The completion of the Energy Union is a priority declared and shared by the various European parties in view of the upcoming European elections, while the subject of the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline divides political forces.
The leader of the European People's Party (EPP), Manfred Weber, is the only one, along with ACRE conservative candidate Jan Zahradil, to openly criticise the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project (see EUROPE 12241/11). For Mr Weber, the project, which he would like to stop if he were elected President of the European Commission, “reinforces the EU's dependence on Russian gas rather than reducing it”.
European solidarity will remain “a vain word” if some Member States keep pursuing energy projects (Nord Stream 2) "that harm the strategic and economic stability of fellow Member States”, criticises Mr Zahradil.
For the rest, the parties' programmes remain fairly general, given that the main issues in the field of energy have been completed under this European Parliament mandate.
Thus, the EPP is committed to building “a true Energy Union, where electricity and gas can cross borders without any obstacle, to bring down citizens’ living costs, support the cost-effective expansion of renewable energies and make sure no external power can undermine Europe’s energy security”.
The ALDE party also stresses the need to complete the Energy Union and to move to foster research and development in low emission technologies, infrastructure, clean energy production, energy efficiency, and a reduction of industry and transport emissions including aviation and shipping. This party hopes that by 2050, the EU's energy system will be "highly efficient and fully based on renewable energy”. The single European energy market "now needs to be completed”, concludes the ALDE party.
The Party of European Socialists (PES) is campaigning for an EU that provides leadership in renewable energy. For the PES, people's quality of life can be improved, including through affordable energy-efficient housing and the fight against fuel poverty.
Nationalisation of production and distribution. The European Left Party supports the nationalisation of energy production and distribution and the reduction of dependence on fossil fuels. It advocates the fight against “energy poverty” by creating a fundamental right to the access to energy and water. The European left believes that a “green and low-cost” solution to the problem of energy poverty must be found.
Phasing out coal. For the European Green Party (EGP), it is time to adopt 100% renewable energy, improve energy efficiency and phase out fossil fuels and nuclear power, while creating sustainable jobs in the regions concerned. This party advocates the gradual elimination of coal by 2030, and that of other fossil fuels thereafter. “Member States must stop funding fossil fuels and nuclear power and Europe must stop fossil fuels and stop public and private fossil investments”, says the EGP programme. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)