📍 Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi 155, Brussels
📅 26 March 2026
⌚ 12:00 - 17:30, followed by cocktail reception
As the EU moves forward with its climate and circular economy ambitions, the possible inclusion of Waste-to-Energy (WtE) in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) raises crucial questions about coherence, feasibility, and environmental effectiveness.
The event aims to provide a platform for dialogue among stakeholders on how to balance decarbonisation objectives with sustainable waste management and energy recovery. Participants from European institutions, EU member states, industry, and civil society will be invited to assess whether the EU ETS provides the right framework for Waste-to-Energy, and to explore what complementary policy approaches are needed to ensure effective progress toward Europe’s climate and circularity goals.
Together, participants will help to address one of the most pressing policy questions for the waste and energy sectors: How can Europe design the right climate tools for Waste-to-Energy?
This is an in-person event organised by CEWEP (Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants) & ESWET (European Waste-to-Energy Technology Suppliers).
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12:00 – 13:00 |
Registrations & Networking lunch |
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13:00 - 13:15 |
Opening Remarks Dr. Ella Stengler, Managing Director, CEWEP – The Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants |
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13:15 - 13:25 |
Keynote speech Letizia Moratti, Member of the European Parliament (European People’s Party, EPP), former Mayor of Milan, Italy |
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13:25 - 15:05 |
Panel I: Is the EU ETS fit for Waste-to-Energy? Moderator: Charoula Melliou, Deputy Secretary-General, ESWET – The European Suppliers of Waste-to-Energy Technology This panel will critically assess whether ETS is an appropriate tool for driving decarbonisation in the waste sector, focusing on unintended consequences and feasibility.
Q&A with audience (30 mins) |
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15:05 - 15:35 |
Coffee Break |
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15:35 - 17:15 |
Panel II: Beyond ETS – What the policy debate must include Moderator: Fabio Poretti, Scientific and Technical Officer, CEWEP – The Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants A broader look at the policy ecosystem - landfills, plastics, and complementary approaches - to ensure realistic pathways to climate and circularity goals.
Q&A with audience (30 mins) |
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17:15 – 17:30 |
Closing Remarks Speaker: Patrick Clerens, Secretary-General, ESWET – The European Suppliers of Waste-to-Energy Technology |
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From 17:30 |
Cocktail reception |
►CLICK HERE FOR CEWEP & ESWET's
Policy Brief on Waste & the EU ETS
ABOUT THE ORGANISERS
CEWEP, the Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants, is the umbrella association of the operators of Waste-to-Energy (incineration with energy recovery) plants, representing about 434 plants from 24 countries.
ESWET, European Suppliers of Waste-to-Energy Technology, is a European association representing manufacturers in the field of Waste-to-Energy Technology. ESWET member companies have built and supplied over 95% of the Waste-to-Energy plants in operation in Europe.
Event contact: Agne.Razgaityte@cewep.eu