The Final Conference “Towards a Just Transition for the gas sector and its workers – Challenges and opportunities” (26 January 2023, Brussels) gathered high-level speakers from the industry, unions and institutions to address the uncertainties for the current and future workforce in the gas sector in the context of the energy transition, discuss best practices and develop input to prepare a European Just Transition pathway for the gas sector.
Event co-organised by Eurogas, industriAll Europe and EPSU with the financial support of the European Commission.
Travel and accommodation expenses will be reimbursed subject to conditions.
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Programme:
09:30 | Registration
10:00 | Welcome addresses and introduction
James Watson, Secretary General, Eurogas
Judith Kirton Darling, Deputy General Secretary, industriAll Europe
Jan Willem Goudriaan, General Secretary, EPSU
10:15 | Presentation of the report: The gas sector in the context of the European energy transition – Approaching a Just Transition for workers
Ana Isabel Martinez Garcia, Syndex
Q&A
11:05 | Coffee break
11:20 | Panel 1 – Preparing today the jobs of tomorrow
Introduction by Fabien Couderc, Consultant Economic and Social Affairs, Syndex
Frank Siebern-Thomas, Head of Unit, Fair Green and Digital Transition, DG EMPL, European Commission
Nevin Alija, EU Affairs Manager, Floene
Raluca Popescu, Federal Secretary, Gaz Romania
Q&A
12:10 | Keynote speech – Designing the future of the gas sector
MEP Jens Geier, Member of ITRE Committee (S&D, DE), European Parliament
Q&A
12:30 | Lunch break
13:30 | Panel 2 – Just Transition: best practices
Introduction by Ana Isabel Martinez Garcia, Syndex
Catherine Wendt, Smart and Sustainable Growth, DG REGIO, European Commission
Gabrielle Gauthey, Senior Vice-President for European Public Affairs, TotalEnergies
Jesus Ignacio Crespo Torres, industrial policy Coordinator, CCOO de Industria
Q&A
14:20 | Coffee break
14:35 | Panel 3 – Social dialogue at the heart of the Just Transition: tools and methodology to pave the way
Jörg Tagger, Head of Unit, Social Dialogue, DG EMPL, European Commission
Jakob Embacher, Policy Officer for Utilities and EWCs, EPSU
Bronagh O’Hagan, External Relations Director, Eurogas
Sophie Grenade, Senior Policy Adviser, industriAll Europe
Q&A
15:25 | Concluding remarks – A European Just Transition pathway for the gas sector
Judith Kirton Darling, Deputy General Secretary, industriAll Europe
Matthew Lay, President of the EPSU Utilities committee and UNISON’s National Officer for the energy sector
James Watson, Secretary General, Eurogas
The conference was moderated by Sasha Twining, Journalist, radio & TV presenter
