Join the dialogue on future directions for climate policy in Europe.

On 1 December 2025, the EUI will host a hybrid conference on evidence-based climate policy, marking the conclusion of two major European research projects: LIFE COASE and CAPABLE. Following the event, the 11th Annual Conference on the Economic Assessment of European Climate Policies will take place from 2-3 December, allowing interested participants to join 3 days of dense discussion on the current state of climate policy.

LIFE COASE, co-funded by the EU LIFE Programme, has established an observatory dedicated to the assessment of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), providing a reference point for research and policy development in this area. CAPABLE, funded under the Horizon Europe programme, has examined the economic, social, and political dimensions of climate policy design, with a focus on improving policy acceptability and feasibility.

The conference will present key findings from both projects, covering topics such as the effectiveness and global impact of the EU ETS, the distributional effects of carbon pricing, and the conditions under which climate policies can gain broader societal acceptance. The event will bring together researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to reflect on the outcomes of three years of work and to foster dialogue on future directions for climate policy in Europe.

At the EUI and the Robert Schuman Centre, we are dedicated to removing barriers and providing equal opportunities for everyone. Please indicate in the registration form your accessibility needs, if any. Alternatively, you can contact the logistics organiser of the event. 

Join the Autumn Policy Dialogues in November where FSR donors and renowned experts from across the sector will convene on the most pressing policy and regulatory challenges facing the energy sector today.

Competitiveness of European industry is becoming an increasing concern, inter alia in the face of energy prices which are higher than in other parts of the world. High energy prices also impact commercial and residential energy consumers. in his report last year, prof. Mario Draghi indicated that EU companies still face electricity prices that are 2-3 times those in the US and natural gas prices paid are 4-5 times higher . Energy poverty among EU households is also on the rise. The Commission is proposing new policies, also on the basis of the Prof. Draghi’s recommendations. This Workshop will discuss the recent Commission’s recommendations in three areas: acceleration of the deployment of new types of renewable energy, the speeding up of the procedures for the rollout of grids and storage, and on electricity network charges.

Join this online workshop to learn more on how climate policies can be designed to be socially and economically acceptable.

Achieving climate neutrality requires ambitious and effective climate targets and the ability to implement widely accepted policies. Many existing assessments focus narrowly on effectiveness, overlooking critical dimensions like feasibility and public perception. Furthermore, the success of the EU in reaching its net-zero goals depends not only on global and European policy action but also on the capacity of local and regional authorities to implement these policies. Cities and regions are at the forefront of the climate battle, yet they often face challenges in acting.

In this context, the Horizon Europe project CAPABLE aims to provide recommendations for designing socially and economically acceptable climate policy measures for 2030 and beyond. CAPABLE also provides insights on how local policy actors perceive their contribution to major EU strategies such as the European Green Deal.

Hosted online by the European University Institute (EUI) with expert contributions from the CAPABLE consortium, this capacity-building workshop will explore how EU climate policies work, how they intersect with local realities and how cities and regions can shape and support a just and effective transition. The workshop is tailored for local and regional policymakers, civil servants, and stakeholders engaged in climate and energy governance.

Target audience:

Local and regional policy-makers, civil servants, and stakeholders already familiar with energy and climate policies.

Learning outcomes:

Assess the main EU climate policies and their local implications

Grasp the potential and limits of different policy assessment methods

Understand determinants and factors that influence the acceptability of climate policies, and propose policy design features to make policies acceptable

Understand how local actors perceive their roles and EU policies on climate policies.

Draft programme:

14:00 – 14:10 | Welcome & Introduction

14:10 – 15:40 | Module 1: EU Climate Policies and Implications for Local Authorities

Policy Assessment: What Works? (Kai Lessmann and Jan Minx, PIK and Marie Raude, EUI)

The roles of cities in addressing climate change (Yann Françoise, City of Paris)

15:40 – 15:55 | Coffee Break

15:55 – 17:20 | Module 2: Perception and acceptability of Climate Policies

Social Acceptability and Feasibility of Fit-For-55 Policies (Keith Smith, ETH Zurich)

Local Policymakers’ Perceptions (Pablo Núñez Yebra, UAB and Alessia Casamassima, EUI)

17:20 – 17:45 | The role of Local Authorities in the European Green Deal and Competitiveness Compass

Eugenia Mansutti, Eurocities

17:45 – 17:50 | Conclusions

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101056891.

