Brussels, 06/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - At a conference in Riga on the Energy Union on Friday 6 February, the Commissioner for Energy and the Climate, Miguel Arias Canete, unveiled the key elements of the package to be tabled by the Commission on 25 February, for each of the dimensions of the Energy Union: energy security, the single market for energy, moderating the demand for energy and energy efficiency, the decarbonisation of the economy, research and innovation.
Canete started by referring to a ten-point plan on energy security, which takes up most of the elements of the strategy proposed in May 2014. This plan includes: - the revision of the directives on the security of gas and electricity supply; - the acceleration of the infrastructure projects of common interest (PCI) via the European investment plan and the structural funds; - a new European strategy for LNG; - accelerating progress on a gas platform in the Mediterranean, including the resumption of the strategic partnership with Algeria; - a new strategic alliance with Turkey; - strengthening the Energy Community in south-eastern Europe; - a new strategic relationship with Ukraine, supporting the country in modernising its energy industry; - the reinforcement of diplomacy through increased coordination on international energy issues; - the revision of the information mechanism on bilateral inter-governmental agreements; - a communication on promoting domestic resources, including progress on shale gas.
The Commission will also propose a four-point plan for the completion of the single market, which includes: - the implementation of the third liberalisation package. “There is quite simply no justification for continued delay”, stressed Canete, who threatened to bring all Community instruments to bear to finalise this; - the member states' management of the problem of energy poverty, based on best practices; - the continuation of regional approaches to harmonisation, interoperability and interconnection; - communication on a new market concept for the total integration of the wholesale and retail markets.
As regards the 'energy and climate' aspects of the package, the Commission aims to propose a new legislative package on renewables in order, firstly, to realise the objective of 27% of renewables in the primary energy mix by 2030 and, secondly, to ensure that the market for renewables stimulates efficiency and innovation. For the European carbon market (ETS), the Commission hopes for a swift adoption of its market stability reserve mechanism. In the longer term, the European Executive hopes to reform the ETS and make a legislative proposal on this by the end of this year.
On moderating the demand for energy and energy efficiency, a field which “merits our greatest determination at EU, national, regional and individual level”, as Canete put it, the Commission will take as its basis a three-point initiative. This includes: - the revision of the directives on energy efficiency, eco-design, energy labelling and on the energy performance of buildings, as well as a new strategy on heat and cooling and continued work on vehicle efficiency and the promotion of electro-mobility (by integrating energy and transport systems); - an initiative on smart cities and communities and making full use of the potential of the initiative which already exists, the Covenant of Mayors, through the investment plan and the regional and structural funds; - the creation of a “suitable framework” to promote building insulation, particularly for housing rented by the poorest citizens and those in a situation of energy poverty.
Lastly, on research/innovation, the Commission will act on three fronts, including: - the revision of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-plan), by limiting the number of its essential priorities and clarifying its objective; - promoting research into energy storage; - promoting access to venture capital for renewables, particularly photovoltaics, via the European investment plan. (EH)