Energy Agency Zoetermeer
Presented by:
Harry Meerwijk
Krakow; 29 –11–2005
Index Presentation
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EAZ
•
Keep in touch with the European Commission
•
Know all about the European sides in your own working field
•
Compare activities with European initiatives
•
Find the right partner
•
Start in time (examples)
•
Creating a team to prepare the proposal
•
Understand the deeper meaning of the European rules involved.
•
Keep to the rules and procedures
•
Take care of decision making
Krakow; 29 –11–2005
Energy Agency Zoetermeer
• EAZ is a foundation
• The Board is represented by “Consumers”, “Rabobank”,
Building corporation “De Goede Woning”, “Eneco-energy”,
“Siemens” and the “Community of Zoetermeer”
• EAZ coordinates several projects.
• EAZ realizes the climate policy of the community.
Krakow; 29 –11–2005
Keep in touch with the EC.
• Attend meetings in Brussels (My first visit to Brussels)
• Read newsletters (Managenergy,official European bulletins,
etc)
• Membership of international organisation(s) (Like EnergieCités)
• Get to know national Organisations advising the EU
• (like EG-Liaison, SenterNovem in the Netherlands)
• Get to know your national members of European Parliament.
Krakow; 29 –11–2005
Know the European legislation, directives,
subsidies, in your own working field.
• Keep informed about all the “rules” from Brussels.
(Not the most inspiring job, but it can be very important for
the financing of projects. In Zoetermeer we have a regular
meeting with all the people involved in European activities)
• Know the possibilities and periods when you can enter a
proposal for subsidie
Krakow; 29 –11–2005
Compare actual and future activities,
policy and plans with the European
initiatives and funding schemes.
It is easier when you apply for European funding for actual or future
activities then to “invent” a project just because there is a possibility for
European funding.
Starting the Energy Agency Zoetermeer; Already Climate policy in Zoetermeer
•
•
•
•
Finance; There was not really a need to create a Dutch association of
Energy Agencies.
BELIEF; The board of the energy agency is already a kind of energy
community
Encourage; There already was a plan to make a sustainable business
area
RUSE; The importance of working together with new member states
was already recognised in Zoetermeer )
Krakow; 29 –11–2005
Find the right partners and/or
make friends with these partners.
Like in a relationship, you have to keep your promisesses and
go along with each-other for quite a long time.
• AZ; Tampere, Belfast, Zoetermeer
• FINANCE; International partners not known, dutch partners had
to be convinced after entering a proposal
• BELIEF; Still has to start, but international workshops and
meetings are foreseen abundantly
• RUSE; Heart of the project is international sharing of knowledge
and experience. Knowing the partners is almost essential
Krakow; 29 –11–2005
Start in time!
Schedules of the EU are not flexible, deadlines are deadlines!
• EAZ; Started only 2 months
before the deadline: Hectic preparations
• FINANCE; No problems
• BELIEF; Mails from the coordinator (example)
• RUSE; More mails from the coordinator)
Krakow; 29 –11–2005
Mails from the coordinator BELIEF
• Email example 1:
Intermediate Financial Report (asking to send files)
• Email example 2:
BELIEF negotiation DOCUMENTS TO PROVIDE URGENTLY!
Krakow; 29 –11–2005
Create a team to prepare the proposal
You just need enough time to create a proposal. An
appropriate
number of hours have to be planned.
• EAZ; We did not plan the hours properly, so we had to hire
an expert to help us
• FINANCE; Most of the work was done by the coordinator.
Disadvantage is that you are not really involved in the
content of the proposal
• BELIEF; Start in March 2005. Hours were planned to work
on the proposal.
• RUSE; No problems with planning of the hours)
Krakow; 29 –11–2005
Understand the deeper meaning, the spirit
of the European rules involved.
Not only the text of the rule, but also the deeper meaning is
important.
•
•
•
•
(EAZ; The EU wanted to create independent local energy
management agencies, not just a new municipal department.
FINANCE; The EU was overwhelmed with small proposals and
projects. The EU wants to create one association of energy
agencies in each country, so they can manage proposals and
projects more easily.
BELIEF; The EU is trying to involve as many stakeholders as
possible to reduce the CO2 emission
RUSE; New and future member states are an important target
group for the European Commission)
Krakow; 29 –11–2005
Keep to the rules
Don’t think that you can “manipulate” the rules of the EU.
Be obedient.
• Follow the instructions of the EU
at all times
• If possible, let your proposal
screen by a national advisor
Krakow; 29 –11–2005
Don’t be afraid of bureaucratic procedures
Sometimes the forms and procedures can drive you crazy;
Don’t give up and just continue filling in everything that is
asked for!
Krakow; 29 –11–2005
Take care of decision making
and signatures in time
• Often, at the last moment, the decision and the signature of
the board or the mayor is needed.
• This always takes time. Be aware of that.
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THE END
Thank you for your attention,
are there any questions?
Krakow; 29 –11–2005