Brussels, 09/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 6 March in Brussels, EU environment ministers gave a warm welcome to the strategic framework presented by the European Commission on 25 February to set up the future Energy Union with a climate policy that looks to the future. All ministers underlined the importance of striking the right balance between the five dimensions contained within this framework and a majority of them highlighted the necessary transition towards a low carbon economy that was climate friendly (see EUROPE 11267).
Kaspars Gerhards, the president of the Council, stated, “We emphasised the fact that decarbonisation is an essential pillar and a majority considers this important for climate policy”. He also informed the press that the discussion had been “constructive”. Miguel Arias Canete, the commissioner for climate and energy, added, “We want a resilient Energy Union, with farsighted climate policy”.
Climate/energy framework up to 2030 with decarbonisation basis. Ministers said that the integrated framework for climate and energy prices up to 2030 should provide the basis for the “decarbonisation” dimension for the future Energy Union.
They also said that increasing energy efficiency from renewables would help the EU achieve its emissions reduction goal in 2030, as well as increase its supply security. They also emphasise the fact that research and innovation were essential for developing low carbon technologies and that according to the Polish minister, Marcin Korolec, this would not just be for the EU but would also “demonstrate to developing countries that transition is possible”.
Decisive ETS reform. Ministers emphasised that the Emissions Trading System (ETS) is a key EU climate policy instrument and would play a decisive role in the collective and binding EU target notified to the UN that day, namely, a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 1990 levels (see EUROPE 11269). Several delegations underlined the importance of the carbons market structural reform proposal through the setting up of a market stability reserve that would help solve the problem of excess quotas that damaged the way the ETS operated.
8 countries against early stability reserve. Poland is highly dependent on coal and seven Central and Eastern European countries that support the country confirmed the fact that they would oppose any early introduction of this reserve (see EUROPE 11265). Addressing the press, Marcin Korolec, the Polish minister for the environment, said, “We are confident that the eight countries making up the minority block will succeed in ensuring that we stick to the 2021 date for implementing this reform, as proposed by the Commission”. He pointed out that “Poland is against the allocation of the 900 million quotas frozen in the reserve”. The results from this discussion, as well as those from the energy ministers, will be the subject of a summary joint letter from the Latvian Presidency and European Council on 19-20 March (see EUROPE 11268). (Aminata Niang)