Federal Minister Robert Habeck visits the EUKI at Thessaloniki International Fair 2024
von Sofia Shabafrouz , GIZ
What measures are required for a successful green transition that is just for all? And what progress has the EU made to date in this regard? Among others, we discussed these questions with Federal Minister Habeck and other high-level speakers in an EUKI Academy Policy Session at the Thessaloniki International Fair.
The Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) is Southeast Europe’s premier trade exhibition, serving as a vital platform for dialogue and cooperation. The EUKI Academy leveraged this opportunity by hosting this high-level policy session on European climate policy and energy transition. The session was held on 7 September 2024 and was moderated by Ulrike Leis, Deputy Director of the EUKI Secretariat.
Progress Despite Multiple Crises
The panelists discussed the EU’s climate strategies, including the „Fit for 55“ package, aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. Minister Habeck emphasized how the war in Ukraine has brought energy supply and transition to the forefront. Despite ongoing crises, the EU needed to remain steadfast in its commitment to renewable energy.
He was eager to share that transition is speeding up. Renewable project development, once taking over a decade, now often complete in just two years. Minister Habeck stressed that achieving carbon neutrality requires more than just targets – it needs flexibility, compromise, and broad societal support: “The key climate change priority for beyond 2030 is further reducing greenhouse gas emissions to reach our EU target of climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest”, Habeck said.
The Role of Public Acceptance
The discussion also emphasised the importance of integrating public acceptance into climate policies. As Lina Tsaltampasi, President of the Greek Association of Women Entrepreneurs (SEGE), pointed out, it is crucial to involve citizens from the beginning. Without public support and understanding, even the most well-intentioned policies can fail. She argued for more inclusive frameworks that ensure equal participation, especially for underrepresented groups in the green economy: “Women are extremely underrepresented in the energy transition. Securing equal gender participation ensures an overall approach to achieving the necessary results,” she said.
Tsaltampasi represented the EUKI funded project Women In eNergy. The project scales up the successful model of WEnCoop, winner of the 2022 European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA). This project founded the first Energy Communities (EC) for women entrepreneurs in Greece. It supports national, regional and local authorities in developing energy agendas in which new energy management systems such as ECs and cooperatives play an important role.
Greece as a Pioneer in Energy Transition
Nasia Ioannidou
Alexandra Sdoukou, Greek Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy,shared how Greece is pioneering in the energy transition. The country is proactively increasing its share of renewable energy to 80% by 2030, exceeding many EU targets. Sdoukou highlighted that Greece innovatively integrates renewables into its National Energy and Climate Plans and stressed the urgency of the energy transition. She emphasised that Greece’s commitment goes beyond simply complying with EU regulations; it has set higher goals for renewable energy integration and emissions reduction.
The efforts are paying off. The country has already doubled its share of renewable energy in electricity production to 50% in the last 5 years. Greece’s experience shows how rapid progress in the energy sector can be achieved through bold policies, strategic use of EU funds, and public commitment.
However, Sdoukou also pointed out that achieving ambitious targets will require broader societal acceptance and financial support. She highlighted the role of the Social Climate Fund, which was set up to help finance the green transition and mitigate its social impacts.
Civil Society and Cross-Border Cooperation
Cross-border cooperation and civil society engagement were an important part of the discussion. Charitini Karakostaki, Senior Analyst at PROMEA, emphasised the importance of public participation in climate action. Local communities often feel excluded, she highlighted, when new renewable energy infrastructure appears without sufficient consultation. Karakostaki advocated for more inclusive decision-making processes that take into account community concerns and foster local acceptance: “Engage with citizens, enter into dialogue with communities, address concerns and misconceptions, do not underestimate people’s doubts and fears, instead provide evidence-based explanations,” she urged the audience.
Karakostaki cited the EUKI-funded Wind4Bio project as a good example of community involvement. This project aims to bridge the gap between policy and public perception. Wind4Bio has launched an online platform to engage local communities in Greece, Latvia, and Poland. The platform provides information on new wind energy projects and allows residents to voice their concerns.