This week, the European Commission brought together world energy and climate leaders in Paris to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the International Energy Agency (IEA) at the annual Ministerial Meeting of the International Energy Agency. The event was accompanied by a series of High-Level Dialogues and an Energy Innovation Forum.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in her speech, praised the agency's central role in global energy security during its 50 years of existence. Focusing on the transition to renewable energy, she also highlighted international cooperation as essential to overcome today's energy challenges.

"Massive investment will be needed. Not only in renewable energy capacity but in interconnectors, in clean tech, and of course, and it has been said, in the relevant supply chains. So, we will need to mobilise the private sector, and we are working right now to intensify our dialogue with them. And we will need to work with developing economies, so that they can attract the investment they need." Said von der Leyen.

On the other hand, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson has highlighted progress and challenges in the energy transition, stressing the importance of ensuring that the transition to clean energy benefits both the planet and citizens, underlining the medium and long-term benefits of renewable energy.

Simson also emphasised the need to protect those Europeans for whom the transition is most difficult, highlighting measures such as the Just Transition Mechanism and the Social Climate Fund. She also underlined the EU's commitment to improving its strategic autonomy in renewable energy, supporting EU manufacturing of clean technologies and reducing dependence on imports of critical raw materials.

The key points of the Commissioner's speech were threefold: First, she stressed the need for the clean energy transition to benefit both the planet and energy bills, emphasising that measures taken to boost renewables and reform the EU electricity market is already having a positive impact on energy prices in the medium term. Furthermore, she underlined the crucial role of renewables in balancing the natural gas market and saving consumers around 100 billion euros between 2021 and 2023. Secondly, she stressed the importance of protecting those Europeans for whom the transition is most challenging, mentioning measures such as the Just Transition Mechanism and the Social Climate Fund. Finally, Simson  highlighted the EU's commitment to improving its strategic autonomy in renewable energy, supporting EU manufacturing of clean technologies and reducing dependence on imports of critical raw materials, praising cooperation with the IEA in this context.

Both speeches reflect Europe's commitment to a just and sustainable transition to clean energy and the importance of international cooperation on this path. The celebration of the 50th anniversary of the IEA marks a significant milestone in the quest for a global clean energy system.