In her Political Guidelines in July 2024 [1], Ursula von der Leyen committed to a Clean Industrial Deal to ensure a competitive EU industry and quality jobs as one of the new Commission’s objectives within its first 100 days. The Deal will focus “on supporting and creating the right conditions for companies to reach our common goals. This means simplifying, investing and ensuring access to cheap, sustainable and secure energy supplies and raw materials”.

The Clean Industrial Deal is expected to be tabled on 26 February 2025. Key areas anticipated in the Deal include a new industrial policy, simplification of administrative procedures, a revision of State aid rules, and measures to lower energy costs and improve the functioning of energy markets.

This workshop, taking place shortly after the Deal is introduced, will examine its proposed measures and assess how they address the challenges faced by EU industry, ensuring competitiveness and decarbonisation. Discussions will also consider the broader geopolitical landscape, particularly the potential withdrawal of the US from the Paris Agreement and China’s strategic investments in Green Deal markets.

The event is by invitation only.

A plan for EU competitiveness and decarbonisation

Learn more about the Clean Industrial Deal

[1] Available at: https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683-f63ffb2cf648_en?filename=Political%20Guidelines%202024-2029_EN.pdf

Join us in Florence for 3 days of in-person events where we will convene our donors and renowned experts from across the sector. 

A detailed agenda with discussion topics and speakers will follow. In the meantime, here is a list of events that will take place during 14-16 May 2025: 

Wednesday, 14 May 

Policy Advisory Council – Part 1 

The Policy Advisory Council discusses the most topical regulatory and policy issues and debates and the relevance and robustness of the latest FSR research findings. The meeting gathers experts from the European Commission, the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), the FSR Energy Star and Major Donors and invited renowned academics. 

Thursday, 15 May 

Policy Advisory Council – Part 2 

7th meeting of the Equality Platform for the Energy Sector 

The Platform is a European Commission-led initiative that currently includes 38 members from the energy sector, including the Florence School of Regulation. 

Established in October 2021, the platform serves as a dedicated forum for addressing equality-related matters, fostering the exchange of experiences, and championing best practices concerning diversity and inclusion in the energy sector workplace. 

The meeting is open for Platform members only. For further information and details on becoming a member, please visit the Platform’s webpage.  

LUCE Awards 2025 

The LUCE Awards, organised by the Lights on Women initiative with the support of Landwärme, Edison, and Eurogas, aims to recognise the significant contributions of women in driving the Green Transition. 

Now in its third edition, LUCE Awards will celebrate the accomplishments of two women professionals, presenting a prize in each of the following categories: 

• Emerging Talent. The Emerging Talent category aims to recognise contributions of up-and-coming female leaders. 

• Legacy Women. The Legacy Women category will honour senior female professionals working to further the Green Transition worldwide. 

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

Watch the highlights from the first and second editions.  

Friday, 16 May 

Regulatory Policy Workshop  

A full-day policy workshop directed by Alberto Pototschnig, FSR Executive Deputy Director, titled “Smartening the Energy Grids and Cybersecurity”. The workshop will consist of a series of seminars led by topic experts with opportunities for intervention from participants. 

Learn more

Removing greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere is essential to maintaining the temperature increase below 2 degrees above the pre-industrial levels. However, a policy gap exists in incentivising investment in carbon removal technologies. Since emissions trading systems are considered a cost-effective solution to drive technological change, can emissions trading promote carbon removals?? How can carbon removals fit into a climate policy mix that targets net zero emissions?

These and other questions will be addressed during the panel discussion “Can emission trading systems be employed to promote carbon removals?” on Tuesday 12 November from 09:30 to 11:00 AZT at the Italian Pavilion of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Chair and Introduction:

• Simone Borghesi,  FSR Climate, EAERE & University of Siena

Panel Discussion:

• Robert Jeszke, KOBIZE
• Luca Taschini, University of Edinburgh
• Stephanie La Hoz Theuer, ICAP
• Lorna Ritchie, ICVCM

Concluding Remarks:

• Ottmar Edenhofer, PIK & MCC

The event is organised by the EUI with the support of ICAP and is held in the framework of the project LIFE COASE.

