An event on the current energy crisis affecting Europe and the role of Energy Communities in addressing it was co-organized by the Vice-Chair of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) Yannis Maniatis, together with fellow MEPs from the political groups of the European People’s Party (EPP), the Greens, and The Left (The Left), in collaboration with the European Federation of Energy Communities (Rescoop.eu).
According to the relevant announcement, the PASOK MEP, in his opening remarks, referred to the need for a strong European response to the energy crisis, focusing on citizens rather than excessive profits. He further emphasized that Europe is facing a multidimensional crisis concerning prices, supply, and dependence, but above all, it is a profound social crisis affecting millions of households.
Referring to recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East and their impact on international energy markets, he emphasized that the European Union’s continued dependence on imported fossil fuels costs citizens and businesses approximately 340 billion euros annually, while recent geopolitical developments have already added an additional burden of around €30 billion.
G. Maniatis, commenting on the European Commission’s “AccelerateEU” initiative, expressed the S&D Group’s support for its key directions, noting, however, that more ambitious policies are needed to protect the vulnerable. “We cannot accept a Europe where energy giants are raking in superprofits while families are driven into energy poverty. The superprofits of these companies must be taxed, and the funds must be returned directly to households and small and medium-sized enterprises,” he stated emphatically.
He placed particular emphasis on the role of energy communities and self-generation as tools of energy democracy. As he noted, citizens, local communities, and cooperatives must take an active role in the production, storage, and distribution of clean energy so that the benefits of the energy transition are distributed fairly. At the same time, he expressed concern that of the 1,465 MW of energy community projects in Greece, 93% are commercial projects, while only 7% are self-generation projects.
Furthermore, the PASOK MEP highlighted the importance of developing interconnections, networks, and storage infrastructure, noting that clean energy has no value if it cannot reach citizens and businesses. In this context, he referred to his priorities as the S&D Group’s rapporteur on the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
Finally, G. Maniatis emphasized that the energy transition will succeed only if it is socially just and inclusive. “As Europe emerges from this crisis, it must be fairer, cleaner, safer, and more sovereign. A Europe where energy remains a right, where profit does not come before people, and where no family will ever again be forced to choose between heating and food,” he emphasized.