We are kicking off the vibrant autumn season with a dynamic line-up of activities. Thanks to the efforts of our dedicated TEN Section Rapporteurs, we have been actively shaping policies through opinions and engaging in study group meetings.

We have tackled pressing topics such as social housing, hydrogen, electricity pricing, energy digitalisation, and maritime space. We have also focused on universal service rights in electronic communications, the connectivity package and digital networks, as well as the labour and skills shortage in energy, transport, and infrastructure.

Additionally, we have been exploring new frontiers such as geothermal energy, radioactive waste management, and ensuring the security of medical radioisotope supplies, keeping the TEN Section on a progressive and sustainable path.

I am incredibly proud to share a few of our recent success stories. First, we have joined forces with the European Joint Programme on Radioactive Waste Management (EURAD) to strengthen civil society’s role in EURAD’s activities. Second, we have signed a Joint Declaration on Housing alongside the Committee of the Regions, while continuing to support rare disease patients and the European Reference Network.

The support of the TEN Secretariat, along with their dedication, teamwork, and commitment, has been pivotal to our success. Together, we have accomplished so much, and I am excited about all the opportunities that lie ahead.

I encourage you to visit the TEN Section site to stay informed about our activities and upcoming events.

Conference on Radioactive waste management - a civil society perspective
| Brussels, 17 October 2024

The European Economic and Social Committee and the European Commission's DG Research & Innovation jointly organised the conference "Radioactive Waste Management: A Civil Society Perspective" on 17 October 2024, in Brussels.

The safe and responsible management of spent fuel and radioactive waste is a crucial prerequisite for any nuclear activity and is a responsibility of each Member State. It is important to better understand and effectively address societal expectations, needs, and concerns regarding radioactive waste management, particularly at local, regional, and national levels, drawing from past and ongoing experiences in the field.

The conclusions will soon be available on the event's webpage. 

Read more | Presentations

Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER)

| Brussels, 17 October 2024

On 17 October 2024, Baiba Miltoviča participated in the Women in Energy Breakfast during the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER). The event focused on gender equality in the energy sector and featured engaging discussions that generated practical ideas for future initiatives. Carmen Oprea from the European Commission's DG ENER and Dr. Nadia Horstmann, Vice Chair of the ICER Women in Energy Group, also presented the ASSET study on gender-disaggregated data.

Energy Poverty Advisory Hub Annual Conference 2024: A Call for Action on Energy Poverty
| Barcelona (Spain), 15-16 October 2024 

The Energy Poverty Advisory Hub (EPAH) held its Annual Conference in Barcelona in collaboration with the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee, bringing together key stakeholders to address the pressing issues of energy poverty and the energy transition. Ms. Miltoviča emphasised the importance of turning civil society views into actionable initiatives, referencing key takeaways from the recent EESC Conference on Affordable Energy held on 26 June 2024. She highlighted the connection between gender and energy poverty, as stated in a recent study commissioned by the TEN Section, which provided gender-disaggregated data. She concluded with a renewed call for an ambitious political coalition at the European level to combat energy poverty. 

Liaison Group CSO Members Meeting

| Brussels, 3 October

During the recent Liaison Group meeting, TEN Section President Ms. Baiba Miltoviča, alongside rapporteurs for decent, sustainable and affordable social housing in the EU, Mr. Thomas Kattnig and Mr. Rudolf Kolbe, addressed the urgent issue of affordable social housing in the EU. They highlighted growing concerns among Europeans regarding the availability and sustainability of decent housing. Recognising market failures, they emphasised the need to improve framework conditions, establish a fundamental right to housing, secure adequate funding, and implement the 'Housing First' approach. Additionally, they stressed the importance of focusing on the needs of young people and sustainability. Effective EU housing policy hinges on robust data, making it crucial to create an EU-wide transparency register for real estate transactions that shows the beneficial owners of properties.

Debate on the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans
| Brussels, 26 September 2024

The TEN Section held in 26 September meeting a debate on the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) and sustainable transport modes at its core. With participation of CIVINET Slovenia-Croatia-SEE, Belgium city Sint-Niklaas and Slovenian Urban Planning Institute, we learned good practice examples, real life challenges, measures taken and still to be adopted in order to get 400 major European cities to adopt a SUMP under the new European regulation.

