The Energy Group of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) gathered today Regions, Research Institutes and Industry, to share know-how on energy. Setting up interregional projects is their answer to the crucial problem of energy in the future.

‘We all know it is of great priority to work on the future of energy and to find out relevant innovative solutions. The citizens’ daily life depends on our ability to improve or develop new energies, as today’s fossil energies sources are dramatically decreasing’ stated Hakan Sandgren, Councillor of the County Council of Jönköping-S and Vice-President of the AER Committee on ‘Regional Policies’. ‘Therefore, the AER wishes to launch a concrete interregional project on renewable energy sources (RES) and energy efficiency, through the forthcoming EU programmes. Today, we decided to work together to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the next call for proposals of the Intelligent Energy Programme, to be published mid-May 2006. Seminars will be organised by the partners; an international event on RES is already planned in Valencia-E during the America’s Cup (July 2007).’

The setting up of interregional projects is one pillar of the AER Action Plan on energy. The exchange of best practice and the monitoring of development of EU regulation are the two main other pillars. Within this Action Plan, the AER is also actively supporting the Declaration of the Regions in favour of RES and efficiency measures, which was already signed in March 2006 by 8 Regions. The AER warmly encourages all its member Regions to sign it and will itself set up an online database of regional best practices for renewable energies. This tool will offer a permanent platform and a forum to all the partners involved in the Action Plan.

Finally, the AER will carefully follow the developments of the European Commissions’ Green Paper on energy and contribute to its final version.

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