Dive deeper into the topic:

• Read the event highlights from the latest LIFE COASE policy dialogue.
• ICAP report “Emissions Trading Systems and Net Zero: Trading Removals“, May 2021

FSR Regulatory Policy Workshop Series 2024-2025

This workshop is by invitation only

Sustainability assessment

The FSR assesses the sustainability and carbon footprint of all its Workshops of the Regulatory Policy Workshop Series. This Workshop is run mainly ‘in presence’, with some exceptions for participation through internet-based remote connection. It is expected that most participants will join the Workshop in Florence to take advantage of the opportunity for more effective interaction and discussion. Those participants joining the event in Florence will be encouraged to offset any carbon emissions related to their air travel. It is considered that, in this way, a suitable balance is achieved between the effectiveness of the policy dialogue and the net carbon footprint of the event.

The Policy Advisory Council discusses the most topical regulatory and policy issues and debates and the relevance and robustness of the latest FSR research findings. The meeting gathers experts from the European Commission, the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), the FSR Energy Star and Major Donors and invited renowned academics

As the number of carbon markets grows, the long-term contribution of market-based instruments to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 should be further assessed. In general, the size, scope, parameters, and prices of Emissions Trading Systems (ETSs) vary and evolve depending on the social, economic, political, and legal context of each jurisdiction. All these aspects of regulated carbon markets are to be considered by policymakers. To tackle challenges, regulators may find insights from new scientific evidence.

This workshop aims to collect insights from policy-relevant research on recent trends in carbon markets, with a particular focus on the EU ETS. It will address topics such as future allowance prices, scope expansion of ETSs and market oversight, among others. Furthermore, it will focus on the methodologies used to assess ETSs (i.e., ex-post and ex-ante model-based assessments) and their results.

The 3-day event will comprise a keynote lecture, paper presentations, a policy roundtable and a guest lecture.

It is organised by FSR Climate under the framework of the LIFE COASE project, which is co-funded by the European Union’s Life Programme. The workshop combines the ex-post and the ex-ante model based assessment of ETSs and will take place during the Joint Session of Workshops of the Robert Schuman Centre in the context of the 30 anniversary of the Centre.

Participation in the event is via invitation only. Find out more about the programme of the Joint Session of Workshops here.

Programme

18 June 

 10:00-10:45 Introduction, Tour de Table, Ice Breaker 

 11:15-12:05 Keynote speech: The merits and shortcomings of the EU carbon markets 

• Sonja Peterson | Kiel Institute for the World Economy 

 12:15-13:00 Session 1: Chinese National ETS Model 

China’s national ETS price outlook: long-term forecast and policy scenarios [Introduction]

• Boyang Jin | London Stock Exchange Group 

14:00-15:30 Session 2: EU ETS Models 

Economic interaction between climate policy instruments [Abstract]

• Jakub Boratyński | KOBiZE 

 Sequencing CDR into the EU ETS [Abstract]

• Sebastian Osorio | Potsdam-Institute for Climate Impact Research 

 16:00-17:10 ETS Model Comparison 

• Sebastian Osorio 

19 June 

10:00-11:30 Session 3: Carbon leakage 

Carbon border adjustments: an examination of the direct and indirect effects of the European Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) 

• Antton Haramboure |Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development 

 Carbon prices, emissions and international trade in sectors at risk of carbon leakage: evidence from 140 countries [Abstract] 

• Jonas Teusch | OECD

 12:00-13:30 Session 4: Carbon pricing and firm behaviour 

The effects of carbon pricing along the production network [Abstract]

• Thomas Stoerk | National Bank of Belgium & LSE 

 Realist analysis of UK ETS trading and abatement behaviour [Introduction]

• Mary Anderson | CAG Consultants 

 14:30-15:30 Policy panel: ETS Endgame – Including new sectors and removals ETSs 

• Edoardo Croci | Bocconi University 
• Sebastian Osorio | Potsdam-Institute for Climate Impact Research 
• Elena Marro | European University Institute 

 16:00-17:30 Session 5: Beyond the EU ETS: Offsets & China ETS Policy Overlap 

Willingness-to-claim voluntary carbon offsets: market evidence of revealed-preferences [Abstract]