EESC delegation brings civil society's voice at the Latvian Forum "Smart, Energy-Efficient, and Accessible Housing Future" 
| Jurmala (Latvia), 20 September 2024

On 20 September in Jūrmala, a conference was organised by the Ministry of Economics of Latvia in cooperation with the TEN section. Regional, national and European players from all walks of life came together to discuss the challenges of energy efficiency in buildings. Among the key issues, the financing of energy efficiency in building renovation took centre stage, and the various investment and funding possibilities were examined, as well as innovations and the interaction between well-being and energy efficiency. 

Visit to the Joint Research Centre
| Petten (The Netherlands), 11 September 2024

On 11 September, the Permanent Group on Energy visited the JRC facilities in Petten to explore the potential of Small Modular Reactors in Europe's future energy system. SMRs offer promising benefits like affordability, safety, simplicity, and improved fuel management, making them a possible complement to renewable energy. However, no SMRs are currently operational in the EU, and their cost-effectiveness is still unclear. Nuclear waste and public acceptance also remain challenges. The TEN Section is committed to further assessing SMRs' potential, actively participating in the European Industrial Alliance's on SMRs in the Working Group on Public Engagement. 

The future of the supply and pricing of electricity in the EU

| Brussels, 18 July 2024

In the preliminary debate on the own initiative opinion The future of the supply and pricing of electricity in the EU, building on the EESC previous work carried out on the Electricity Market Reform and Cross-border infrastructure planning, the rapporteur Jan Dirx, said an "E-facility" would help to achieve stable energy prices in benefit of all stakeholders. The debate offered some solutions for persisting challenges such as high interest rates, lack of investments, electrification of heat, transport and industry, long projects procedures and insufficient flexibility in dispatchable power.

Affordable Energy Conference
| Brussels, 26 June 2024

The fourth edition of the EESC Conference on Affordable Energy took place on the 26th of June 2024 and stressed that the rise of inequalities, cannot be addressed with a piecemeal approach. The main takeaways are the need to promote access to employment, fair and transparent pricing, decent living conditions for all, in particular for the increasing number of working poor; urgency for the necessary public and private investments to deploy renewable energy sources; and unlocking of the untapped potential of energy communities, including rural areas, to make energy production more inclusive and affordable.

Read more | Conclusions | Presentations

TEN Permanent Group on Services of General Interest strengthens cooperation between players at different levels of governance in Malta 
| Valetta (Malta), 11-12 June 2024

Building on previous activities and commitments on health issues and housing, in June 2024 in Valetta the EESC’s Permanent Group on Services of General Interest (PG-SGI)  met with representatives of Maltese organised civil society, the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD), the Ministry for Health and Active Ageing, the Ministry of Social and Affordable Housing and the Housing Authority. The EESC delegation also had the opportunity to visit a social housing complex in Msida and meet its architect on site.

Conference on Offshore Power for E-Fuels: Boosting the New Hydrogen Economy
| Pärnu (Estonia), 12 November 2024

Green hydrogen is a crucial component in our energy transition. In this conference, co-organised by the EESC and local partners, we will discuss hydrogen infrastructure development, financing and usage. The event will focus on the role of E-fuels with a particular emphasis on their impact in decarbonising the transport and hard-to abate sectors. It will bring together professionals and industry stakeholders to share insights and foster collaboration. The goal is to ensure that the future of hydrogen in the EU is green, socially responsible and economically sustainable.

Read more | Programme | Registration

Conference "For an EU commitment to tackling rare diseases"
| Budapest (Hungary), 29 November 2024

Following-up its successful conferences on rare diseases, the TEN section will co-organise with the SOC section a conference "For an EU commitment to tackling rare diseases".

The Conference will formulate recommendations at the attention of the EPSCO Council in December 2024. It will encourage the establishment of a European policy framework for rare diseases, bringing together a concerted strategy in the fields of research, digital, healthcare and social protection, complementing existing legislation and encouraging further investment in the field of rare diseases, both at EU and national level. Registration will open very soon!

Read more | Programme | Registration

Thank you for sharing your thoughts about this newsletter!

Contact us

Subscription Preferences

Privacy Statement