Europe

The expansion of renewables currently takes place at different paces across the EU. While good progress is made in some Member States, the tempo in most Member States would not (yet) be sufficient to reach the renewable expansion targets. In addition, EU's dependence on Russian fossil fuels had to be re-evaluated after Russia's attack on Ukraine in February 2022.

In the resulting energy crisis, the European Commission responded first by publishing the "RePowerEU"-Plan, providing for energy saving measures, the diversification of supplies, the acceleration of Europe's energy transition and the combination of investments and reforms. In November 2022, the Commission additionally published a proposal for a Council Regulation on an emergency regulation to speed up the roll-out of renewables ("Emergency Regulation"). This regulation was formally adopted by the Council entered into force on 30 December 2022.

Both the "RePowerEU"-Plan and the Emergency Regulation provide for mechanisms to accelerate the expansion of renewables in the EU. But how do those mechanisms affect market players in the renewable sector? The webinar will cover inter alia the following topics:

• Overview of the acceleration measures
• Relation to other legislative acts
• Role of Member States
• Effects on permitting procedures
• Effects on legal certainty

Speaker

Christoph Cudlik 
Counsel
Schoenherr Attorneys at law

Christoph Cudlik has been with Schoenherr since 2014. His main practice area is public law, in which he specialises in all areas of energy and environmental law. He regularly consults clients on energy, environmental impact assessment, nature protection, wastewater, gas and construction law. Christoph holds degrees both in Law (University of Vienna, Mag. iur. 2012) and Sustainable Resource Management (FH Campus Vienna, BSc. 2021), and gained experience in international law firms, the Austrian Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, and the European Commission. He is the author of numerous publications and regularly lectures on general administrative, constitutional and environmental law.

Benjamin Schlatter
Counsel
Schoenherr Attorneys at law
 

Benjamin Schlatter is a counsel at Schoenherr in Vienna. Benjamin's expertise lies in the regulatory aspects of environment and planning, energy and technology. His work ranges from advising on projects and approval proceedings, various proceedings before the administrative courts, the High Administrative Court and the Constitutional Court. Benjamin graduated from University of Vienna in 2012 (Mag. iur.) and from University of Natural Ressources and life in 2008 (Bakk.techn.) In his work he supports clients from a project idea, through the planning and approval process, to the successful implementation and acceptance by the responsible authorities. In addition, he regularly publishes on environmental and constitutional law issues.