Brussels, 09/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - Athens is also paying particular attention to the external dimension of energy policy, especially on regional cooperation in the Mediterranean.
The priorities of the Greek Presidency in the energy sector are largely determined by two key dates for the development of the EU's common energy strategy - namely the 2014 deadline for completing the internal energy market, and the 2015 deadline by which no member state should remain isolated from Europe's gas and electricity networks. A progress review on these two objectives will take place at the Energy Council in Luxembourg on 12 June.
In line with the European Council conclusions of February 2011 and May 2013, Athens is making top priority of implementing the action plan on completion of the internal energy market by 2014. The Presidency intends to discuss the next progress report from the European Commission at one of the two formal sessions of the Energy Council so as to identify the last obstacles to be lifted.
In this context, the Presidency is also paying particular attention to strengthening consumer rights. Athens wants to highlight initiatives and the exchange of best practice to guarantee that consumers fully benefit from their rights and that the most vulnerable are adequately protected. The Presidency also believes that improvement of energy efficiency is an effective way to respond to energy poverty and vulnerability.
As regards the 2015 objective for connecting the markets, the Greek Presidency believes that “a constant political push” is needed to ensure the deadline is respected and that infrastructure projects of common interest (PCI) are implemented. There will be an update on the situation in June.
In addition, the Greek Presidency will try to make progress with the EU's post-2020 energy and climate policies. The Energy Council on 4 March (in Brussels) will adopt conclusions on the basis of the Commission's communication - “A 2030 framework for climate and energy policies” (see other article and EUROPE 10991).
Ahead of the international agreement on climate change expected in 2015, the Greek Presidency wants to help the EU in “delineating a clear position” which “will validate the EU's ability to engage actively with partners and assume a prominent and constructive role”. Athens promises a pragmatic approach to determine the type, nature and level of the 2030 objectives that will enable the EU to reach its long-term climate objectives, taking account of the crisis, the varying capacities of the member states, the concerns of households as regards the affordability of energy, and business competitiveness.
On the energy security level, the Greek Presidency plans a discussion - at the informal Energy Council in Athens on 15-16 May - on the diversification and development of infrastructure, cross-border trade and the improvement of competition on the EU markets. As well as energy efficiency, the areas to be examined for this include the contribution of indigenous resources - both for renewable energy and fossil fuel energy (with the need to ensure the safe and environmentally-friendly exploration and exploitation of these), the coordination of national policies for securing supplies from third countries, and the development of the Southern gas corridor and the Mediterranean platform.
What links this to the other big priority for the Greek Presidency is the continuation of the work by the Lithuanian Presidency to strengthen the external dimension of EU energy policy. The Greek Presidency's work will focus particularly on the Energy Community - on extending it and revising the treaty that creates it, which will expire in 2016. Athens wants to support the Commission's work on implementing the energy acquis, and to support developments concerning the PCI in the context of promoting pan-European energy security.
Lastly, following the EU-Southeast Mediterranean ministerial conference on safe hydrocarbon exploration and the Union for the Mediterranean's ministerial meeting on energy and the Mediterranean Solar Plan (see EUROPE 10984), the Greek Presidency also wants to adopt ways to strengthen EU-Mediterranean cooperation at the highest level. Athens also wants the Council to adopt conclusions oriented to regional energy cooperation, and to the EU's relations with international organisations (including IRENA) and major supplying, consuming and transit countries.
As regards the legislative work, the Presidency will study the possibility with the institutions of reaching a political agreement at the Council on the biofuels/ILUC file. The Greek Presidency also wants to begin work on the Commission's awaited proposal on the sustainability criteria for solid and gaseous biomass. (EH/transl.fl)