Skip to content

POWGEN Final Conference: Turning Inclusion On – Labour Market Integration of Migrant People in the Renewable Energy Transition

By mcreixell

On 15 September 2026, the European project POWGEN will hold its final conference at the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in Brussels. Organised by ABD Group and CPMR (Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions), the event will bring together European institutions, regional and local authorities, civil society organisations, employment services and renewable energy stakeholders to discuss how migration policies, labour market inclusion and the green transition can be better connected.

Funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), POWGEN has worked over the past two years to improve the employability of migrants through innovative training pathways and labour market integration models in the renewable energy and refurbishment sectors. The project has implemented five pilot initiatives across Spain, Portugal, Germany and Italy, testing practical solutions that respond simultaneously to labour shortages in green sectors and the inclusion needs of third-country nationals.

The conference will open with contributions from representatives of the European Committee of the Regions, the European Commission’s DG HOME and DG ENERGY, who will present the European policy perspective on legal pathways, skills development and the role of migrants in achieving a just and inclusive energy transition.

A first policy roundtable will explore how labour market integration of migrants can be strengthened through coordinated action at European, regional and local level. Representatives from the Government of Catalonia, APREN – Portuguese Association of Renewable Energy, ABD Group and the European Commission will discuss existing policy frameworks, regional experiences and practical tools to foster inclusive employment in the renewable energy sector.

The conference will also showcase the results of the five POWGEN pilot projects implemented by ABD Group and Ecoserveis (Spain), CIDIS (Italy), CRESCER (Portugal) and Pro Arbeit (Germany). Through an interactive session, project partners will present the main achievements, challenges and lessons learned while supporting migrants through tailored vocational training, job orientation and employment pathways in the green economy.

A dedicated session led by CPMR will present the EMPOWERGEN Guidelines for Local and Regional Authorities, developed to support public administrations in designing inclusive policies that link migration, employment and the green transition. The discussion will continue with the experience of the Dutch region of Noord-Holland and WERKOM, illustrating both the results of a small-scale replication experience of POWGEN in the Netherlands and discussing their perspective on how recommendations can be translated into regional practice.

The afternoon will conclude with an interactive policy discussion on how successful pilot experiences can be scaled up into long-term public policies. The debate will feature contributions from MedCities, Regione Campania, ALDA Migration Hub, FAMSI, and other stakeholders, addressing topics such as regional cooperation, employment services, certification systems, multi-stakeholder partnerships and the role of civil society in creating inclusive labour markets.

The conference will close with reflections from New Women Connectors (NWC) and the Institute for European Energy and Climate Policy (IEECP), highlighting the future of migrant inclusion within Europe’s green transition and identifying opportunities for further collaboration between policymakers, civil society and the renewable energy sector.

The POWGEN Final Conference will thus provide a unique opportunity to exchange experiences, discover innovative practices and contribute to the development of policies that ensure the green transition becomes an opportunity for everyone.

Lastly, the POWGEN Final Event will conclude with an invitation only meeting of the CPMR Task Force on Migration Affairs on the morning of September 16, holding a special interest on the socio-economic integration dimension of the new EU Pact for Migration & Asylum. This second event among the POWGEN Consortium, CPMR Member Regions dealing with Migration Affairs and institutional guests will thus be the conclusion of a two-day policy and practice forum in Brussels.

MAIN CONFERENCE DETAILS

Discover the full programme: pending

Save the date

Organised by

Supported by:

* CoR is not responsible for the content of the meeting.

With partner organisations: