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Monthly Newsletter edited by Cittadinanzattiva-Active Citizenship Network
Civic Activism | Patients' Rights | Consumers' Rights | Support ACN
Year 5th, number 50 - September 2017

SPECIAL EDITION ON ENERGY ISSUES

Highlight

From the national to the EU level: increasing our commitment to energy policies!
During 2017, the European Institutions, regulatory authorities, companies and the constituency of the energy sector has recognised Cittadinanzattiva Onlus as a main stakeholder in the field of energy at EU level. This is the result of our hard work and multi annual engagement at national and EU level in a series of relevant initiatives on the topic carried out by the EU branch of Cittadinanzattiva, Active Citizenship Network. These include, for instance, the success of the closing event at the European Parliament of the three-year EU project "Citizenergy", the appointment of our Responsible for the Energy Sector in the expert group on energy led by the EU Commission, the participation for the first time at the Citizen Energy Forum in London, which is a major European event for civic organisations to debate with Institutions and relevant stakeholder the main issues related to energy policies. Last but not least, our active participation during the European Sustainable Energy Week 2017 on June was also crucial. Read more

Mariano Votta

Focus

Cittadinanzattiva is now in the Energy Expert Group of the European Commission
In March 2017 DG Consumer has officially recognised Tiziana Toto, Responsible for Energy policies and Environment at Cittadinanzattiva Onlus as member of the energy sub-group of the European Consumer Consultative Group (ECCG). The ECCG is a consultative group set up by the European Commission, entrusted to represent the interests of consumers at the Commission and give opinions which established a sub-group on Energy as advisory body on energy and consumer issues. Read more

More information:
Energy policies: the commitment of Cittadinanzattiva at national and European level

News
Consumers' Rights

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EUSEW 2017: “A smart energy system for consumers, consumers for a smart energy system”
Last June, in the framework of the European Sustainable Energy Week 2017, Active Citizenship Network has co-organised the event “A smart energy system for consumers, consumers for a smart energy system”. It was promoted with three organisations: the European Committee of Domestic Equipment Manufacturers (CECED), the Smart Energy Demand Coalition (SEDC) and the European Environmental Citizens' Organization for Standardization (ECOS).
A representative of the EU Consumer Association European Consumer Union (ECU) enriched the panel and allowed to discuss how the new Clean Energy for All Europeans package can help further stimulate the smart energy system for consumers, and encourage consumers to participate in a smart energy system. To know more about the conference, the speakers and to download the presentations, click here. To see the pictures visit our FB page.

Cittadinanzattiva promoted at EU level the “Manifesto of the Energy for the Future”
The last European Sustainable Energy Week 2017 was the occasion for Cittadinanzattiva to present, for the first time at EU level, the “Manifesto of the Energy for the Future”, created in Italy by consumer organisations and energy companies.
The Manifesto presents “the market that we want” and indicates the four key points around which a consumer-oriented energy market should be built: savings, sustainability, innovation, nobody should be left behind.
The Manifesto is a model of co-regulation and partnership that, in the distinction of role and responsibility, represents a work that aims to enhance the active role of citizens and consumers in the development of the European Single Market. With regard to this process that tends to build a single energy market, Cittadinanzattiva Onlus has chosen not to be passive or indifferent but to play an active role.
The promoters of the Manifesto will lead initiatives in the coming months with the aim to support the implementation of the Italian Competition Law, to make the customers aware of the new market scenario and to take advantage of all the opportunities. To read the Manifesto click here.

More information:
Clippings and press articles (IT media)

Cittadinanzattiva Onlus participated for the first time in the Citizens Energy Forum
Invited by the European Commission-DG Consumers, Cittadinanzattiva Onlus participated in the Ninth Citizens' Energy Forum in London on 30-31 May. The forum focused mainly on the Clean Energy for all Europeans Package and on how to encourage consumers to be more active. To know more about the forum conclusions, click here.

