Brussels, 10/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - As part of its proactive agenda on green, sustainable growth in the EU, the Danish Presidency of the Council of Ministers during the first half of this year wants to shift energy policy more towards solutions based on renewable sources of energy and energy savings.
Like its programmes in agriculture, transport, the environment and climate, and information technology, which are built on dialogue and cooperation between the public and private sectors, the Danish Presidency will seek to achieve specific energy objectives by 2020: increasing the percentage of renewables in energy consumption to 20% and improving energy efficiency by 20%. This will require, it believes, action based on the technological development of high yield energy systems and greater use of renewable sources of energy and security of supply. Emphasis will also be placed on creating a resource-efficient and low-carbon Europe by 2050.
While the EU is on the right track in terms of its pledges on energy and the climate, more will have to be done if the target for energy efficiency is to be achieved, the Danish Presidency says in a document setting out its priorities. It says that the text of an energy efficiency directive will be a key priority of its efforts. The Presidency also sets out the follow-up to be given to the long-term energy roadmap (by 2050) - alongside that on climate - a flagship component of its action on energy. To help the EU reach the target of a reduction of between 80% and 95% in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the Presidency is looking to introduce incentives to move towards greener energy by 2020 and beyond, based on investment in clean, less energy-guzzling technology and greater use of renewables.
The full integration (due by 2014) and the proper operation of the internal energy market, which involves, for example, modernisation and interconnection of EU energy infrastructure, is the other main concern of the Presidency, which will focus much of its work on incorporating increasing amounts of renewable energy in energy grids.
In this first half of the year, Denmark will chair two formal meetings of the Energy Council - on 14 February and 15 June - and one informal - from 18 to 20 April, to be attended also by environment ministers. (EH/transl.rt)