Arbitration panel
Conflict resolution
Anybody can file a complaint against a decision (or absence of a decision) of EKOenergy’s Board, or against the way the EKOenergy rules are being implemented. The complaint has to be directed to the EKOenergy Board and will be brought to the attention of the EKOenergy Advisory Group.
The EKOenergy Board has to react within three months to complaints coming from
- Members of the EKOenergy network
- Companies selling EKOenergy
- Electricity producers (or their representatives) in the case of decisions about the eligibility of their production device
If parties responsible for the complaint don’t agree with the Board’s reaction, and if they belong to one of the three above mentioned categories, they can refer the case to EKOenergy’s Arbitration Panel.
Composition and procedure
EKOenergy’s Arbitration Panel consists of a minimum of three experts nominated by the Advisory Group and appointed by the EKOenergy Board. An appointment is valid for five years.
In the Arbitration Panel, there is one reserved seat for an expert on environmental issues and one for an expert on renewable electricity. The relevant stakeholder groups will get the opportunity to suggest candidates. At least one member of the Arbitration Panel has to be a jurist (Master’s degree in Law).
Click here for the rules and proceedings of EKOenergy’s arbitration panel
The three permanent members of the Arbitration Panel are:
- Mr Peter De Smedt, president of the Arbitration Panel
Peter De Smedt is an environmental lawyer from Belgium. He has a very long experience as a lawyer and as advisor of environmental organisations, public authorities (Flemish region and municipalities) and companies. He is member of a large number of official advisory councils.
See the website of his law firm for more information - Ms Vera Dua
Vera Dua was active in the Belgian (Flemish) Green Party from the 1980s to 2011. She was the Flemish Minister of the Environment and Agriculture from 1999 to 2003. After she left politics, she became very active in several organisations promoting sustainable development. Since 2013 she is the chairperson of Bond Beter Leefmilieu, the Flemish umbrella organization of Environmental organisations. - Mr Peter Niermeyer
Peter Niermeyer is Secretary-General of RECS International.
Click here for his LinkedIn profile.