Brussels, 02/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - 950 amendments, 500 pages, 60,000 pages printed, 3 co-rapporteurs, 12 shadow rapporteurs, this is the sum in paper and in human resources of the huge efforts undertaken by the environment (ENVI) and industry (ITRE) committees to define an integrated climate and energy policy to the year 2030. The second joint meeting, in Brussels on Monday afternoon 2 December, made clear how much work will have to be done if there is to be compromise bringing together two different and clashing visions. Supporters of three binding targets (in greenhouse gas emission reduction, renewable energy and energy efficiency) are pitted against those who want only an emissions reduction target.
How many objectives, binding or non-binding, what level of ambition? Finding a compromise will be based on these questions in an effort to draft an own initiative opinion in double quick time. Time is short because the European Commission will be presenting its proposal for the legislative package on 22 January and it must take into consideration this opinion.
Compromise amendments will have to be submitted by 12 December, to be discussed and voted on during the joint meetings co-chaired by Amalia Sartori (EPP, Italy) and Konrad Szymandki (ECR, Poland). Differences of opinion, however, are now emerging on the three strategic targets. Shadow rapporteur, Konrad Szyandki called for creative and flexible policies and said that “sustainable development, security of energy supply and competitiveness will be our red line. The 2030 package is now. We will not make the same mistakes as in the past”.
Sophie Auconie (EPP, France) spoke on behalf of the co-rapporteur, Anne Delvaux, (who is on sick leave) and provided assurances that “we share the same aims: a competitive Europe, which is more independent in energy, with a sustainable economy that respects our international commitments. It is only the means that are different”. She was delighted by the broad consensus on the need for greater coherence between the different support policies, irrespective of the kind of energy, avoiding past mistakes by taking into account the interaction between different measures and by improving energy infrastructure connections. She said that reaching “40% energy efficiency by 2030 is the most profitable trajectory that will help us reduce emissions by 50% and ensure that renewables are 35% of the energy mix”.
Herbert Reul (EPP, Germany) added that “we are moving forward in the fight against climate change but not enough. Energy prices are creating problems for ever greater numbers of individuals and we are reaching the limit. We need to agree on a key objective and the instruments will follow”. He mentioned the ETS, if it worked, as a major instrument in this connection. (AN/transl.fl)