Today, the European Commission and the European University Institute launch the Energy Regulation Academy (EnRA), a new EU-funded initiative to help national authorities across all Member States in turning EU electricity sector reforms into concrete change on the ground. Delivered by the Florence School of Regulation, the EnRA will help shape the energy sector of tomorrow by providing targeted training, peer exchange and tailored support, to help build a more secure, sustainable and competitive European electricity system.
From reforms to impact
Europe's electricity sector is changing rapidly to meet evolving needs. Reforms are reshaping electricity markets, renewable energy investment, grid planning, system flexibility, digitalisation and consumer protection. But the success of these reforms depends on the capacity of national authorities to interpret new rules, design effective regulatory instruments and adapt institutions and practices.
The EnRA is created to meet this challenge: it puts public sector professionals at the centre of the transition, helping connect EU policy to day-to-day practice. Its aim is to foster visible change by supporting the implementation of timely and high-quality reforms in Member States.
A three-year programme for all Member States
Over the next three years, the Academy will support professionals from regulatory authorities, ministries and other public bodies through an integrated learning programme, comprising:
• A series of specialised training courses, with online preparation, interactive residential sessions, an AI knowledge assistant and online follow-up activities;
• Regional workshops addressing shared, cross-border regulatory challenges;
• Tailored consultations to support country-specific or regional reform needs;
• Practitioner-oriented technical briefs that translate complex reforms and policy developments into accessible guidance.
The curriculum will evolve to reflect EU policy priorities and Member State needs. It will cover areas such as electricity market design, contracts for difference and power purchase agreements, flexibility and capacity mechanisms, renewable energy integration, grid investment, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cross-border coordination.
Building a European community of practice
The EnRA is more than a training programme: by bringing together professionals from every Member State, it will build a European community of practice for continuous peer learning and regulatory cooperation.
This network will allow experience gained in one country to inform work elsewhere, support more coherent implementation of EU electricity reforms and strengthen institutional cooperation for a more integrated Energy Union.
“Europe's energy transition depends not only on ambitious EU-level reforms, but also on implementation at national level. And implementation ultimately depends on the people and institutions responsible for doing so. The Energy Regulation Academy is an investment in their expertise and ability to act, across all Member States. This will help turn EU electricity reforms into tangible benefits for citizens, businesses and our energy system,” said Declan Costello, Director-General, European Commission / SG REFORM.
“The EnRA is designed around the realities professionals face when implementing complex reforms. It combines policy-oriented learning with applied cases, expert guidance and exchange between peers. The aim is not simply to transfer knowledge, but to create a trusted European community that can learn together, solve problems together and sustain cooperation well beyond each course,” said Leonardo Meeus, Director, European University Institute / FSR.
The Energy Regulation Academy is a three-year initiative funded by the European Union through the Technical Support Instrument. It is implemented by the European University Institute's Florence School of Regulation in cooperation with the European Commission's Reform and Investment Task Force (SG REFORM).