The President of the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association – EMEA, and Director of the Euro-Mediterranean Network for Economic Studies – EMNES, Prof. Rym Ayadi, participated at the Mediterranean Energy Debate on “The challenge of local energy governance: the model of the MED Efficient Buildings Community”. The event was organised with the support of the Interreg Mediterranean Programme and under the patronage of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), and took place on October 10 in Brussels, under the umbrella of the European Week of Regions and Cities.
Prof. Ayadi participated in the interactive debate on the policy recommendations delivered by the MED Efficient Buildings Community on financing and capacity building for energy efficiency in public buildings.
She highlighted that “Financing energy efficiency projects and renewable energy must be done using private public partnership financing mechanisms”. Regarding energy efficiency in buildings renovation Prof Ayadi underlined that “Competition must go beyond price. It must encompass price to value. Value must be a sustainable value.”
The main objective of the event was to bring together policy makers, local authorities, experts and other stakeholders to hold discussions on the design, implementation and financing of energy efficient measures in public buildings and neighbourhoods in the Mediterranean. The MED Efficient Buildings Community gathered 95 members (mainly local and regional authorities, energy agencies, financial institutions and universities) with the aim of sharing innovative solutions for the Euro-Mediterranean area, building synergies, co-constructing next practices for public buildings and speaking with one voice through policy recommendations towards EU and national policy makers.