This conference gave the opportunity to give a more concrete idea of what energy poverty means and to urge the EU institutions and Member States to move forward on an integrated approach embracing its three main factors (low household income, high and rising costs of fuel and lack of energy efficiency in housing). Operational solutions at national, regional and local level were presented by associations working with people experiencing poverty, housing providers, energy suppliers. Those solutions (ranging from the setting up of regional forum to give advice to decisionmakers on the use of smart-meters in social housing to help tenants control their energy consumption) as well as the role of the EU were discussed by representatives of the European Commission, MEPs, and representatives of the European energy regulators.

Paul Magnette, Belgian Minister in charge of Energy and Environment, concluded the Conference by announcing that access to energy for all will be a key priority for the upcoming Belgian EU Presidency. He highlighted the fact that “Energy poverty should not be tackled only by social measures but should be put in the wider context of income redistribution and financial speculation”. The Belgian presidency will work on the recognition of the problem at the EU level by progressing on how to define this problem, on the setting up common indicators and by elaborating a cross analysis of good practices at national level.

> Presentations from the event, as well as the joint CECODHAS- Housing Europe / EAPN press statement, are available on POWER HOUSE website. See also the article that appeared in The Parliament magazine

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