Brussels, 12/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - At a session attended by Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger on 5 June, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted five opinions on energy, on the basis of the draft framework 2030 for energy and climate policies tabled in January this year by the Commission (see EUROPE 11002). Although it broadly supports the draft energy/climate framework 2030, including its targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% and increasing the share of renewable energies to 27% of the primary energy mix, the EESC wants to go further. Amongst other things, it is calling for specific national targets for renewables.
“The balance is to achieve climate protection whilst breathing new life into the economy of Europe and guaranteeing the security and accessability of supply”, summed up Finland's Ulla Sirkeinen (employers' group), rapporteur on the energy/climate framework 2030. In her opinion, the EU can meet this challenge only if the energy policy becomes “genuinely European”, which will call for consultation, coordination and cooperation between the member states before taking ambitious decisions. It will also require the creation of a genuine European energy community, which will help to improve the EU's energy security and reduce its costs. The EESC opinion also stresses the need to complete the single market for energy and to reinforce solidarity.
The EESC also lays emphasis on the involvement of civil society in a European dialogue on energy and in devising national energy plans. Getting the citizens and local and regional authorities involved in the production of renewables would help to make new resources available for growth and employment and significantly improve national acceptance of renewables plans, the Committee stresses. As SMEs already play a major role in devising energy efficiency measures and many consumer groups are involved in a range of activities on energy savings, the EESC is promoting European dialogue on energy with the involvement of civil society organisations, in the form of a communication platform to plug the gaps in the energy policies of the member states.
The EESC argues that particular attention should be paid to energy efficiency. The Committee argues for sectoral targets, such as in the construction sector. It also supports a revision of the emissions quotas trading system (ETS), as long as competitiveness issues and economic aspects are sufficiently taken on board, such as support measures to prevent carbon leaks. However, the long-term objective must be the creation of a full international carbon market and Europe must do all it can towards this goal.
At the same time, the EESC is arguing in favour of smart solutions to urban mobility, to tackle the problem of congestion and the resulting increase in carbon emissions. Although the Commission has already addressed the problem of urban mobility in various communications and actions, the Committee calls upon it to combine these initiatives into a single instrument, to ensure greater efficiency. The EESC takes the view that the EU and its member states should create a joint and integrated policy in this area, with a shared, ambitious vision, with the involvement of civil society, public awareness and promoting the exchange of best practice. The Commission should draft standardised guidelines for specifications for public transport vehicles, thereby creating a European market and opening the market up to competition, whilst keeping in place the highest environmental and social standards.
Lastly, in view of the increased risk of environmental disasters, food shortages, fighting over scarce resources and mass migrations or war, the EESC underlines the pivotal role the EU must play in climate policy on the international scene. “It is vital that the EU speak with a single voice at the UN conference on climate change” in Paris in December 2015 (COP21), stressed the president of the Committee, Henri Malosse. (EH)