Brussels, 24/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - The potential of green growth and energy efficiency were the key themes of an informal meeting of the European energy ministers in Dublin on 23 and 24 April. The meeting, which was held in conjunction with that of the environment ministers, also saw an initial exchange of views on the consequences of the supply of energy in unconventional hydrocarbons.
The deliberations of this informal Energy Council under the Irish Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers started with a discussion shared with the environment ministers on Tuesday, to help identify the priority issues to be dealt with in order to establish a coherent framework for the energy and climate policies post-2020, and to smooth the EU's way to becoming a low-carbon, yet competitive, economy. “The ministers stressed the need for greater certainty on the energy and climate objectives in order to ensure worthwhile policies with good cost-efficiency ratios. There is a potential to maximise synergies whilst looking at possible compromises between competitiveness, security of supply and sustainable development”, was the summing-up of the host of the meeting, Ireland's Pat Rabbitte. The ministers subscribe to the opinion of Commissioner Günther Oettinger, who believes that the future framework must take account of current economic problems, whilst continuing to be ambitious on the long term for the emission reduction targets.
For the first time, the ministers' debates also looked at the question of the impact of non-conventional gases, including shale gas, on energy supply, competitiveness and prices. Oettinger promised a full stance on the part of the European executive on this controversial issue before next year. “By the end of the year, the Commission will come forward with a proposal, on the basis of the analysis carried out by its joint research centre, which supports pioneer member states developing demonstration projects, such as Poland and the United Kingdom”, the commissioner told the press. The Irish Presidency called on the Commission to reflect, on the basis of Wednesday's ministerial debate, on the aspects related to competitiveness and the security of supply, taking due account of the environmental considerations of extracting non-conventional gases.
The ministers also discussed links between smart technology, innovation and energy policy. “The ultimate objective of using standardised smart meters and smart networks across Europe must be motivated by economic benefits overall and for consumers. In doing this, we must recognise energy requirements, the circumstances and the IT capability of all categories of consumers. The need to respect data protection is also paramount”, Rabbitte said. The ministers also stressed the need for public awareness campaigns on the potential benefits of smart technology and the responsibility of energy providers in this regard, in reinforcing consumer confidence, given the mass of data at play.
The member states also discussed the funding of energy efficiency measures, including an assessment of the impact on growth and employment of a sustained buildings renovation campaign. The ministers also tackled the chapter on renewable energies and their integration into energy systems, and agreed that their increasing popularity needed to respond to major challenges, including cost considerations in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Lastly, having been informed by the Commission on progress towards completing the internal market, the ministers agreed that this is not an end in itself, but that it should bring tangible advantages to all energy consumers, the Irish Presidency summed up. (EH/transl.fl)