• Tara L’Horty | Université de Lorraine 

 Interactions between emissions trading systems and other policies: insights from theory and an application to China [Abstract]

• Carolyn Fischer | World Bank 

20 June 

09:15-11:30 Session 6: Decarbonising industry and agriculture 

Steel in the EU CBAM: will scrap-resource shuffling delay the sector’s global decarbonization? [Abstract]

• Maxime Gérardin | France Stratégie 

 Market design options for integrating negative emissions into the ETS [Introduction]

• Carlotta Von Bebenburg | Oxera 

 Options to expand emissions trading to emissions from agriculture in Europe [Abstract]

• Benjamin Görlach | Ecologic Institute 

 12:00-13:30 Session 7: Legislation for carbon pricing 

The integration of negative emissions in the EU legislation [Introduction]

• Elena Bonfiglio | European Roundtable on Climate Change and Sustainable Transition 

 Enhancing climate policies through the implementation of regulated carbon markets in Brazil: reflecting on strategies for closing the policy-science loop [Introduction]

• Adriana I. B. S. L. Di Pasquale | University of Pisa 

 14:30-15:30 Guest lecture: Stopping climate change 

Paul Ekins | UCL 

 16:00-17:30 General discussion & conclusions 

17.30 Close 

Following the success of the first edition, we are delighted to announce the 2nd FSR Alumni Day. This event will offer former alumni a unique opportunity to reconnect and stay updated on the latest policy developments in fields they previously studied.

An annual event in Florence to welcome the Alumni community

Since its establishment in 2004, the FSR has been training more than 10.000 participants. In 2014, the FSR launched its first online course and since then, more than 60 online courses have been welcoming energy professionals and academics from worldwide.

To hear back from our community of Alumni and celebrate their successful paths, we designed a special event gathering participants from all our courses, course directors, instructors, and coordinators in a friendly atmosphere to offer an additional learning experience.

Another step in your professional path

You will have the chance to network while you get up to speed on the latest developments in your area of expertise. The format will include a keynote address from the European Commission, insights from your peers, working groups (details below), networking activities and a cocktail reception.

Event Details:

• Event Fee: 250€
• Registration Deadline: 6 October 2024

Additional Information:

The event will be held exclusively in a residential format, allowing for a limited number of participants. Admission will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Directions to reach the venue

The EUI Badia is easily reachable by taxi from Florence centre or from Fiesole (about 20€) and from Florence Airport (about 35€).

If you prefer public transport (ticket 1,50€ to be bought in official ticket offices, machines and authorised retailers that display the Autolinee Toscane sticker): take bus line number 7 from the center, the main railway station or from Fiesole, and get off at the stop ‘San Domenico 01’ (map) From there walk to our main building, Badia Fiesolana (map).

Logistic info

Please arrange your travel and accommodation as soon as possible as Florence is very popular. Paid registration fee is non-refundable. Please note that the course fee does not cover travel and accommodation costs.

“Implementing Network Codes” (INC) is a collaborative and interdisciplinary research project focusing on the implementation of EU electricity market laws.

About the INC project

INC examines the rulemaking process of market and system operation guidelines and their underlying terms and conditions or methodologies (TCMs) to analyse the impact on the integration of the European electricity market.

The 4-year project runs until 2024, and is funded by the Research Council of Norway, with co-funding from Norwegian stakeholders. It is led by the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, and an international team of scholars from political science, law and economics work in close collaboration with industry experts, user partners and other relevant stakeholders.

Purpose:

Showcase results from the research project Implementing Network Codes 1 and get feedback to ongoing research; link up to discussions of ongoing/prospective discussions on the internal electricity market from perspectives of law, politics, and markets.

Session 1: Applying and enforcing the TCMs

The session will focus on what happens after TCM adoption by ACER, or agreement among NRAs in a region, including TCM adoption via individual decisions by each NRA, and the process for adopting TCMs within the EEA EFTA countries. The session will also showcase examples from regional cooperation in the Nordic and Core regions, as well as from the European level.

Session 2: After EMD: what next for network codes and TCMs?

