Unanimously appointed today during the external ENVE Commission meeting in Malaga, Mr Ribányi will now draw up an opinion on "Localising energy production: the role of geothermal energy" with the first exchange of views scheduled for the November ENVE Commission meeting.

Upon his appointment, Mr Ribányi, member of Tolna Megye regional assembly in Hungary, highlighted the importance of local clean energy production, which can provide for lower energy prices and increase energy security at the same time: "the contribution of local energy sources to job creation and to a new local economy sector cannot be overlooked", he stated. 

Up until now, geothermal energy has not been widely discussed at EU level and with the Green Deal's very ambitious targets, Mr Ribányi described it as "a crucial moment to tap into the potential of renewable energy sources, in particular, geothermal energy which has been so overlooked until now". At regional and local authority level local energy production can provide solutions to citizens and institutions with a view to "promoting energy sufficiency and reducing local emissions, while ensuring affordable energy for all", he said.

The draft opinion is scheduled to be adopted in the February ENVE Commission meeting before being put to vote in the CoR April plenary session.