22nd Energy and Managing Authorities (EMA) Network meeting

1. 4 Nov 2025, 09:00 - 09:30 (CET)

   Arrival of participants and registration
2. 09:30 - 10:00 (CET)

   Opening, keynote speeches

   • 09:30 – 09:40 Welcoming and introduction: Tudor Constantinescu, Principal adviser, DG ENER
   • 09:40 – 10:00 Keynote speech: Nicola De Michelis, Director, DG REGIO, Tudor Constantinescu, Principal adviser, DG ENER
3. 10:00 - 11:10 (CET)

   Session 1: Cohesion Policy at a crossroads

   Moderator by Eva Nussmueller – DG REGIO

   • 10:00 – 10:20 Update on 21-27 programmes and bottlenecks in implementation - Stefano LAMBERTUCCI, DG REGIO
   • 10:20 – 10:40 Mid Term Review and energy priorities – update and latest QAs - Joanna JAKUBOWSKA, DG REGIO
   • 10:40 – 11:00 The Multiannual Financial Framework and Cohesion policy 2028-2032 - Daniel ROSSKAMP, DG BUDG
   • 11:00 – 11:10 Q&A
4. 11:10 - 11:30 (CET)

   Coffee break
5. 11:30 - 13:00 (CET)

   Session 2: Financing for energy infrastructure Panel discussion

   Moderator by Tudor Constantinescu – DG ENER

   • 11:30 – 11:50
     • The Policy framework:
       • Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) in the new MFF - Joachim BALKE, DG ENER, C4
       • Affordable Energy Action Plan, progress in implementation - Ricardo RENEDO WILLIAMS, DG ENER, A1
   • 11:50 – 13:00 Panel discussion
     • Anca-Iulia CIMPEANU, CINEA
     • Francesco ANGELINI, EIB
     • Fernando DOMINGUEZ, Senior Coordinator, EU DSO Entity
     • Dr. Rainer PFLAUM, ENTSO-E
     • Raphael Hanoteaux , Deputy Secretary General at CEER
6. 13:00 - 14:00 (CET)

   Lunch
7. 14:00 - 16:00 (CET)

   Session 3: Cybersecurity in the energy sector and the protection of critical energy infrastructure

   Moderator by Tudor Constantinescu – DG ENER

   • 14:00 – 14:15 Preparedness, resilience and the security of supply of current and future energy sources, policy perspective - Monika ZSIGRI, DG ENER
   • 14:15-14:30 Protection of critical energy infrastructure support from the Cohesion Funds  - Christine Banken, DG ENER
   • 14:30 – 15:00 Presentation of study on Resilience of energy infrastructure -  Mihai BARCANESCU, Policy Manager EFCA – European Federation of Engineering Consultancy Associations
   • 15:00 – 15:15 Energy Security and protection of critical energy infrastructure, case studies under CEF - Tomáš Šipoš, Head of Regulatory Affairs at Západoslovenská distribučná, PM
   • 15:15 – 15:30 MS perspective: what is needed to protect our infrastructure
     • Liga Rozentale, Deputy Secretary of State for Energy, LV, (online)
     • Rein Vaks, Director of the Energy Department, Estonia (online)
     • Gabija Talačkaite, Energy Security Policy Group, LT
   • 15:30 – 15:45 Q&A
8. 15:45 - 16:00 (CET)

   Coffee break
9. 16:00 - 17:00 (CET)

   Session 4: Better delivering the 2021-2027 programming period: tools and practices

   Moderator by Myriam Bovéda – DG REGIO

   • 16:00 – 16:20 Diagnostic Toolkit for reducing regulatory barriers to solar, wind and pumped hydro storage in EU - Ruben MAXIMIANO, Senior Policy Analyst, OECD
   • 16:20– 16:35 Financial instruments for energy priorities - Agne KAZLAUSKAITE, REGIO.B3
   • 16:35 – 16:50 ESCOs role in cohesion policy – case study from MS -  Peter DITTRICH, Slovak Investment Holding
   • 16:50 – 17:00 One-Stop-Shops for energy efficiency – the case of C4T support in Plovdiv region -  Joanna JAKUBOWSKA, DG REGIO
10. 17:00 - 18:00 (CET)

    Drinks and networking
11. 5 Nov 2025, 09:30 - 10:30 (CET)

    Session 5: Synergies with other policies and funding for clean energy

    • 9:30-9:45 From REPowerEU to securing funding for the new energy policy priorities - Yolanda GARCIA MEZQUITA, DG ENER
    • 9:45-10:00 Finance for innovative low-, zero-, and net-negative carbon technologies and processes, Modernisation Fund, Innovation Fund -  Stefanie HIESINGER, HoU C2, DG CLIMA (tbc)
    • 10:00-10:15 Recovery and Resilience Facility updates on spendings for energy -  Georgiana CAPRARU IANUS, SG Reform
12. 10:15 - 10:30 (CET)

    Coffee break
13. 10:30 - 11:30 (CET)

    Tour de Table

    Refocusing programmes for addressing new challenges and opportunities and accelerate implementation / Moderator by Tudor Constantinescu – DG ENER

    Tour de table and presentations from Member States: EMA members will intervene in a tour the table for updating on the latest developments and challenges on the implementation of energy Specific Objectives under cohesion policy and submitting the modified programs according to the new priorities and conditions from Mid Term Review.

14. 11:30 - 12:45 (CET)

    Session 6: Partnership and initiatives in support for clean energy transition

    • 11:30-11:45 European Commission’s initiatives for supporting citizens and local communities into clean energy transition - Alejandro ULZURRUN, DG ENER
    • 11:45 – 12:00 Just Transition Fund – State of play - Pawel OLECHNOWICZ, DG REGIO
    • 12:00-12:15 R&D for clean energy and technologies - KRAUSE Karsten, DG ENER
    • 12:15-12:30 LIFE Clean Energy - Pierluca MEROLA, DG ENER
    • 12:30-12:40 Q&A
15. Show 9 more items
16. 12:40 - 12:45 (CET)

    Closing remarks

    Tudor Constantinescu, Principal adviser, DG ENER

Practical information