European Consumer Consultative Group published its Opinion on the “Clean Energy for All Europeans package”
On 14th June 2017 the European Consumer Consultative Group (ECCG) adopted an Opinion that reflects their general assessment of the ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ package.
The ECCG took into account current problems faced by energy consumers in different EU countries, having assessed the overall impact that the new provisions could have on energy consumers. The Opinion gives an overview of the necessary tools that could help solve basic consumer problems. To read the opinion, click here.
The European Consumer Consultative Group is composed of Consumer Organisations and stands for a forum for general discussions on problems relating to consumer interests. Since August 2016, Cittadinanzattiva represents Italian consumer organisations in this group of experts led by EU Commission-DG Consumer.

The appeal of young people to the Ministers of the G7 Environment
On 11-12th June 2017, during the Environment Ministerial Meeting of the G7 in Bologna (Italy), a group of 140 young people coordinated by Earth Day Italia delivered an appeal to the Environment Ministers of the major world countries to ask for real policies both in terms of environmental protection and education.
To know more about this initiative, click here (IT language).

Cittadinanzattiva Onlus is part of the advisory board of the new EU Project “STAR-ProBio”
The Responsible for Energy policies and Environment at Cittadinanzattiva Onlus and the Director of Active Citizenship Network were appointed to the External Advisory Board of the multi annual project “STAR-ProBio” to represent Italian issues.
STAR-PROBIO constitutes a multidisciplinary and multi-actor collaborative project that will meet environmental, social and economic challenges, paving the way for a much-needed sustainability transition towards a bio-based economy. To know more, click here.

Italy: Cittadinanzattiva has officially presented the XVI annual report on Energy and Environment
Balance invoices, incorrect billings, missing invoices and requests for exorbitant arrears are just some of the main problems encountered by citizens when paying for energy, water and waste. During 2016, the billing has been the main critical area, and the sore point of the three-abovementioned fields at issue in the XVI Report presented today by PiT Services of Cittadinanzattiva - entitled "Proof-of-market consumers" - which focuses on energy and environment. To know more click here.

More information:
Read more about “PiT” - Integrated Project of Citizen Protection

Events

September 19 Bruxelles (Belgium): Cittadinanzattiva Onlus invited at the round table on EU energy label
Cittadinanzattiva Onlus will participate in the first round table meeting in Brussels that is realised in the framework of the “DigiLabel” EU project. The aim of the project is to make the EU energy label easier to understand and more readily available in-store and online. After a year of work, a group of expert advisors composed of retailers, manufacturers, consumer representatives and other stakeholders are gathering to discuss the digital tool designed by the project (PocketWatt) and the findings of consumer research made in Spain and Germany about the acceptance of such a tool. To read more about the project, click here.

September 19 – 20 Tallinn (Estonia): European Consumer and Competition Day
The 2017 Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union organises the European Consumer and Competition Day in Tallinn on 20 September. The European Consumer and Competition Day is the place to understand the emerging issues in consumer and competition environments, to hear arguments from different counterparts and to learn more about future challenges. To know more about the event click here.

October 10 Bruxelles (Belgium): Annual strategic CEDEC Congress
CEDEC, the European federation of local energy companies, will organize its annual strategic Congress at the EU Thon Hotel in Brussels. An ambitious program with top-level speakers will be presented to an audience of high-level representatives of EU-Institutions, managers and shareholders of local and regional energy companies, and other energy & climate experts. To see the latest version of the congress program click here; to know more about the event, click here.

November 6 – 7 Cracow (Poland): Consumer Law Course
The Consumer Champion team promotes a new “Consumer Law Course” in Poland. This 2-day course will provide the selected participants with an understanding of the legal framework and other instruments used at European and Polish level to ensure the protection of consumer rights.
The aim of this course is to increase the effectiveness of consumer professionals by presenting them with the necessary expertise as well as the ready-to use solutions which can be further used for providing advice to consumers. To know more about the initiative, click here.

 

Credits
Director and Editor in chief: Mariano Votta
Editors: Giuseppe Perretti, Sonia Belfiore
Coordination and Production: Giacomo D'Orazio 

To contribute, plase write to: mail@activecitizenship.net
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