Brussels, 02/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - The conclusions document of the Friday 4 February European Council in Brussels on energy include little that is surprising apart from the introduction of indirect hints about nuclear energy to ensure security of supply - hints demanded by France and the Czech Republic.
The EU's leaders decided on priority measures for the internal market in energy and energy infrastructure, diversifying energy sources and foreign policy.
To pave the way for a joined-up internal energy market, the leaders note the importance of speedy and full application by the member states of internal market legislation on gas and electricity within the appropriate deadlines, expecting the said market to be fully up and running by 2014.
Europe's leaders agreed to update the EU's energy infrastructure and arrange connections between countries, as set out as a priority in the European Commission's 10 year plan (2011-2020) unveiled in November 2010. The leaders say this is crucial to ensure operational solidarity among the member states, to put diversification into practice for both energy sources and the transport of fuel, and to develop and incorporate renewable energy. The European Commission has been given the go-ahead to prepare rationalisation and improvements in the process of authorising the building of energy infrastructure, without infringing national powers and procedures, noting that member states' regional integration measures will be welcome. The EU27 says that no member state can remain an energy island separate from the rest after 2015, nor should it see security of supply endangered by lack of appropriate connections.
When it comes to financing the building of infrastructure, the European Council says it wants most of the high investment costs to be borne by the private sector alone, which would be paid back in the form of higher charges for consumers, but charges are supposed to remain affordable to ensure the EU remains competitive. Only a handful of projects, deemed suitable because of security of supply and solidarity but which are not commercially viable, would receive limited public funding. The Commission is to draw up a list of such projects by June 2011.
When it comes to energy saving, the leaders call for determined action to make the most of the potential of buildings, transport and manufacturing processes because the EU's target of 20% of energy savings by 2020 is not being achieved. The EU27 want the public sector to set the example and for member states to include energy saving requirements in their contracts for new services and buildings, starting from 1st January 2012, in order to ensure the EU targets are met. The politicians also call for rapid examination of the soon-to-be-published revised energy efficiency action plan.
On the development of green energy, the Commission and the member states are asked to work more closely together on application of the EU's 2009 renewable energy directive, particularly cooperation systems and national aid schemes. The EU and its member states should encourage investment in renewable energy and also low-carbon technology. The word “nuclear” was not specifically mentioned but references to low-carbon technology are clearly a sop to France and the Czech Republic, both of which favour the use of nuclear. Member states must implement the measures set out in the energy technology strategy (SET-Plan), and the Commission must unveil measures on smart grids, energy storage, sustainable biofuels and energy savings in towns and cities. The conclusions document refers to the need to assess the potential of coal mining and sustainable use of conventional fossil fuels, as required by France and Poland, along with more unusual fossil fuels (schist oil and gas).
Agreeing on the need for better coordination of the work of the EU and its member states to ensure coherent relations with non-EU energy-producing and transit countries, the leaders invite the Commission to prepare a document on energy security and international security by June 2011. The member states are asked to provide the Commission, starting on 1st January 2012, with information about all their planned and existing energy agreements with non-EU countries. The EU high representative for foreign affairs is asked to take energy security into account in her work.
The European Council stressed the importance of developing win-win partnerships on a range of issues (regulatory approach, energy security, low-carbon technology, energy efficiency and nuclear safety) with key partners - the only one mentioned is Russia - and on strategic corridors like the southern gas corridor connected with the Nabucco gas pipeline-building programme.
The EU27 explain that the EU will work with countries outside the EU to counter volatile fuel prices and will raise the issue at the G20.
The European leaders called for a long-term strategy to achieve the 80-95% target of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, pointing out that this will require a revolution in energy systems that has to start right now. (E.H./transl.fl)