Brussels, 23/10/2014 (Agence Europe) -The last lap in the negotiations between the heads of state and government from the 28 member states on performance targets (whether these should be binding or not) and the final methodological adjustment of the integrated framework for climate and energy policies up to 2030, looked like it would be a heated affair, judging by the signs in Brussels on Thursday 23 October. Nonetheless, despite the uncertainty regarding the final substance of the agreement, the climate was of confidence at the opening of the European Council (see EUROPE 11182, 11181, 11179).
Dalia Grybauskaité, the Lithuanian president, said that “everything will be all right in the end because there are not too many difficult subjects”. This optimism was shared by the Finnish prime minister, Alexander Stubb, who dared to forecast that they would “agree on an emissions reduction target of 40% and that we will attempt to agree on a 27% target for renewables and energy efficiency”. He was convinced that the EU 28 would reach a “good agreement”, which he deemed “very important and whatever the agreement, it has to reflect a good cost/efficiency relationship”.
A sign that an agreement was possible was provided by the fact that David Cameron, the British prime minister, when questioned on his arrival by the press as regards his expectations for this European Council, mentioned the need to tackle major threats such as Ebola and threats to the economy, without even mentioning the climate and energy.
Without committing himself to the subject of targets for renewable energies and energy efficiency, the European Council president, Herman Van Rompuy, appeared cautious but convinced when addressing social partners with regard to the possibility of an agreement being obtained. “The objective this evening is to agree on the climate/energy political framework for the next 10 years - the most ambitious framework in the world and which, nevertheless, should have a good cost/efficiency relationship that is fair. This framework should include a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 40% (Ed: compared to 1990 levels), increase the share of renewable energies, improve energy efficiency and stimulate energy interconnections”. And he added: “I am confident we will be able to reach this final agreement this evening”. In Van Rompuy's view, this agreement is “crucial for the world climate, for the health of European citizens, for the leading role the EU is playing in the international climate negotiations, for sustainable jobs and European competitiveness, and for the security of energy supply too” (our translation throughout).
Whether the level of ambition contained in the agreement on climate/energy will be sufficient is a different matter altogether. As EUROPE went to press, Martin Schulz, the president of the European Parliament, pointed out to the heads of state and government that the previous parliament had been in favour of three ambitious and binding objectives (40% for emissions reduction, 30% for renewables and 40% for energy efficiency). (AN)