis and bank reliance on the State has offered a possible lever to accelerate the passage to a new economy and a new prosperity. The banks, with their extensive means, must be mobilized to contribute to the change process. This initiative launched together with GLOBE (Members of EU and National Parliaments, EUROSIF and TBLI-CG is exploring a State-Market (Banks)-Civil Society Alliance to restore Trust in European Banks and secure their "Green New Deal Leadership". A roadmap is proposed for discussion addressing key banks core business issues as credit risk management, the Basel II prudential ratio, accounting, auditing and reporting rules and regulations, transparent lending, bank board governance, fiscal incentives, collecting financial resources, state guarantee, sustainable investment methodologies and reporting, micro-finance, integrated stakeholder strategy and restoring trust, business with governments and structural bonds, ETS allocation, and other related topics.
- The draft report "Financing Objectives 2020. Mobilising Private Capital" is available. After consultations (see roundtables below) a final version should be made available by June 2010.
- Roundtables during the first semester 2010 are under consideration in Belgium, France, Ireland, Poland, Italy and at the level of the European Parliament. The first event roundtable take place in Berlin, hosted by the Heinrich Böll Foundation.
- A European Conference "Financing a Green New Deal. Mobilising private capital" on September 30 back to back with an informal ECOFIN.