Brussels, 03/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - The Energy Council, which is in favour of an ambitious framework for climate issues, has stressed the need for a fair division of the burden and for the sovereignty of choice of energy mix.
“Nobody rejected it, some countries accepted it, others added to it”, summarised Commissioner Günther Oettinger, following an initial debate of the Council of European Energy Ministers, held the day after the discussion of the environment ministers (see EUROPE 11030) on the draft action framework for the climate and energy 2020-2030, which was tabled by the Commission in January (see EUROPE 11002). This framework is based on a key objective - which will be binding - to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% compared to 1990 figures, together with a target of at least 27% of energy coming from renewables for the whole of the EU, whilst an energy efficiency objective will be depend on this year's revision of the energy efficiency directive. The framework also provides for a structural reform of the carbon market.
Generally, the ministers supported the draft on the table, stressing the need to agree on targets laid down to be profitable, effective and rational. “We agreed that we must try to combine our ambitious objective in the environmental field whilst not sacrificing the competitiveness of our industry or the security of supply. Irrespective of the planning for the next step of the debate, it must take account of effective methods in decision-making, but with a certain amount of flexibility. Flexibility is the key word, this is what will allow the member states to be effective on the various measures”, summed up the Greek minister, Yannis Maniatis.
In order to achieve the targets proposed, both on the reduction of carbon emissions and on the share of renewable energies, the member states stressed that a fair division of the efforts was vital, taking account of the specific characteristics of the member states. The question of interconnections was also stressed, as was the need to find solutions for isolated regions and countries. Agreeing that “the cheapest energy is unused energy”, the Council also referred specifically to the question of energy efficiency, the objectives for which will be agreed upon at a later date, with the revision of the directive to be undertaken by the Commission. (EH)