At the heart of the EUI's Robert Schuman Centre, the Florence School of Regulation (FSR) has been advancing EU regulatory knowledge through research, training, and policy dialogue for twenty years. On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, a special event took place on 3 July 2024 to explore the programme's history and discuss the way forward.
In opening the event, EUI President Patrizia Nanz emphasised the essential role of FSR in addressing today's challenges related to affordability, sustainability, and autonomy in energy and environmental regulation, and in leading the way to a more sustainable and equitable future. "By bringing together a diverse range of perspectives and facilitating meaningful dialogue, FSR has played a crucial role in shaping policies and regulations that have a significant impact on our daily lives", shared Nanz. "Moving forward," she added, "FSR should continue to embody the values of a European research university by advancing knowledge that transcends national borders and deeply engages with societal issues."
FSR Director Leonardo Meeus stated: "What unites us is a strong sense of purpose. We focus on sectors that can get very technical, but these sectors are also at the core of our daily lives. Every idea we have to improve policies and regulations in these sectors can really make a difference."
The event continued with a dedicated panel including Catharina Sikow-Magny (European Commission), Nathalie Berger (European Commission), and Clara Poletti (ACER, ARERA), which was moderated by the Director of the Robert Schuman Centre, Erik Jones.
The Florence School of Regulation was established in 2004 at the European University Institute's Robert Schuman Centre as a cooperation between the EUI, the Council of European Energy Regulators, and the European Commission to promote good regulation in Europe via training, research, and policy dialogue. Today, FSR is a unique combination of a university research group, a think tank, and an executive education institute increasingly active at the world level.