Brussels, 27/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Friday 27 June, the heads of state and government of the 28 EU member states confirmed their hopes of achieving an agreement, by no later than October 2014, on the draft integrated Climate/Energy action framework 2030 - and their intentions are doing all in their power to keep to this deadline. No major progress, therefore, at this interim summit, but there is considerably more clarity on the progress still needed in order to secure a final decision within that time. This was a foregone conclusion, as this interim European Council aimed to take stock of the progress made since the March European Council on this project, which aims to guarantee affordable energy prices and ensure industrial competitiveness and the security of supply, whilst working towards achieving the EU's climate objectives (see EUROPE 11105 and 11104). The matter was dealt with over lunch without any real discussion, and the conclusions could be adopted without a single change made.
“We have discussed energy security and the fight against climate change, having in mind that the critical decisions are going to take place at the European Council in October. There will be the need to pursue some discussions with our member states to have a formal agreement on energy security, the energy union and our climate policy. We confirmed our agreement to take a final decision on these matters in October, so that Europe can also keep the leadership in international climate talks”, said José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, after the session.
On the basis of the progress report submitted to them by Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council, the 28 intend to redouble their efforts and stressed the need to set the key elements in place as soon as possible. They underlined the urgent need to revise the Energy Efficiency Directive - as the energy efficiency target is the missing link in the draft on the table (an obligatory reduction of emissions of 40% through national measures alone, and a European target of 27% for the share of renewables in the mix). The European Council expects the Commission to submit its proposed revision of this directive in July, to see how this revised directive can make a contribution to the future action framework (see EUROPE 11108).
By October, the 28 will also have to lay down the criteria for a fair share-out of the effort and the solidarity mechanism between the various countries, agree on the mechanism to prevent carbon leaks for high energy-consuming companies exposed to strong international competition - a mechanism for which a public consultation was launched by the Commission on 8 May (see EUROPE 11075). They must also make headway on the legislative proposal aiming to create a stability reserve for the European carbon market, by means of a structural reform of the ETS.
In its conclusions, the European Council reiterates that the specific EU objective for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 will be in line with the ambitious objective it is already set itself for 2050 (reducing its emissions by between 80% of 95% compared to 1990 figures). It stresses the importance of the climate summit convened by Ban Ki-moon in New York on 23 September of this year, in the hope of facilitating ambitious offers from all parties to the negotiations. Readers may recall that the cut-off date for the offers to be made by the EU, and all of the other parties, is 31 March 2015, in line with the calendar decided upon at COP 19 (in Warsaw) with a view to the Paris conference (COP 21, in late 2015), which aims to conclude a global, legally binding climate agreement, with all parties on board.
“The European Union must carry out a common energy policy, ensure the security of supply and make sure that our commitments with regard to the climate conference are respected”, François Hollande, who will host COP 21, told the press (our translation).
Speaking before the European leaders, Gianni Pittella, acting president of the European Parliament, called upon the member states to “rapidly agree on a 40% reduction” of greenhouse gas emissions. He added: “the revision of the energy efficiency objectives is another aspect of this raft of measures. The Parliament eagerly awaits the Commission's proposal. The time has come to define the strategic line of our climate and energy policy for the next 10 years. The time has come for us to increase the independence and effectiveness of our energy policy and to reinforce coordination and solidarity between the member states. We sincerely hope for the adoption of concrete measures to flesh out these objectives” (our translation). (AN)