The European Energy Forum (EEF) celebrated its 30th anniversary with an official event at the European Parliament in Brussels, which brought together representatives of the European institutions, industry, academia and the expert community. The event was opened by EEF President, MEP Tsvetelina Penkova, who highlighted the Forum's role as a leading platform for building effective, balanced and scientifically sound energy policies.
Penkova was elected EEF President in 2024, and under her leadership the European Energy Forum took a renewed direction – with structured expert discussions, closer interaction between industry and institutions and a broadening of the thematic focus to key areas for Europe's future competitiveness, including nuclear energy and network infrastructure. In this position, in 2024, Penkova was elected to replace Jerzy Buzek, former Prime Minister of Poland, who was President of the European Energy Forum for 10 years.
In her speech, the Bulgarian MEP recalled that over the three decades since its establishment, EEF has established a unique working model: over 600 specialized discussions, dozens of trainings and thematic visits, a sustainable format of dialogue between institutions, industry and scientific circles, as well as an expert network that is today among the most impressive in the European energy sector. “EEF was created to prove that arguments should be fundamental to European energy policy, and expertise should weigh more than political lines. Today, it is the most respected and valued platform for professional energy dialogue in Europe“, she noted.
Penkova emphasized that “Energy policy today is geopolitics, industrial transformation and social sustainability all in one. Our task is to create a space in which decisions are formed on facts and expertise, not on assumptions. This is the strength of the EEF“, said Tsvetelina Penkova.
During the event, she paid special tribute to the long-standing Director General of the Forum - Pascal Verost - who has guaranteed the institutional sustainability and consistency of the EEF for more than 27 years. According to her, it is precisely the professionalism, continuity and high standards of work that have turned the Forum into “the most respected place for energy debate in Brussels“.
Representatives of the European Parliament, industry and leading European energy companies emphasized that in the conditions of global transformations, the role of the EEF becomes even more significant — The Forum is establishing itself as a bridge between technological progress and political decisions, as a space for expert discussions and as a driver of policies that guarantee security, predictability and growth of European energy.
“EEF has always been the place where the most difficult topics are turned into solutions. And today, 30 years later, our mission remains the same: to build the future of European energy through knowledge, professionalism and partnership“, concluded Penkova.
The event was attended by over 90 representatives of EU institutions and energy. This is a clear request and attestation of the importance of the European Energy Forum for the future.
For contact with the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the EP: https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/
