Meeting Announcement: Reflecting on ten years of Europe’s energy markets

The next interactive discussion of the Brussels Energy Club will focus on the following topic:

"Reflecting on ten years of Europe’s energy markets –

from where we were to where we will be"

This special VIP guest session will take place in person on Thursday, 29 January 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm at TUSIAD, Avenue des Gaulois, 13, Brussels 1040, and will be followed by a networking lunch.

VIP guest speaker:

Giles Dickson

Former CEO of WindEurope

Introduced and moderated by:

Dr. Marat Terterov

Principle Representative, Brussels Energy Club

Background

There is no time like the start of the new year to reflect on the past and gaze into the future. But when it comes to Europe’s energy markets, a deeper and more structural reflection may be in order, where evaluation of decade-long cycles bear relevance. Ten years ago, the Paris Agreement at COP21 appeared to herald a new age in Europe’s energy transition, raising our expectations of a more sustainable energy future and increasingly climate-friendly energy systems.

But while renewable energy and other lower emitting innovations are now a far more mainstream feature of the European (and global) energy landscape than a decade earlier, fossil fuels remain a mainstay of the energy supply. Multiple scenarios on energy supply-demand outlooks inform us that demand for energy will remain bullish into the next decade, leading to constant demand for all types of fuels, be they conventional, renewable or other.

So where does this place us in terms of where we were with the EU energy markets ten years ago ? And where are we headed in the next ten years ? How have European energy markets been adjusting during the last decade in light of what we agreed in Paris in 2015 ? Have European decision makers succeeded in creating the right incentives to attract investment into renewables and other relevant innovations ? Is there scope for Europe to become more energy independent, or are we condemned to eternal import dependence, be it on external gas suppliers or Chinese solar panels ? And can renewable energy drive Europe’s energy economies into the 2030s, or are we just kidding ourselves and painting rosy pictures?

There are few people better placed to tackle these vexing questions in an open, frank and qualified manner than Giles Dickson. Over the last decade, Giles has been one of the key voices and substantive authorities in Brussels when it comes to our energy markets, particularly the world of wind. Having stepped down from WindEurope at the end of 2025 to become a school teacher, Giles will educate us on the evolution of the European energy markets during the last ten years, as well as speculate on what we can expect during the next decade.

This is a session not to be missed!

We look forward to welcoming you to the Brussels Energy Club on Tuesday, January 29, for what promises to be a truly enthralling discussion.

Speaker information

Giles Dickson holds an MA from Oxford University. He worked in the British civil service from 1992 to 2008, including 2 stints in Brussels at the UK Permanent Representation. He was then the VP of Public Affairs at the French engineering company, Alstom, before joining WindEurope in 2015. He’s known for his sharp and eloquent views.

Further information and participation

Registration is required for participation in this meeting.

Participation in this meeting is free for members and guests of the Brussels Energy Club.

Please contact us on info@brusselsenergyclub.org for more information about this meeting.

The meeting may be recorded and, at a later stage, appear on the Brussels Energy Club YouTube channel. We reserve the right to quote participants in our subsequent publications, following the granting of permission by speakers.