Speaking during the external meeting of the Commission for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) in Assisi, Vlasta Krmelj (SI/EPP), Mayor of the Municipality of Selnica ob Dravi and pre-appointed rapporteur on the revision of the EU Energy Security Framework, called for a stronger local and regional dimension in Europe’s approach to energy security.
During the debate on the EU Energy Security Framework, Krmelj underlined that energy security has moved far beyond being a technical energy issue and has become one of the defining political, economic and security challenges of our time.
“The revision of the EU Energy Security Framework comes at a crucial moment. Europe must ensure that its energy system remains secure, resilient and fit for a rapidly changing geopolitical and climate landscape,” said Krmelj.
She stressed that, for municipalities and regions, energy security is not an abstract concept, but a daily responsibility. It means keeping hospitals, schools, water systems and public services functioning during a crisis, protecting vulnerable households from energy poverty, supporting local businesses during price shocks, and responding to storms, floods, droughts, cyber incidents and infrastructure failures.
“In many cases, local and regional authorities are the first public authorities citizens turn to when something goes wrong. That is why Europe’s energy security cannot be designed without the territories that are expected to deliver it,” Krmelj said.
Krmelj highlighted that regions and cities are already delivering concrete solutions: planning renewable energy projects, investing in new infrastructure, supporting energy communities, engaging citizens and building public trust. However, she warned that energy security challenges differ significantly across Europe.
Border regions, islands, rural areas, industrial regions and cities face different risks, infrastructure constraints and opportunities. For this reason, Krmelj insisted that a one-size-fits-all approach will not be sufficient.
“Solidarity remains one of Europe’s greatest strengths, but solidarity must be matched by investment. Regions and cities need adequate financial, technical and governance support if they are to deliver the resilience Europe expects from them,” she said.
The rapporteur also underlined that the revision of the EU Energy Security Framework should not only aim to prevent the next crisis. It should define what energy security means in a decarbonised, digitalised and increasingly decentralised Europe.
According to Krmelj, energy security is not only about protecting systems, but also about creating opportunities. Every solar panel installed on a school roof, every heat pump produced in Europe, every energy community established in a village and every smart grid solution developed by European companies strengthens Europe’s security while creating jobs, innovation and economic value.
“For regions and cities, energy security is also an economic development strategy. By investing in home-grown renewable energy, energy storage, digital energy solutions and local energy communities, we can reduce dependency on imports while creating skilled jobs, supporting SMEs and strengthening regional competitiveness,” Krmelj said.
She also stressed that affordability and social fairness must remain at the heart of the future framework.
“For millions of Europeans, energy security means being able to heat their homes in winter, cool them during heatwaves and pay their energy bills without falling into poverty. No region should be left behind because it lacks the financial or technical capacity to invest in the energy transition,” she said.
Concluding her intervention, Krmelj called for a strong, forward-looking opinion from the European Committee of the Regions, reflecting the role of local and regional authorities in strengthening Europe’s resilience, competitiveness and social cohesion.
“Europe’s energy security will not be built only in Brussels. It will be built in our regions, our cities, our communities and our homes. The stronger our territories are, the stronger the European Energy Union will be,” Krmelj concluded.