CEER Annual Conference 2026
Under the theme United in Regulation: National Authorities, European Impact — Implementing the CEER 2026–2029 Strategy: National Regulators Driving the European Energy Transition, the CEER Annual Conference 2026 brought together national energy regulators, European institutions, and key stakeholders to examine how the Strategy's objectives can be translated into concrete regulatory practice across Member States.
Following the launch of the CEER 2026–2029 Strategy, the conference served as a critical forum to shape the next phase of EU energy policy. The conference addressed one of the central challenges facing European energy regulation today: maintaining affordable energy costs for consumers whilst mobilising the large-scale investment needed to modernise infrastructure and advance the energy transition.
Structured around CEER's three strategic pillars — optimising market-oriented solutions, empowering and protecting consumers, and deepening the integration of a fully decarbonised energy system.
The full event was professionally produced and live-streamed, allowing online participants worldwide to follow and engage with proceedings in real time. Speakers and panellists took the floor in person from Brussels.
The 2025 Annual Conference, which marked CEER's 25th Anniversary, can be revisited in full, including a recap video and highlights, on the CEER Annual Conference 2025 page.
Programme
Related Pictures
Programme
Opening Remarks
Keynote speech I
Panel 1: Market Integration: Balancing European Convergence with National Realities
Ahead of upcoming debates on market integration, this panel looks at implementing the updated EU electricity market design from the perspective of national regulators. The core challenge is maintaining a cohesive pan-European wholesale market while respecting the distinct technical and geographic realities of individual national energy systems.
Coffee Break
Keynote speech II
Panel 2: Infrastructure Deployment and System Adequacy
Following the January 2026 Hamburg Summit and the launch of the EU Grids Package, this panel bridges the gap between political goals and regulatory implementation. Using the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) as a case study, it explores the practical realities of building a multi-terminal offshore grid.
The session will tackle the regulatory friction behind “hybrid” projects, focusing on fast-tracked permitting, cross-border cost-sharing, and integrating massive offshore wind volumes without risking onshore grid stability.
Poolside chat: Affordability and the “true” cost of Energy
Moving away from abstract policy and into macroeconomic realities, this poolside chat between the CEER President and Secretary General will explore how wholesale trends and massive grid investments directly impact final bills for European citizens and industries. Together, they will debate what national regulators can do to ensure infrastructure costs are allocated fairly and efficiently, maintaining public trust while advancing toward climate neutrality.