EU energy ministers will hold their first exchange of views in Brussels on Monday 27 February on the extensive clean energy package, unveiled by the Commission at the end of 2016.
Clean energy package. Under the chairmanship of Maltese minister Konrad Mizzi, and with Commission Vice-President with responsibility for the Energy Union Maros Sefcovic in attendance, the ministers will set out their initial positions on the clean energy package presented by the Commission on 30 November 2016 (see EUROPE 11679).
This package aims to implement the Energy Union strategy, launched in 2014, and to encourage the de-carbonisation of the EU economy by 2030 and beyond, by means of a clean, decentralised energy system, improved energy efficiency, greater use of renewables and re-design of the electricity market so that consumers are actively involved.
It includes eight legislative proposals addressing: - electricity market design and security of electricity supply; - renewable energy (including a proposal for the revision of the 2009 directive based on a binding EU-wide target of at least 27% renewables in the primary energy mix by 2030); - energy efficiency (including a proposal for the revision of 2012 directive on energy efficiency and the 2010 directive on the energy performance of buildings, based on a binding 30% target for the EU); - a governance framework for the Energy Union seeking to ensure that the EU energy and climate targets are met in the absence of nationally binding targets for renewables and energy efficiency for the period after 2020 and in the context of the Paris Agreement.
State of the Energy Union. The Commission will present to ministers its second progress report on the state of the Energy Union which was presented on 1 February and which highlights the progress made towards achieving the 2020 energy and climate targets and shows that the transition towards a low-carbon energy system is on track (see EUROPE 11716).
Security of gas supply. The Maltese Presidency will update ministers of progress on the state of play in talks with the European Parliament on the revised regulation on measures to safeguard the security of gas supply, a flagship proposal of the gas security package presented by the Commission in February 2016 (see EUROPE 11491). The first trialogue meeting on 6 February allowed the parties to restate their positions (see EUROPE 11722). Two further trialogue meetings are scheduled for 2 and 27 March.
Energy labelling. The Council will also be updated by the Presidency on progress in the negotiations on the draft regulation establishing a revised framework for the labelling system for low energy products (see EUROPE 11680). (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)