Last week, some EuropeOn members travelled to Brussels for two days of meetings with the policy and technical working groups. It was a great chance to meet in person, exchange experiences, and dive into the key issues for the electrical contracting sector with MEPs and Commission officials.
On the first day, Holland House Brussels kindly hosted the Policy Working Group. This was the occasion to review important EU regulations impacting the sector and to exchange on how they are being implemented at national level.
The main focus of the day were the meetings with policymakers, a perfect way of reflecting on key upcoming legislative and regulatory proposals such as the Grids Package and the Electrification Action Plan (expected in the end of this year and Q1 next year respectively). We had the chance to speak with MEP Bruno Tobback (Belgium, S&D) on how to advance electrification in Europe, and with MEP Niels Flemming Hansen (Denmark, EPP) on the best ways to support SMEs, underlining the need for stable regulation and long-term predictability to develop new business opportunities and invest in our sector, especially human capital. A big thank you to both of them for their availability and willingness to engage in relevant discussions.
We also heard insights from the European Commission’s DG ENER. This was the opportunity to discuss the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) with the relevant civil servants who are now dialoguing with Member States to ensure a smooth transposition. Our guests highlighted the importance of keeping an eye on upcoming consultations and guidance, such as the guidance on fire safety in buildings, the delegated act on Global Warming Potential and the delegated act on the Smart Readiness Indicatior. They also stressed how valuable it is for them to get feedback from stakeholders such as EuropeOn on the files they work on.
The following day was all about technical discussions. Members focused on how to make installations more resilient, electrical safety, and an extensive exchange on standardisation. We were also glad to welcome Celine Oeyen from DKE (Deutsche Kommission Elektroteknik), who shared valuable insights with the group.
After two days full of fruitful exchanges, we warmly thank our members who travelled to Brussels, those who joined online, and all participants who contributed with their time and expertise!
