Lithuanian BISE Forum Kaunas, 8th June 2005 Gérard Magnin Executive Director Energie-Cités Networking activities: BISE process and main topics of the meeting

Lithuanian BISE Forum

Kaunas, 8th June 2005

Gérard MagninExecutive Director

Energie-Cités

Networking activities: BISE process and

main topics of the meeting

The Association of European Municipalities Promotinga Local Sustainable Energy Policy

Energie-Cités

More than 400 municipalities from 25 countries involved directly or indirectlyIncl. Kaunas and soon Vilnius

Chaired by Odense (DK), vice-chaired by Heidelberg (DE), Leicester (UK), Clermont-Ferrand (FR) and Brasov (RO)

Created in 1990

Regular increasing of members: from 16 in 94 to 125 in 2005, incl. collective members, from 25 countries

Close relationships with European Institutions

Staff: 15 people from 7 nationalities in Besançon (FR), Brussels, Krakow and Freiburg im Breisgau

From 2003, priority given to New Member States and Candidate Countries

Some facts

Area of action: energy efficiency and savings, renewable energy sources and the environment

Three priority objectives

Three topics also relevant in Lithuania

Strengthening the role and improving the skills of municipalities

Representing the interests of municipalities and presenting their views

Exchanging experience to develop municipal initiatives

Energy Efficiency: 1st priority of the

EU Commissioner for energy (from Latvia)

Energy Intensity (toe/M€95)-2003

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

DK IE AT IT DE FR SE NL LU UK EU ES BE PT EL CY MT FI SI HU PL LV SK CZ LT EE

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Why a special effort on energy efficiency in New Member States?

A social and economic handicap

120 participants from 17 countries:New Member States, Candidate Countries,

Western Balkans and Ukraine + 34 from EU15(9 Lithuanian attendees)

towards aBetter Integration through Specific / SustainableExchanges / Energy

“BISE”

BISE ForumOctober 2004, Grenoble (FR)

Supported by European Commission

AGREED ON IMPORTANCE AND NECESSITY

• to intensify information exchange between municipalities in Europe and other potential partners;

• to organize effective partnership with government, businesses and nonprofit organizations to prepare the actions;

• to accumulate resources for development and implementation of common programs for municipalities in CEEC;

• to initiate, enforce and facilitate positive changes in legislative, economical and social environment;

• to promote the necessity of a “Specific Action Plan for Energy Efficiency in CEEC” for reducing the energy performance gap between the CEEC and the most advanced EU15 countries, as quickly as possible.

(extract of the BISE Appeal)

Participants at the BISE Forum

• creating of new or strengthen of existing national “energy cities” municipal associations or networks

• establishing a permanent “Intelligent Energy Forum of European Municipalities” (named “BISE Process”) as form of periodical information exchange between municipal associations and other potential partners in Europe under management and leadership of the European Municipal Association “Energie-Cités”

• creating a Virtual secretariat for coordination (Lithuanian representative is needed)(extract of the BISE Appeal)

A more detailed Memorandum has also been adopted

THROUGH

2nd Forum: October 2005, Sofia (BG)

Why should municipalities take action in energy

management?

Many reasons to act

Saving money in all sectors (40% in municipal buildings) Improvement of Comfort / Security / Quality of life Improvement of quality of services Modernisation of the society Local development, new jobs, new activities Combating fuel poverty Protection of the local environment (local pollution) Protection of the global environment (CO2 emissions)…

…and also energy issues

Energy : a full component of normal life and not something elsewhere

What are the fields of action of municipalitiesin energy management?

The Municipality as Consumer

The Municipality as Producer / Supplier

The Municipality as Planner / Investor / Regulator

The Municipality as Motivator

Functions of municipalities in the energy domain

A typology widely usedA large spectrum of experiences to share

What are the actors to involve to make cities and townsmore energy sustainable?

Planners, Architects Responsible for Transport SMEs (construction) Housing managers Chambers of Commerce Associations, NGO Citizens Economists, financials, lawyers and.. … Energy Specialists…

Joint action between different actors

Integrating energy issues in all sectors

What do municipalitiesneed in sustainable

energy issues?

Far from the central power - not a priority Transfer of responsibilities from the State Limited financial means, weak & dispersed skills Bureaucracy Quite bad preparation to the market schemes Proximity with the citizens and practical problems Dispersed and isolated people Everybody is facing the same problems

Dispersed people, common problems

All this leads us to the necessity of networking

What can municipalities get through networking?

Valuable and targeted information Exchange of experience and know-how Direct and horizontal relationships Informal and confident contacts with colleagues Lobby / Suggestions at national and EU levels Training/Workshops/Seminar/Visits Self organisation in providing technical assistance Participating in national and international projects Search of funding

What can we get from networking?

Networking : a new way for working

European framework: legislation National framework: regulations Local level: implementation Networks of local authorities: exchanges

Various levels for action…

Working together at various levels

Like in: Ukraine (February) Hungary (March) Serbia (March) Bulgaria-Annual Conference

EcoEnergy (April) Montenegro (May) Lithuania (June) Slovakia (June) Poland (September) Romania (September) 2nd BISE Forum in Sofia (October) Latvia, Bosnia, Czech Republic, etc.

Conclusion

The aim of this Forum is to promote the creation of a Lithuanian “energy-cities” network

and prepare the process

What does exchange of experience with European Union

offer to Lithuanian municipalities?

A renewed view on energy issues A EU dimension and a better integration A large spectrum of experiences and ideas An opportunity to enlarge your own capacities A series of opportunities in contacts A better preparation in preparing projects

Everything is in your own hands

Everything must be adapted to you own situation

Thank you for your attention

www.energie-cites.org

Energie-Cités:Secretariat :

2, chemin de Palente

F - 25000 Besançon

Tel : +33 3.81.65.36.80

Fax : +33 3.81.50.73.51

E-mail : [email protected]

Brussels’ Office :

157 Avenue Brugmann

B - 1190 Bruxelles

Tel : +32 2.544.09.21

Fax : +32 2.544.15.81

E-mail : [email protected]


A practical action you can implement from now

The DisplayCampaign

For public buildings

Voluntary implementation of a EU Directive

An interface with the general public

A mean to convince elected people

Towards 1000 municipalities

Documents in 12 languages

www.display-campaign.org

Presenting 400 case studies in cities and towns all over Europe

Available at the exhibition

Good practice catalogue

Downloadable from


Study ToursDiscover experiences and practice

Generally two days visits, on request

20-30 people from one city or town

Elected people, officers, architects, housing managers, etc.


Energie-Cités Info

3000 copies

2 times a year

Public Private Partnership

EU Directives and local authorities