The measures are aimed at a dual target: a 20% reduction in energy consumption combined with increased use of alternative energies to cover 20% of needs by 2020. They could also provide some much-needed relief for beleaguered authorities in search of wonder-working solutions to revive growth and halt the vicious spiral that began with the crisis of confidence on financial markets.

European regions and their development agencies must now ask themselves how they can make the most of the resulting opportunities. And innovative young businesses must look for ways to participate in green growth at a point where the credit crunch has left business angels, venture capitalists and investors in general strapped for cash.

Which leads to the questions of how the climate-change package can help to encourage investment in Europe — how it can attract the world’s top businesses in environment-related industries and services, and in environment-friendly sources of energy.
All of this is clearly critical to the attractiveness of Europe for investment, technology and talent, and I cannot think of a more burning issue in today’s political and economic environment to inaugurate this blog and the Europe+ Foundation’s weekly debates.
I very much look forward to receiving your comments, suggestions and proposals, which will provide invaluable inspiration for our think tank and for our action in approaching investors and authorities at local, national and EU levels.

Thank you in advance for your creativity.

Patrice Lefeu
Executive Director