Brussels, 01/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 31 March, Irish Energy Minister Alex White pledged Ireland's commitment on the planned energy union and on measures taken at EU level to enhance cooperation in the development of energy infrastructure.
Speaking at a meeting of a committee of the Irish government (Oireachtas), where he reported back on the Energy Council of 5 March, White expressed the “strong support” of the Irish government for the framework strategy for the energy union, which was presented by the Commission on 25 February.
White stressed Ireland's “active engagement” in regional cooperation, including on the North Sea offshore network initiative, which was adopted in 2009 by nine member states of the EU plus Norway to facilitate the coordinated development of an offshore electricity network in the North Sea, which the Commission promised to support by means of a specific action plan.
“I also welcomed an enhanced regional approach as a stepping stone to delivering full European energy market integration. Ireland has witnessed the benefits of regional cooperation since the establishment of the single electricity market (Ed: between the Republic of Ireland (Eire) and Northern Ireland, part of United Kingdom) in November 2007. This combined two separate wholesale markets into a single cross-jurisdictional and jointly governed and regulated, wholesale market on the island of Ireland”, the Irish minister stressed.
Describing the completion of the single energy market as the “key” to energy union, White said that he had argued before the Council for “single model” type decisions not to apply to all member states, but for them to be given guarantees and flexibility, particularly the more remote countries which have poor interconnections to the European market.
White also stressed the “particular importance” to Ireland of diversifying energy routes and sources and setting in place appropriate energy infrastructure. On the second point, the Irish minister stressed the “key challenge” of the financing of infrastructure, welcomed the creation of the connecting Europe facility (CEF) and of the future European fund for strategic investments (EFSI) to complete the integration of the single energy market.
Finally, White stressed Ireland's commitment to achieving the EU's 2030 objectives on reducing emissions, saving energy and renewables. (Emmanuel Hagry)