16.06.2026
EUSEW 2026: A Clean, Secure and Competitive European Union
From 9 to 11 June, Ana Tisov (IRI UL – Institute for Innovation and Development of the University of Ljubljana) and Dr Tomi Medved (IRI UL – Institute for Innovation and Development of the University of Ljubljana; LEST) attended the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) 2026 in Brussels, the largest EU-level event dedicated to sustainable energy policy and innovation.
This year’s edition confirmed a significant shift in European energy policy: the energy transition is no longer framed solely as a climate objective, but increasingly as a strategic pillar of energy security, economic resilience, and European industrial competitiveness.
Energy efficiency, electrification and energy communities at the forefront of discussions
Key themes throughout the conference included:
- accelerated electrification of buildings, industry, heating and cooling systems, and transport,
- energy efficiency as the fastest and most cost-effective pathway to reducing energy demand,
- building renovation as a strategic investment for reducing energy dependency and strengthening the European economy,
- development of resilient clean technology supply chains, including batteries and renewable energy systems,
- strengthening energy communities and active citizen participation in the energy transition,
- digitalisation and innovation as enabling factors for more efficient and integrated energy systems.
A strong emphasis was placed on the challenge of maintaining European industrial competitiveness under high energy prices, while simultaneously reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels. The discussions clearly indicated that energy efficiency, electrification, and domestic renewable energy sources will form the backbone of Europe’s future energy strategy.
It was particularly encouraging to observe that building renovation remains a key priority of the European Union, with increasing recognition of its role in reducing energy costs, improving indoor environmental quality, and enhancing overall economic resilience.
Marking the 20th anniversary of EUSEW, a high-level debate also took place featuring former European Energy Commissioners and the current Commissioner for Energy, Dan Jørgensen. The discussion reflected on the evolution of EU energy policy, from market liberalisation towards today’s priorities of energy independence, climate neutrality, and industrial competitiveness.
The event provided valuable opportunities for networking with European stakeholders, exchange of best practices, and insight into upcoming directions of the LIFE Programme and Horizon Europe. The knowledge gained and new partnerships established will be actively integrated into ongoing and future projects.
Recordings of all sessions are available on the official conference platform.
