EREF re-elects Seimanidis as president

Savvas Seimanidis has been unanimously re-elected as EREF President for the next two years by members of the European Renewable Energies Federation (EREF).

Upon his renewed appointment, Seimanidis said: “We agree with EU Vice-President Maroš Šefcovic that 2016 will be the year of delivery for the Energy Union. This means setting the proper foundation for a stable, secure, and competitive renewable energy future and implementing the ambitious Paris goals.”

Speaking at the REA-EREF EU-UK Energy Policy Conference in London, Seimanidis added: “EREF as a federation of national associations from all parts of the EU can provide the EU institutions and Member States with a direct hands-on experience. We will continue to reach out to them in order to get the Union back on a progressive pathway integrating the whole society towards a clear strategy for the envisaged energy system transformation.

“EREF will continue assisting the [European] Commission in its efforts to reform the European electricity market and grid and making them fit for renewables. We will also work closely with the other renewable energy associations to provide Commission and Parliament with sound recommendations for the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive on the way to achieving our long-term decarbonisation objectives.”

‘Build on existing binding commitments’

Dörte Fouquet, managing director of EREF, said: “Building the foundation for the future is important, but we have to build on existing binding commitments. We encourage the European Commission to ensure the achievement of the 2020 renewable energy targets and to reconsider the level of ambition for 2030.

 “For the last two decades, well-designed national support mechanisms have driven European renewable energy deployment forward.

“The new directive should continue acknowledging their role. It should embed them in a clear and strong framework that encourages flexibility and creates a level-playing field. This means upholding priority access and dispatch for renewables, as well as encouraging and enabling prosumers across Europe.”