The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment Mr. Chrisis Pantelidis and Stavros Papadouris participated as keynote speakers in an online workshop held today on the European Green Deal and Cyprus' National Energy and Climate Plan. The workshop was organised by the European Forum for Renewable Energy Sources (EUFORES) in cooperation with the House of Representatives.
Participants included members of the House of Representatives and the European Parliament, government officials, representatives of relevant government departments, the European Commission, the academic and business community and civil society, as well as experts and activists on issues related to Cyprus' energy transition and green economic recovery.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Mrs. Anita Demetriou (see separate communiqué) and the Director General of the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry Mr. Marios Panagidis participated in the workshop with audiovisual messages. The President of EUFORES and Green MEP Mr. Ciaran Cuffe also addressed the audience.
In the framework of the workshop, the current situation regarding renewable energy sources (RES) and energy efficiency in Cyprus was presented, in relation to the National Energy and Climate Plan and the commitments of the Republic of Cyprus under the European Green Deal and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. They also discussed the challenges and opportunities arising from Cyprus' energy transition process, as well as good practices, financing opportunities and new business models to achieve a sustainable energy system in Cyprus.
Cypriot MEPs jointly expressed their concern that Cyprus is exceeding the EU average energy poverty rate. In this regard, they underlined the need to take immediate measures to protect the vulnerable social groups most affected by the lack of affordable energy services.
In the context of his speech, Mr Theopeptou stressed the urgent need to design an effective and integrated energy policy in Cyprus, which, as he noted, becomes particularly urgent in the light of the rapid increase in energy costs. Referring in particular to the case of Cyprus, Theopeptou attributed the high rate of greenhouse gas emissions in transport, the application of low energy standards for energy efficiency in buildings and the insufficient penetration of renewable energy sources in electricity production. Further, Mr Theopeptou analysed the main aspects that make up an integrated and effective energy policy. He referred in particular to the energy upgrading of buildings through the provision of incentives to households, the awareness of citizens to save energy, the implementation of sustainable public transport, as well as the promotion of electromobility, combined with the creation of the necessary infrastructure and charging stations. In conclusion, Mr Theopeptou referred to the problems arising in Cyprus from the use of fuel oil for electricity production, while stressing the need for optimal use of RES, further penetration of RES in the energy mix, creation of smart electricity transmission and distribution networks, promotion of the installation of smart meters and finding sustainable ways of storing energy.
In his speech, Mr Pantelidis underlined the crucial role of the adoption of an appropriate legislative framework as a tool for the design and implementation of an integrated energy policy aimed at the optimal use of RES, stressing, however, that the existence of political will is key in this direction. Mr Pantelides noted the substantial progress achieved with regard to the legislative framework in Cyprus, with the recent adoption of two bills by the House of Representatives, which significantly improve the existing legislative framework, contributing, inter alia, to the promotion of RES use, to the achievement of Cyprus' national binding targets, as well as to the simplification and acceleration of the procedures for the approval of RES projects. The optimal use of RES, said Mr Pantelides, requires the existence of a comprehensive legislative framework, sufficient political will, efficiency of the state machinery, mobilization of public investment in the framework of the Recovery and Resilience Plan and the attraction and stimulation of private investment to finance RES projects.
In his speech, Mr Papadouris referred to the role of RES and energy efficiency in the process of Cyprus' green transition. He noted that the delay in the development of RES in Cyprus resulted in the increase of energy poverty, the country's continued energy dependence on fossil fuels and the rapid increase in energy costs. Papadouris stressed that the war in Ukraine has demonstrated the urgent need for energy autonomy and decoupling of Cyprus from fossil fuels. Referring to the recently passed bill on the Renewable Energy and Energy Saving Fund, Papadouris noted the substantial contribution of the House of Representatives in improving the bills, through the submission of amendments that led to the addition of funds to the Renewable Energy Fund from the auction of gas pollutants, as well as the inclusion of a consumer representative in the Fund's management committee. Mr Papadouris concluded by expressing his hope for a proper and transparent management of the Fund's resources in order to achieve the objectives of the European Union's "Fit for 55" strategy.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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