Brussels, 28/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - The 4 February European Council is expected to publish a conclusions document setting out agreement on priority action for the EU internal market in energy and energy infrastructure, along with measures on energy saving, renewable energy sources and foreign policy on energy-related issues.
Internal market. In preparation for an integrated, inter-connected EU energy market, the European Council will point out the importance of full and speedy introduction by the member states of the EU's internal market rules. Time is racing ahead if the European leaders want to actually introduce a European electricity and gas market for 2014. To this end, the Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), national regulators and transport operators (GRT) will need to step up their work on linking up markets and grid codes. The member states and EU standardisation bodies will also need to speed up their work on the adoption of technical standards for this summer for the recharging of electric cars and by 2013 for smart electricity meters and grids. The Commission will continue to assess the functioning of the single market paying particular attention to consumer matters. Examination of the draft regulation on transparency of the energy markets, unveiled in December 2010, is expected to be ended shortly.
Infrastructure. The European Council will issue guidelines on the selection of projects, authorisation and funding. Agreeing that greater effort is required to ensure proper solidarity among member states, a diversification of sources and transport routes and introduction of renewables, Europe's leaders are expected to endorse the 10 Year Plan (2011-2020) unveiled in November 2010 by the European Commission and to give the Commission the go-ahead to prepare new legislation to rationalise and improve authorisation procedures without infringing on national powers and procedures. The European Council is also expected to back measures taken by the member states to integrate markets and grids at regional level, along with other measures put forward by the Commission. The leaders are expected to express determination to ensure no member state remains an energy island beyond 2015 and that energy supply is not endangered by lack of suitable connections.
On funding, the European Council is expected to favour the market paying for most of the high investment cost for infrastructure. Only a handful of projects that justify public funding due to energy security and solidarity and also from a commercial viewpoint will receive limited public cash. The Commission will publish details of the scale of investment needed and financing ideas by June 2011.
Energy savings. Admitting that the 20% energy efficiency target for 2020 is not being met, the European Council will call for determined action to make use of the energy savings potential of buildings, transport and manufacturing processes. In this connection, it will require that from 1 January 2011, all member states shall introduce energy efficiency rules in line with the EU's targets into their public procurement procedures for new public buildings and services. The Council will need to examine the Commission's revised action plan without delay.
Green energy. The European Council is expected to call on the Commission to work more closely with the member states on the introduction of the 2009 renewables directive, particularly on cooperation mechanisms and stable state aid schemes at national level. The conclusions document says that the EU and its member states should encourage investment in renewable energy and low-carbon technology and introduce the priorities set out in the SET-Plan (Energy Technology Strategy). The European Council will call on the Commission to unveil initiatives on smart grids, energy storage, sustainable biofuels and energy savings in towns and cities.
Non-EU dimension. Agreeing on the need for better coordination of work at EU and member state levels in order to ensure coherence with major non-EU energy producers, consumers and transit countries, the European Council will urge the Commission to publish a report by June 2011 on energy security and international cooperation. Member states will be asked to inform the Commission from 1 January 2012 onwards of all existing and new energy deals with non-EU countries and all private contracts. The European Council notes the importance of building mutually beneficial partnerships with the main partners, primarily Russia but also with “strategic corridors” like the southern gas corridor connected with the Nabucco gas pipeline programme.
Long-term planning. The European Council will call for the drawing up of a long-term plan to achieve the target of 80-95% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. They admit that this will require a revolution in energy systems and the changes have to start now. (E.H./transl.fl)