The Energy Union is the priority of the future Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU, which will also examine the draft integrated National Energy and Climate Plans (see EUROPE 12277/4).
Finland indicated at the Energy Council in Luxembourg on Tuesday 25 June that it remained fully committed to strengthening the Energy Union and its objectives.
Integrated National Energy and Climate Plans "play a major role in achieving these objectives". Member States will finalise these national plans in 2019. Thus, at the Energy Council on 24 September 2019, the Ministers will discuss the Commission's recommendations on the draft national plans.
The climate agenda will be highlighted during the Finnish Presidency. "The energy sector, being responsible for a high share of the total greenhouse gas emission, will play a central role in the green transition", Finland stressed. It recalls that the EU and its Member States are committed to the Paris Agreement and its goals and that they "recognize the need to achieve a long-term transition to a climate neutral economy". Ministers will have the opportunity to discuss how the energy sector can contribute to this goal.
In addition, the Finnish Presidency will continue work on the Regulation on Tyres Labelling (the EU Council is ready to start negotiations with the European Parliament). Finally, it wishes to focus on nuclear safety over the entire lifetime of nuclear power generation and the importance of responsible nuclear waste management.
To read the Finnish priorities: https://bit.ly/2IJQS0f (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)