Brussels, 12/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - The draft directive on energy efficiency and the ETS were on the agenda of the EU27 environment ministers' “climate” lunch in Luxembourg on 11 June. Martin Lidegaard, who chaired the climate part of the Environment Council, concluded the session on an optimistic note, confident that an agreement was possible on the energy efficiency directive during the trialogue (Council/Commission/Parliament) on Wednesday, two days before the Energy Council of 15 June.
Addressing the press, the Council president spoke of “major progress” in the talks on the directive, adding: “We are more optimistic but we are still not there yet. I urge negotiators to use the political momentum in order to reach an agreement.” Lidegaard confirmed on the same occasion that his mandate for the directive does not include the ETS.
Connie Hedegaard, Commissioner for Climate Action, expressed the hope that the June summit would show how energy efficiency can serve as a lever for growth. She added that all governments want growth and employment and that “it is high time to embrace energy efficiency” especially as one knows that, last year, the EU imported €573 billion worth of fossil fuels.
On the sidelines of the session, Nicole Bricq, the new French minister, gave her assurance that energy efficiency and the fight against climate change take priority for the new French government, which is very attached to an ambitious energy efficiency directive. She went on to add that the binding target of 1.5% per year of final consumption other than transport must be kept even if there is some flexibility. The presidency, she added, limits such flexibility to 25% of the final target but they are willing to cap this at 20% to reach an agreement with Parliament. Claude Turmes, she said, was looking for support and she has heard him.
ETS, proposal by summer. Connie Hedegaard told the 27 ministers that by the summer “there will be a proposal on how we can backload the auctioning profile, which is a short-term measure”, likely to bring carbon prices up again. Part of the quotas which should be auctioned during the period 2013-2015 will be deferred until 2015-2020. When it comes to the revolt of third countries hostile to the ETS - countries that voiced their views at the IATA meeting in Beijing (see EUROPE 1063) - the commissioner said she counted on agreement within the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). “We need people to engage in the ICAO process”, she said. (AN/transl.jl)