At the EUI and the Robert Schuman Centre, we are dedicated to removing barriers and providing equal opportunities for everyone. Please indicate in the registration form your accessibility needs, if any. Alternatively, you can contact the logistics organiser of the event. 

This workshop will examine whether Italian economic regulation of water and urban waste services is making a tangible contribution to the financeability of the sector.

Economic regulation of water services was introduced in Italy in 2012. The regulator took charge of an industry that had been underinvesting for decades, which led to service levels among the lowest in Europe. ARERA took its first decisions and was subjected to legal challenge immediately by various stakeholders. Entering the fourth regulatory period, the water economic regulation appears to have overcome those challenges, promoted efficiency and increased investments as well as service quality levels. In 2018 urban waste management was subjected to economic regulation. ARERA had the task to draw the boundaries between areas where operators had clearly market power-requiring ex ante intervention-and areas where market dynamics could deliver economically efficient outcomes. Arera put in place a regulatory framework that was also challenged.

At the beginning of the third regulatory period the consolidation of the regulatory framework is underway also for waste. The regulator, utilities, credit agencies, banks, academics and practitioners are coming together to reflect upon the impact of ARERA’s regulation on water and urban waste management services and explore how it can help for a future of evolving operational and market challenges.

The event is by invitation only.

At the EUI and the Robert Schuman Centre, we are dedicated to removing barriers and providing equal opportunities for everyone. Please indicate in the registration form your accessibility needs, if any. Alternatively, you can contact the logistics organiser of the event. 

Gender equality and women’s leadership are essential to building a more inclusive and resilient energy transition. Since its launch in 2017, the Lights on Women initiative has worked to make this vision a reality by supporting women professionals in the energy, climate, and sustainability sectors through training, visibility, and professional development opportunities. 

The upcoming Info Session will present the initiative’s journey so far, its milestones, community growth, and impact, while also outlining upcoming activities and opportunities for engagement. 

During the session, participants will learn more about Lights on Women’s flagship initiatives, including: 

• Energybase, a free talent matchmaking platform that connects women professionals with organisations and job opportunities worldwide. 

• LUCE Awards, celebrating both emerging and established women leaders who are shaping the future of the energy, climate, and sustainability fields. 

• Scholarships, supporting professional development and training for women across diverse areas of energy and regulation. 

• New blog series, “Powering Gender Equality”, examining the intersections of gender and energy and featuring insights from diverse experts in the Lights on Women network. 

This Info Session will be an opportunity to discover these initiatives, connect with others committed to gender equality, and explore ways to collaborate in building a more inclusive and forward-looking energy transition. 

Participation is free and open to all.
For details and registration, please contact Roberta Ruggero at roberta.ruggero@eui.eu

The COP30 panel “Anchoring global fairness and social partnership in the EU climate and energy transition”, scheduled on Saturday, 15 November 2025, from 11:30 to 12:30 UTC-3, will examine how the EU’s Just Transition efforts can promote fairness, social equity, and human security, while advancing global social justice.

Drawing on GEF’s Knowledge Communities, which focus on the nexus of social, energy, and climate domains, and the results of the SPES project, which analysed the impacts of EU climate policies both within and beyond Europe, diverse stakeholders will discuss collaborative pathways toward inclusive and globally just energy and climate transitions.

The Official Side-Event will be hosted by the Just Transition Pavilion during the 30th Conference of the Parties in Belém, Brazil.

Chair:

• Taube Van Melkebeke, Green European Foundation

Panel Discussion:

• Simone Borghesi, FSR Climate, EAERE & University of Siena
• Taísa Mendonça, Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI)
• Laura de Bonfils, Social Platform
• Member of the European Parliament

Closing remarks

• Frank Siebern-Thomas, DG EMPL (tbc)

The event is co-organised by EUI-FSR in coordination with the consortium of the Horizon Europe project SPES, and in collaboration with the Green European Foundation.

