Grid Security:

Financing Europe's Sovereign Energy Future

Policy Debate

  • 📅 Date: Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 11:30-13:00, followed by a lunch reception

  • 📍 Location: B-1000 Brussels

Space is limited. Register your interest in attending the policy debate using the form below. Please contact Tim Kirstein (tkirstein@secureenergy.org) for any questions.

The policy debate tackles:

  • Financing a more resilient grid: Unlocking the investment needed for grid resilience, and putting public and private capital to work to strengthen Europe's energy security.

  • Building resilience with Ukraine: Hardening the grid against hybrid threats, and aligning emergency support for Ukraine with its long-term integration into the European energy market.

Speakers include:

  • Catherine Banet, Co-Academic Director at the Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE)

  • Olivia Breese, Partner, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners

  • H.E. Anders H. Eide, Ambassador of Norway to the European Union

  • Ambassador Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe, Assistant Secretary General for Cyber and Digital Transformation, NATO

  • Harald von Heyden, Global Head of Energy and Infrastructure, Norges Bank Investment Management

  • Albéric Mongrenier, Executive Director, EIES (moderator)

  • Elisabeth Vike Vardheim, CEO, Statnett

  • Christian Zinglersen, Deputy Secretary General and Permanent Representative of the European Investment Bank Group to the EU, EIB

Participants will include representatives of the European Commission, Member States, industry and military leaders.

Preliminary Agenda

  • 11:30–11:35 | Welcome and Introduction by Tor Eigil Hodne (Director, Brussels Office, Statnett)

  • 11:35–11:50 | Fireside Chat: Security of Europe’s future grid

    • Conversation with Elisabeth Vike Vardheim and Ambassador Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe.

  • 11:50–12:20 | Building Resilience with Ukraine

    • Operating and restoring a power system under pressure, lessons for resilience, cybersecurity and integration across Europe.

  • 12:20–12:55 | Panel Discussion: Financing a More Resilient Grid

    • Unlocking investment in grid infrastructure and the role of capital in strengthening Europe’s energy security.

  • 12:55–13:00 | Closing Remarks and Way Forward by H.E. Anders H. Eide

  • From 13:00 | Lunch Reception