The main political groups of the European Parliament have welcomed the European Commission's publication of its first package of green energy measures, on Wednesday 30 November (see EUROPE 11679). Although the EPP is satisfied with the stated level of ambition, the S&D group has pledged to fight to increase the targets for energy efficiency and renewables, and to include effective measures to fight energy poverty.
The chair of Parliament's committee on energy, Poland's Jerzy Buzek (EPP), welcomes the fact that the Commission has kept its promise to table, by the end of 2016, almost all of the necessary elements to complete the Energy Union project. "The European Parliament has repeatedly underlined that the cornerstone of the Energy Union must be a well-connected and fully operational internal energy market. The package should help us adapt the market to new trends in generation, consumption and the saving of energy. It should also enable us to increase our independence and energy security by making efficient and sustainable use of all Europe's indigenous energy resources, including renewable energy", he commented, calling on the member states to show a high level of commitment in the forthcoming negotiations.
Speaking through Lithuania's Krišjānis Kariņš, the EPP welcomed the proposals to reorganise the electricity market, which aim to remove obstacles and distortions in order to guarantee a better offer and better prices for consumers. The binding targets proposed at EU level – 27% of renewables in the energy mix of the EU and 30% improvements in energy efficiency by 2030 – seem logical to the EPP, which is not in favour of binding national targets, but prefers to give the member states "flexibility in choosing their path towards our common goals". Peter Liese of Germany finds the approach adopted on eco-design well-balanced and in line with the priorities of the EPP, which does not want the Commission to regulate showerheads and toasters, but on other devices that allow energy savings without the loss of comfort to consumers.
On behalf of the S&D group, Belgium's Kathleen Van Brempt welcomed the fact that the Commission had tabled 90% of the elements of its strategy to implement Energy Union before the end of the year. "Nevertheless, significant improvement is needed, such as raising the level of ambition for both energy efficiency and renewables (...). Business as usual is not an option", she said. Her Romanian colleague Dan Nica promised that the S&D would fight, particularly to put tackling energy policy and increasing protection for vulnerable consumers at the heart of the package, on a level with the energy efficiency measures.
On behalf of the ALDE group, Sweden's Fredrick Federley called upon the member states to react positively to this package and focus on its implementation. He stressed that this is an opportunity to reform that we cannot afford to miss. The EU must free itself from Putin and the sheiks of the Middle East, and so we must lay emphasis on energy efficiency, retain the EU's global leadership in terms of renewable energies and guarantee a fair market for energy consumers, said Denmark's Morten Helveg Petersen.
On behalf of the Greens/EFA group, Claude Turmes regretted another promise not kept. In particular, the Commission is allowing subsidy mechanisms to fossil energies to continue, by means of support to the capacity mechanisms, he said, but did welcome the introduction of an upper limit for greenhouse gas emissions for the least efficient coal-fired power stations. Turmes also slammed the lack of ambition of the energy efficiency targets (30%, compared to 40% called for by the EP) and renewables targets. More than anything, the Commission is trying to satisfy the member states and their industries individually, rather than working towards the energy autonomy of the continent and involving the citizens in the energy transition, he said. Michèle Rivasi lamented the fact that nuclear energy continues to enjoy a special status, at the expense of renewables. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)