Dive deeper into the topic:

• Read the FSR-EUI deliverable 7.1 from the SPES project on EU ETS and EU ETS2.
• Read the FSR-EUI deliverable 7.2 from the SPES project on CBAM.
• Read the Policy Brief.
• SPES project publications here.

   SPES is funded by the Horizon Europe Programme of the European Union, Grant Agreement No. 101094551.

As the world gathers in Belém, Brazil, for COP30, governments and stakeholders must accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement in this pivotal decade for climate action. Many countries are increasingly turning to domestic and international carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to achieve increased emission reductions. This growing engagement could foster a more integrated global carbon market, linking compliance and voluntary markets, emissions trading systems, and related pricing mechanisms.

This UNFCCC side event examines what is required to make such integration effective — from ensuring environmental integrity to strengthening social standards and cooperation. Speakers will reflect on lessons from the Clean Development Mechanism and from voluntary markets, discuss supply- and demand-side measures, and consider how diverse actors, including SMEs, can benefit from market participation under Articles 6.2 and 6.4.

The session is organised by the European University Institute (EUI), the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP), Tsinghua University, the Seoul International Law Academy (SILA), the World Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (WUSME), and the German Emissions Trading Association (BVEK) and brings together perspectives from academia, policy, and business to discuss how carbon markets can deliver real mitigation outcomes, broader participation, and sustainable development benefits.

Registered participants of the climate conference can follow the event via the COP30 Virtual Platform.

Programme

• Welcome and Introduction 
  Jacopo Bencini (European University Institute – EUI)

• Scene-Setting Presentations
  Chair: Jacopo Bencini (European University Institute – EUI)

  • Stefano De Clara (International Carbon Action Partnership – ICAP)

  • Simone Borghesi (European University Institute – EUI)

• Roundtable Discussion 
  Chair: Robert Tippmann (German Emissions Trading Association – BVEK)

  • Yuyan Weng (Tsinghua University)

  • Barbara Terenzi (World Union of Small and Medium Enterprises – WUSME)

  • Suh-Yong Chung (Seoul International Law Academy – SILA)

• Conclusion
  Jacopo Bencini (European University Institute – EUI)

After the successful completion of the first ASEAN Summer School in Kuala Lumpur, the ASEAN Delegation is visiting FSR in Florence. During this three-day visit and through interactive sessions, strategic discussions, and peer-to-peer exchanges, the delegation will explore how key elements of FSR’s success can be adapted to the ASEAN context to shape the vision and future direction of the ASEAN School of Regulation based on the region’s specific needs and context.

The ASEAN Delegation Capacity Building Program to the Florence School of Regulation (FSR) at the European University Institute (EUI) forms part of the broader initiative to establish the ASEAN School of Regulation, a program co-funded by ETP and ESCAP. The program offers an immersive experience into FSR’s institutional architecture, pedagogical philosophy, and executive education model, all of which have positioned it as a global leader in regulatory training. FSR has a long standing experience in delivering capacity building programs for regulators covering energy, climate change and environmental sustainability issues. Globally, FSR has set up and been involved in various regulatory schools, including the African School of Regulation.

Building on FSR’s experience and expertise, the ASEAN School of Regulation aims to provide a dedicated regional platform for capacity building, peer learning, and regulatory excellence to support Southeast Asia’s energy transition. Scheduled from 5–7 November 2025 in Florence, Italy, the visit brings together 10–15 senior representatives from the ASEAN member states, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) along with experts from ESCAP and the Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP).

The project team will also take this opportunity to conduct consultations with the policy makers from all ASEAN countries on the design and the future of the ASEAN School of Regulation.

Objective

• To learn from the Florence School of Regulation’s pedagogical model, curriculum design, and quality assurance mechanisms.
• To gain insight into FSR’s governance structure, institutional setup, and its role in supporting regional regulatory development.
• To inform the strategic development of the ASEAN School of Regulation, including its priorities, structure, and implementation pathways.
• To foster institutional connections between ASEAN regulators and the European University Institute.
• To explore opportunities for long-term collaboration in capacity building, research, and knowledge exchange.
• To promote peer learning and informal exchange among ASEAN regulatory leaders and FSR experts.

