| Abstract |
From 1st January 2004, the Structural Funds (SF) are available in the New Member States (NMS). One of the main challenges we are facing is to use this new opportunity in the most sustainable way, especially regarding energy issues which are a full component of regional and urban development. Experience has already been gained in the current European Union. Sometimes this has been a bad one, for instance when the SF have not been used in the best way by promoting infrastructure projects without taking into account their impact on natural resources or climate issues. On other occasions it has been a good experience, for example when energy issues have been considered from the point of view of energy demand and the promotion of local renewable resources rather than simply from that of the supply side via investment in grids and transnational networks. This experience must be used by NMS to avoid the same mistakes and to integrate these aspects in the preparation of the projects, as requested by the rules of ERDF. Considering the Partnership, RUSE Project brings together: municipalities (and local energy agencies) some of which having an experience in SF related projects; specialist networks of municipalities interested in energy issues; a region; national agencies which have a responsibility in the implementation of SF and/or an experience in supporting local energy initiatives. The development of links between the local and national levels is very often a guarantee of the actual integration of energy issues. |