A major development that emerged from the previous legislative reform (Clean Energy Package) was the code on demand response and a new European DSO entity. The ongoing electricity market reform (EMD) could also have implications for prospective work on network codes and guidelines (re-starting CACM revision), and the terms, conditions and methodologies (TCMs). What can we expect from these processes in the aftermath of EMD adoption? Given the EU’s 2050 climate ambitions, the electricity sector would need to decarbonise by 2040. How might this affect the processes for developing new, and revising existing, network codes, guidelines and TCMs?

Session 3: An offshore market design: How seaworthy are network codes and TCMs?

In principle, the EU electricity market regulation, including subsidiary rules like network codes, guidelines and TCMs would apply also to an offshore electricity market. However, this could create new problems, as seen with the discussion on offshore bidding zones in the ongoing EMD negotiations. The regulation of an offshore electricity network could potentially form part of a structural reform of the electricity market design in the next EU electoral cycle. This session will focus on the regulation of an offshore electricity market, and the application of NC/GL/TCMs offshore. The discussion could zoom in on the North Sea basin, where there is also collaboration with the UK and Norway, for illustration.

Session 4: Evolving role of ACER through crises and transition

What changes have materialised over time as regards to the role of ACER – formally and informally – within and beyond the regulation of the EU electricity market? What impact has the energy crisis had on the role and work of ACER? What are the prospects moving forward in a world of heightened geopolitics and energy transition? This session would discuss how ACER is getting a larger role as regards the energy transition agenda (cf. EP proposal to have ACER assess national flexibility plans) and the subsidiarity issues a greater role of ACER might entail. This session could link up to the discussion of a potential structural reform of the electricity market design in the next electoral cycle in the EU (2024-2029). While several tasks have been placed at regional and European levels, enforcement remains very much in national hands. The session could discuss whether more cooperation at regional and European level might be needed, e.g., moving beyond monitoring, capacity-building, and identification of best practices. Enhancing regulatory cooperation at EU level, including via ACER, also raises the issue of participation of non-EU NRAs as well as issues of accountability.

Celebrating two decades of impact in policy and regulation

This year, the Florence School of Regulation celebrates its 20th Anniversary.

#FSR20more

Twenty years of advancing knowledge have paved the way for what lies ahead. As we reflect on our milestones, we renew our commitment to enhancing research, training and policy dialogue to support regulators, policymakers, and industries in addressing climate change and shaping a sustainable future for all.

Exciting research topics, events, courses and many more novelties await us in the coming years.

Cheers!

A special event will take place in Florence on 3 July 2024, to celebrate these 20 years and to look forward.

Programme

Welcome address

Patrizia Nanz | President, European University Institute

A journey through the FSR: history, prospects, and shaping tomorrow

Leonardo Meeus | Director, Florence School of Regulation

Roundtable on “Europe at a cross-road: affordability, sustainability, autonomy”

Moderator: Erik Jones | Director, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies

Panellists:

Catharina Sikow-Magny | Director Green Transition and Energy System Integration, DG for Energy, European Commission
Nathalie Berger | Director, Support to Member State Reforms, DG Reform, European Commission
Clara Poletti | Board of Regulators Chair, ACER, and Commissioner, ARERA

FSR Regulatory Policy Workshop Series 2023-2024

This workshop is by invitation only. Please note that the day before, the FSR is organising an Open Evening for prospective donors, and those participating will be exceptionally invited to join this workshop. For more information on the FSR Open Evening, please visit this page.

 Sustainability assessment

The FSR assesses the sustainability and carbon footprint of all its Workshops of the Regulatory Policy Workshop Series. This Workshop is run mainly ‘in presence’, with some exceptions for participation through internet-based remote connection. It is expected that most participants will join the Workshop in Florence to take advantage of the opportunity for more effective interaction and discussion. Those participants joining the event in Florence will be encouraged to offset any carbon emissions related to their air travel. It is considered that, in this way, a suitable balance is achieved between the effectiveness of the policy dialogue and the net carbon footprint of the event.

The Policy Advisory Council discusses the most topical regulatory and policy issues and debates and the relevance and robustness of the latest FSR research findings. The meeting gathers experts from the European Commission, the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), the FSR Energy Star and Major Donors and invited renowned academics.