Watch the recording of the online debate where experts discussed why and how to regionalize capacity markets in the EU:

The recent electricity market design reform has redefined the role of capacity mechanisms in the EU. No longer seen as temporary safeguards, these instruments now benefit from a streamlined State aid approval process. At the same time, an increasing number of Member States are considering introducing capacity markets in the coming years.

As capacity mechanisms become a key tool to drive investment and ensure security of supply, effective cross-border coordination will be essential. Such coordination can help avoid under- or over-procurement and direct investments toward the most cost-efficient locations across Europe. If capacity markets continue to expand and consolidate, the next step could be to integrate them regionally.

This debate will bring together representative of key EU institutions to discuss :

• What would be the benefits of integrating capacity markets across borders?
• How far can we go in capacity markets’ regionalisation?
• What are the main barriers – and potential solutions – to a regional approach?

Programme

Opening presentation

14.00-14.10 Presentation of the new FSR working paper: «Three steps to a regional capacity market in the EU»

Emma Menegatti | Florence School of Regulation

Panel Discussion and live polls

Moderator:  Leonardo Meeus | Florence School of Regulation

Panelists :

Miriam Stallone | European Commission – DG ENER

Daniel Ihasz-Toth | ACER

Marco Foresti | ENTSO-E

14.10-14.25 What would be the benefits of integrating capacity markets across borders?

14.25-14.40 How far can we go in capacity markets’ regionalisation?

14.40-14.55  What are the main barriers – and potential solutions – to a regional approach?

Closing and additional questions

Leonardo Meeus | Florence School of Regulation

The 22nd Florence Air Forum, ‘Towards highly developed and truly European ATM – bringing Europeans together by enabling all journeys’, will explore the future of Air Traffic Management in Europe, assessing SESAR’s achievements, remaining challenges, and the reforms needed to deliver a safer, more efficient, and sustainable Single European Sky.

The aviation industry is leading the technological revolution in transport, focusing on improved safety, efficiency, and sustainability. SESAR is the European Union’s flagship project for modernising Air Traffic Management (ATM), and since 2007, it has developed into a major innovation framework. It supports the Single European Sky strategy by uniting EU institutions, industry, and academia, aligning investment and priorities with nearly €4.8 billion in research funding and an additional €3 billion for deployment through the Connecting Europe Facility. Out of 137 SESAR solutions delivered, 70 have been implemented, improving arrival and departure procedures at busy airports, enhancing airport integration, and enabling more efficient upper airspace routing. SESAR has also tackled structural challenges by reducing technological fragmentation, promoting shared standards, and aligning national and industry priorities through the European ATM Master Plan.

Although SESAR’s evolution, the implementation of new ATM solutions faces delays, often because of structural weaknesses in the innovation process at key transition points. Air traffic in Europe is projected to increase 44% by 2050 from 2019 levels, reaching over 15.4 million IFR flights annually. This growth will introduce new airspace users like drones and electric vertical take-off aircraft, which in turn will necessitate changes in airspace design and coordination. At the same time, it is vital to ensure the EU’s technological sovereignty and safe airspace operations amid the current geopolitical instability and disruptions.

ATM modernisation relies on the goals established in the European ATM Master Plan to ensure Europe remains the most efficient and environmentally friendly airspace. SESAR has proven effective in facilitating coordinated innovation in air traffic management, overcoming barriers, and delivering performance and sustainability gains while reinforcing Europe’s autonomy and industrial leadership. Although reforms are needed, particularly for smoother development to deployment transitions and stronger industrialisation, these can be achieved with targeted enhancements. Alternative governance models may offer benefits but also pose high transition risks that could delay the rollout of the ATM Master Plan.

