Brussels, 15/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - Poland has preferred not to oblige by supporting the energy roadmap to 2050. It was expected that the Energy Council, in Luxembourg on Friday 15 June, would adopt conclusions on an energy mix to be promoted in coming decades, with emphasis on energy efficiency and renewables. This is the second time that Warsaw has blocked proceedings with a refusal, after wielding its veto on the climate roadmap for 2050. The result is that, without Council unanimity, the roadmap now takes on the status of “presidency conclusions”, supported by 26 countries.
On the basis that there is an pressing need to reduce Europe's energy payments and the impact that energy has on the environment, the Commission had suggested last December that a roadmap should allow the energy system to be rethought. The Commission aims to establish, by 2050, a low CO2 emission policy that would be stable in the long term, while being affordable and safe. Various methods for achieving a low carbon footprint of the European energy system are recommended, with five scenarios that promote renewable energies, without fully ruling out nuclear energy but prohibiting carbon emissions. The last point is difficult for Poland to accept as its electricity production is 95% reliant on coal, which allows the country to safeguard its energy independence, and consumers to enjoy lower prices. Poland therefore preferred to block EU27 consensus on the roadmap, giving as justification for this that the clauses in question could have a negative long-term impact on Poland's economic development, a memo from the Polish Minister for the Economy indicates. The Danish Presidency considers that the 26 member states that supported the conclusions want the European Commission to present post-2020 policy proposals. Martin Lidegaard, Danish Energy Minister, commented that this is a very powerful sign to the Commission and a clear sign to the market.
The Polish parliament has rejected a proposal for a referendum backed by the nationalist right-wing, aimed at renegotiating the climate package approved by the EU in 2008. (MD/transl.jl)