More federal powers for the energy transition? 16 feb 2022
Wednesday 16 February 2022, 12.15-13.45
Zoom Webinar
Plus de compétences fédérales pour la transition énergétique?
Meer federale bevoegdheden voor de energietransitie?
Compared to its European partners, Belgium’s energy transition is not doing well. Deployment of renewable energy, enhancement of energy efficiency, electrification of mobility: in all these domains, we are lagging behind. Could a more “homogeneous” allocation of competences between the federal state and the regions fix the problem? Alas, an effective energy transition requires measures in the fields of mobility, housing, agriculture, industry, spatial planning, taxation, etc. More “homogeneity” could be achieved by locating all these competences at the federal level, but then one would recreate at this level many conflicts which motivated the regionalisation of these competences. It could also be achieved by locating them all at the regional level, but spillover effects and Belgium’s international commitments would force regions to negotiate with one another even more than today. So can appeals to “cooperative federalism” and “federal loyalty” within the existing institutional framework be used effectively so as to remove at least some of the obstacles that block the energy transition we urgently need? Or is institutional reform needed?
Language regime: Dutch and French with simultaneous translation
Moderation: Béatrice DELVAUX (Le Soir) & Karel VERHOEVEN (De Standaard)
Welcoming: Philippe VAN PARIJS (Re-Bel & UCLouvain)
Introduction: Tinne VAN DER STRAETEN (federal minister of energy)
Challenges: Jos DELBEKE (EIB Climate Chair, European University Institute, former Director General Climate, European Commission) and Per Joakim AGRELL (Dean of the Louvain School of Management, UCLouvain)
General discussion
Concluding comments: Erik SCHOKKAERT (Re-Bel & KU Leuven)
Register for event
Registration is free but mandatory. We will send you a Zoom link via email closer to the date.