The 22^nd Florence Air Forum aims to delve into the critical issues shaping the future of ATM, with the goal of bringing Europeans together by enabling all journeys. The Forum, co-organised by the Transport Area of the Florence School of Regulation together with the EC’s DG MOVE, will tackle the following questions:

• The Evaluation of the SES2+ Package: In which manner has the recent adoption of the SES2+ package NOT taken care of all the challenges facing European ATM? Which elements in the SES2+ package create the most severe implementation challenges? How can we use soft law in the implementation phase?
• The Future of European ATM: the New Service Delivery Model: How will the vision of the new service delivery model become a reality? What is the stakeholders’ desire to invest in this initiative?
• Organising SESAR: Stakeholder Engagement and Next Steps: Does the ATM community actually care how we organise the SESAR in the next planning period? How to best organise it?

Kindly note that this event is by invitation only.

This webinare explored how innovative EU financing tools can support the early development of a clean hydrogen infrastructure while limiting taxpayer costs.

Watch the recording:

In the framework of the Commission’s new MFF budget proposal for 2028-2035, the Commission has proposed a greatly increased budget for the Connecting Europe Facility, from the current €5.2 billion to almost €30 billion, together with an updated CEF framework. In addition, it has proposed a budget of €67.4 billion for ‘Clean Transition and Industrial Decarbonisation’ under the newly proposed Competitiveness Fund.

In parallel to this proposed greatly increased funding for Green Deal relevant infrastructure, the Commission proposes a major update on how the CEF will be spent. Instead of being limited to grants, it may also be spent “in the form of a budgetary guarantee or a financial instrument, including where combined with non-repayable support in a blending operation….exclusively provided through the ECF InvestEU Instrument or GE delivery mechanism”. This is an important development in EU funding.

The German Anticipatory Loan Guarantee Mechanism, which has been approved by the Commission under the State aid rules, provides the first concrete example of such a mechanism for hydrogen grids that need to be anticipatory in nature – being built today but for the demand of the future whilst still keeping transmission fees low in the short to medium term.

This webinar will explore how the EU can leverage innovative financing mechanisms under the CEF and other instruments to accelerate the development of a robust, integrated hydrogen network at limited cost for the taxpayer, but one that will facilitate the development of the clean hydrogen market.

• Christoph von dem Bussche, Gasunie Deutschland
• Catharina Sikow-Magny, Florence School of Regulation
• Lucie Boost, Gas Infrastructure Europe

As the EU considers price-based mechanisms for its 2026 ETS reform, this online debate explored how such tools could enhance market stability and better align the carbon market with long-term climate goals.

Watch the recording:

As the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) approaches its 2026 reform, attention is turning to how market tightness is managed. The current tool – the Market Stability Reserve (MSR) – relies on a quantity-based mechanism to adjust supply. While it has helped address historical surplus, its responsiveness and predictability are increasingly questioned as the market enters a phase of structural scarcity.
This online debate explores an alternative approach: introducing price-based mechanisms to manage supply-demand tightness in compliance carbon markets. The session will focus on the practical challenges of implementing such tools, drawing on operational precedents from other systems worldwide and a robust body of literature supporting their economic rationale.
By bringing together policymakers, researchers, and market practitioners, the debate aims to inform and contribute constructively to the ongoing EU ETS reform process. It will focus on how to fine tune a price-based mechanism to enhance market stability, transparency, and alignment with long-term decarbonisation goals. Specifically, the panel will discuss key design considerations for operationalising such a system (e.g., the number and trajectory of the price thresholds, intervention frequency and volume) and the trade-offs inherent in each design choice.

Programme

14:00 – 14:10 Introduction, context & insights

Simone Borghesi | Director of the Florence School of Regulation – Climate
Marie Raude | Research Assistant at FSR Climate

14:10 – 14:45 Panel debate

Florent Le Strat | Électricité de France (EDF)
Dallas Burtraw | Resources for the Future (RFF)
Jean-Yves Benoit |Quebec Ministry of the Environment – DG Carbon Regulation and Emissions Data
Hæge Fjellheim | Head of Carbon Analysis (Veyt)

14:45 – 15:00 Q&A with the audience and wrap-up