Brussels, 04/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - Under no circumstances should climate change policy become subordinated to the energy policy of the EU, and especially not now, MEP Jo Leinen (S&D, Germany), former chair of the Parliament committee environment, warned on Thursday 4 September. He fears that, at this decisive moment for the reform of the European carbon market and with just a short time to go until the international climate conference of Paris (December 2015), these two portfolios, which are currently separate within the European Commission, will be combined in the future Commission.
This message was sent out to Jean-Claude Juncker, who is currently busy with the individual hearings of the commissioners-designate to assess their expertise (see EUROPE 11147). Only once the list of commissioners-designate has been adopted will Juncker announce the allocation of the portfolios and how he plans to organise the work of the next Commission.
“The next legislative period is crucial to make progress in the European climate programme. The climate portfolio cannot become subordinated to the energy one. The reform of the emissions quota trading system, the climate and energy package for 2030 and the agreement on an international climate regime anticipated for 2015 will require specific attention and qualified workforce”, Leinen states. As for the energy portfolio, this should focus on the energy union, diversification and security of European energy supply.
Without denying the relevance of the planned action framework for climate and energy policies for 2030, the MEP argues that: “the link between the climate and energy is undeniable, but tackling climate change, with its impact on humanity, biodiversity and the ecosystems, is far too broad a challenge to be just one part of the energy programme”.
Although the idea of creating super vice-presidents of the Commission, who would be responsible for cross-cutting issues, will add value to the future Commission, it should not lead to mergers of Directorates General at the expense of important portfolios such as the climate, Leinen argues.
The post of European climate commissioner was first created in 2010 within the Barroso II Commission, by splitting the environment portfolio. Connie Hedegaard, the outgoing climate action commissioner, took on the role at a particularly difficult time, as she took up her duties in the wake of the resounding failure of the UN climate conference in Copenhagen (COP 15, December 2009), and as her term in office coincided with the economic and financial crisis. (AN)