Brussels, 06/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - The transition to a low fossil fuel economy, security of supply and completion of the internal market and the Energy Union are at the centre of the Luxembourg Presidency's work programme on energy. Luxembourg has been holding the reins of the Council of the EU for the second half of 2015, since 1 July.
EU energy policy is at “a turning point in its history” but despite the efforts undertaken to open up the markets, securitise supply, introduce renewable energies and reduce consumption, the progress accomplished has not been enough to make the EU more resilient with regard to its suppliers or allow for sustainable energy transition or sufficient deployment of new technologies and job creation in these new emerging sectors, explained the Luxembourg Presidency in its work programme.
To achieve the EU's decarbonisation objective by 2050 and support the horizontal strategy for the new Energy Union project, the Luxembourg Presidency is seeking to stimulate implementation of a new robust system of governance based on dialogue between the Commission and member states and the added value of the regional and Community dimension.
The Presidency is also seeking to highlight the importance of innovation, research and the new technologies needed for energy transition, mainly in the renewable energy sectors and energy efficiency, as well as in the integrated management of resources.
The Presidency will also be tackling the question of funding sustainable energy transition in the perspective of European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) and ensure coordination of all existing Community financial instruments.
The question of the future shape of the internal electricity market will also be discussed. The Commission is expected to put forward a proposal in this connection at the beginning of July. It will also be on the agenda of the Council's work under the Luxembourg Presidency. Legislative work will also begin during the six-month period on the question of gas supply security (Commission proposals are expected this autumn).
Finally, the Luxembourg Presidency will be tackling the question of synergies between the energy sector and development cooperation. (Emmanuel Hagry)