Finalising the gas security package, launching work on the clean energy package as a whole and the Euro-Mediterranean dimension are the priorities in energy for the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Maltese minister Konrad Mizzi told European Parliament industry, research and energy committee on Wednesday 25 January.
Following the compromise brokered by the Slovak Presidency in December 2016 ahead of a Council general approach for trialogue negotiations with the Parliament, the Maltese Presidency wants to reach agreement “as quickly as possible” on the flagship text of the package on gas security tabled by the Commission in February 2016, the proposal for a revised regulation on security of gas supply (see EUROPE 11491 and 11682), Mizzi announced. The Council and Parliament reached agreement in trialogue in December on the package’s other flagship text, the draft revised decision on the transparency of intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) in energy.
Mizzi said, too, that he wanted to “open discussion on all the legislative parts” of the clean energy package which was presented by the Commission on 30 November 2016 and which relates to energy efficiency, renewable energy, the organisation of the electricity market and an EU governance system on energy and the climate until 2030 (see EUROPE 11679). Mizzi said that the Presidency had increased its human resources within its representation in Brussels to work on these issues.
The Maltese Presidency also wants to finalise trialogue negotiations with Parliament on the draft revised regulation on the labelling of the energy rating of electrical goods that the Commission brought forward in summer 2015, Mizzi added. The Council agreed a general approach in November 2015 and Parliament submitted its proposed amendments in July 2016, then informal trialogue meetings under the Slovak Presidency brought provisional agreement on the non-central political issues (see EUROPE 11680).
Lastly, regional cooperation and the Euro-Mediterranean dimension of the Energy Union lie at the heart of the Maltese Presidency agenda and will be the focus of discussions at the informal meeting of the Energy Council in Valletta on 18 and 19 May. “Malta wants to highlight the Euro-Mediterranean dimension and the connection with North Africa to promote alternative energy sources”, Mizzi told Claude Turmes (Greens/EFA, Luxembourg). “There is a question over the stability of some of these countries, such as Libya but commitments could be made with Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt”, he added, giving assurances that the ministers of these countries as well as the Israeli minister would be invited to the Valletta meeting to discuss Euro-Mediterranean platforms on electricity, gas and renewables.
Chastised by a number of MEPs – his fellow countrywoman Miriam Dalli and Theresa Griffin (UK) for the S&D Group and Neoklis Sylikiotis (Cyprus) for the GUE/NGL Group – over energy poverty, Mizzi promised to ensure that this matter would properly addressed and to work on the definition of fuel poverty. “As Socialists, we believe that energy is not a commodity but a fundamental social right. No one should have to choose between eating and heating or cooling their homes”, Griffin told the Maltese Labour Party minister.
After being challenged by several MEPs on his name appearing in the Panama Papers affair, Mizzi tried to allay concerns, stating that he had called for tax audits of all his financial affairs and assuring that “the truth will, without any doubt, be revealed”. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)